OOPs!!
 

Sorry y'all! I said my B'Day was Thursday, but I meant next Thursday the 28th..... But thank you for the birthday wishes!!!!

I need to try those Boar's head meats. I know the Blazin' buffalo is fantastic! That would be good on a salad or in lettuce wraps.

I had weigh in today. Down another 1.8 for a total of 12.8 in 8 weeks. I am never eating non core again. LOL. I decided to shoot for 149 as a personal goal. I think I can, I think I can. :)

Heather, are Boar's head meat Core? My Leader said anything from the Deli was a no no. Is Boar's Head deli?

Congratulations on your weigh in! I leave for mine in about an hour.

The core corrections that have been floating around say that two Boar's head meats are core. The blazin buffalo and the Aroastic. My leader has never had those corrections but others say they are true. I don't eat lunchmeat enough for it to affect me I don't think but it is nice to have the option.

Good luck on your weigh in!

Heather, is it REALLY buffalo?! I never tried buffalo meat. I don't even know what aroastic is either! I'm feeling really dumb here this afternoon!

LOL. Sorry, no they are both chicken. :D

Is there a central location where the CORE corrections are located? Frankly, I can not make myself sit through our WW meetings, so I don't wait around after weigh-in.

Vickie: Our leader told us the only Boars Head products to eat was the Aroastic Baked Chicken Breat or the Flaming Buffalo Chicken Breast. The rest of deli is a no no.

Hope this helps, Nora

Thanks, everyone! I knew I wasn't going to be trying Buffalo anytime soon!

Well, I had my weigh in and I lost 1.4 for a total of 9.8 in six weeks. I'm very happy but I was SO hoping to change to my 10 pound chick this week! I guess it'll happen next week. Not bad for a TOM weigh in.

I called WW headquarters about the Core corrections. They wouldn't email or fax them to me. They said a pamphlet is being printed and should be to our leaders by next week or the week after. I asked my Leader tonight and she still says she doesn't have them yet. I told WW HQ that I was very irritated that I'm paying $8.95 a week and can't get the corrections and might be doing something wrong. She said there are no major changes. I asked about the baking thing and she said baking and turning things into cakes and muffins is not Core even if all the ingredients are. I mentioned the muffins in this month's WW magazine and she said that was an error. I told her I thought they shouldn't have released the program until they had it perfected. I really got no satisfactory response. What a surprise! Long story, short....I don't know if the corrections we've been seeing are correct but there are definitely some coming.

Vickie: Thanks for checking on the corrections info. We shall see I guess.

My question is to those of us following CORE who are baking with CORE foods are you still losing? What's the problem in doing this w/CORE foods? Is it the issue w/triggering? I'm sure that some of us are not being triggered? Also, what's the difference b/w baking and cooking CORE, we're "allowed" to cook w/CORE foods, so what's the difference?

Anyhoo, I weighed in yesterday and was down .8lbs w/a total of 7.2lbs. in six weeks. I am hoping to be able to add another "5lb. dancer" by month's end, we'll see as TOM looms. Figures crossed.

Hope everyone had or will have a great weigh-in this week!

I wonder what about the baked potatoes = chips. Since chips aren't core, but potatoes are, does baking the thin slices into chips make them NOT core? I think I'm confused.

But no matter what, I'm still losing. I went to the doctor this morning and was down 13 pounds from four weeks ago when I was there. They were mighty pleased, especially when I told them it was because of WW.

Weigh In...
 

I had my WW meeting last night, and I had only lost .30! I guess it is better than gaining or not losing...... I didn't think I would have lost any, since the scale at home had not budged. TOM is expected very soon, and I'm sure that is partly why. I also used all of my points last week, or very close to it, and I did not get all my water in. I am struggling today!! It started last night.... When it gets close to TOM sometimes I feel as if I were pregnant again. I CRAVE things, especially sweets. About midnight last night I was still up and I was at the fridge hundreds of times. I finally gave in and ate some sugar free nonfat yogurt. Then this morning I am ashamed to say I have eaten 8 points just on snacks! I ate a 2point WW breakfast bar (banana toffee) then I made scrambled eggs, but decided I did not want just plain eggs,and I did not want an omelet. So I ate two pieces of wheat toast. Which by the way, I didn't realize until during the meeting last night (and convientantly forgot about this morning) that just because it says wheat bread doesn't mean it is core. You have to look at the ingredients to make sure that the first ingredient is Whole Wheat Flour. (Which it wasn't). About an hour later I ate another 2point WW bar (peanut caramel). When I was in town after dropping my youngest off at Pre-K at 12:00 I was so very tempted to go somewhere and just eat something.... Sonic's mozzarella cheese sticks were screaming for me....... But I ignored the Siren's call, and went to the grocery store to buy the correct wheat bread.... At the store my daughter wanted cookies and again I had to fight with myself not to eat one of her cookies in the package. So far I have not eaten anything "bad", I have just been fighting this craving feeling all day.

What saved me was asking myself "how much do you want to weigh? HOw will you look when you get there?" Because I was SOOOO close to succumbing to temptation. I wish I would hurry and start and get this next week or two over with!! I must remain strong, though.

Oh please let me stay strong..........

Hope everyone else is having more luck than I am this week...

I make a Core cornbread and I'm losing. At first I didn't count it, then there was such a frenzy about the "rules" I started using 3 points for a slice. However, I never use my whole allotment of points so I don't know if I would lose if I used all + eating the cornbread without counting it. They seem to be concerned that we will binge on any combination of Core foodst hat are made into a non-core food (cookies/muffins/bread). Since chips aren't Core, Sweet Potato Chips can't be considered Core, by the rules. But if you don't add fat to them, it would be the same as eating a whole potato, if indeed you are only eating one potato made into chips. So call them something else! You just have to use common sense and not "fool" yourself into thinking you can binge on any food just because it is Core. Everyone's body acts differently so you have to see what works for you.

Well said Janette. If you make chips, cornbread, oatmeal bars, whatever and stick to a serving, there should be no problem. However, if you can't control yourself simply don't do it. I have been losing. Only a small loss this week, but a loss nonetheless and I have used CORE in a way that suits me and my lifestyle. I believe that there are a number of CORE followers who have done this longer and have made these foods and have been quite successful.

Teri, a loss is a loss. My first weigh-in I knew I gained b/c of TOM, but I lost, not a lot but a loss compared to the typically 5lbs. gain. Like you, TOM is rearing it's ugly head in the next few days and let me tell you I have handled it a lot better than I would ordinarily. I get cah-razy sweet cravings, but I just replace it w/something permissible, i.e. SF/FF pudding or something like that w/FF whipped topping. Believe me it helps! Good Luck!

I agree with all of you. If you want to apply the rules strictly, then we should not bake cakes or muffuins nor should we make "chips". I'm normally a strict kind of girl but I don't believe it is a problem in this case. What IS the difference between combining things into recipes/entrees and baking or making snacks. I think we need to be reasonable and just pay attention to our own bodies and triggers. I'm going to keep doing what I have been doing.

Hi All: I'm new to Core but I like it. So far I'm losing and one substitute I made successfully is to substitute Oatmeal instead of bread crumbs. Most recipes like meatloaf come out ok. But as I said I'm new with Core so maybe I haven't been on long enough to encounter any pitfalls. Love reading all the comments they are so helpful.

Get weighed tomorrow a.m. and am anticipating a loss. Will post.

Nora

Welcome Nora. Look forward to getting to know you. I have always used oats in meatloaf. I don't think I would like the texture of breadcrumbs. But I guess it is what you are used to.

I also eat meats from the deli but I stick to lean ham and turkey. I wouldn't eat balogna or any of those kinds of sandwich meats. I use the ham or turkey in chef salads and sandwiches. Can't see that it has hurt my loss any.

Good Luck, Nora. Keep us posted.

Heather and Torrey, great losses! I am really feeling inspired by us.

I just wanted to pop in and tell you all that I have a recipe I think you'll like for FF homemade Thousand Island Salad Dressing. I have an old family recipe that my Mom concocted that I had been waiting to try to convert before I shared. I had to be sure that chili sauce was Core and the back part of the Companion guide says that several brands are Core. I made it tonight and I think it's great (if I don't say so myself!). I'm going to post it on the Core recipe board if you're interested. My husband said that the real full fat version was the best Thousand Island he had ever tasted!

To be or Not to Be a Core Food
 

Hi everyone....and WELCOME Nora

FYI
This is information we were told....
If you find that you are bending the rules all the time, then the Core Plan is probably not for you. You should use common sense and your weight loss as a guide in the decision to make a Core recipe that might be a 'trigger' food for YOU!! or that may 'trigger' food with potential for abuse.
From what I am reading none of us are taking advantage of that. So again it comes down to using our common sense. I think we all know what we shouldn't have and what we should have.
I am one who sees no reason NOT to have the potato sliced and made into chips. We just need to know when to stop, and just make it a serving as one of the other posts said. That darn ole scale, as much as we shouldn't allow it to rule us, will let us know, and yes there are certain times of the month more so than others, but for the most part we know and we can feel when we're not working the program.
Keep Core simple (the way it is meant to be) and we have it licked.!!
That doesn't mean we can't fix our own little treats in our own way.
This group is doing great!! :cb: I offend wonder how much we have lost as a group on CORE!! Many, many pounds, I am sure. So let's all think positive and keep on keeping on.
That being said....I myself had a bad week, lots of stress and frustration and strayed a bit, and don't think that scale didn't tell me so. But here it is the beginning of a new week for me and I WILL carry on. I did comtemplate points again, but after one day I just couldn't do it.....I found myself soooo hungry!! I did gain this week but I expected it because of my mindless behavior due to some very stressful and emotional days. You play, you pay.
First gain in the 17 weeks that I recommitted to my program. So I can't complain, just disappointed in ME!! :( I should have handled those moment better, but my emotions held me captive.
Well that's my update....glad everyone is doing well.

Have a good day out there.........Linda

Linda, forget the gain. I gain in 17 weeks is absolutely amazing! Next time you'll be better prepared for the emotional moments. I'm a stress eater too, so I really understand where you are coming from. I'm really glad that I got my early retirement because there is much less stress. It's really interesting to hear that you noticed more hunger after one day on Flex. I think it's more than just a theory that a person is less hungry on Core.

Hang in there!

Well, I managed to make it through yesterday without eating anything off Core....(except for the WW 2 point bars I had. I had two of them). But I came so close several times to eating something really bad... Today is going to be another struggle day I think, but much better than yesterday. I made pancakes for the kids this morning, and while the thought ran through my mind of eating some, it really was not that tempting. I will make me some eggs here in a few instead.

Just wanted to thank everyone for their support. Y'all are such an inspiration.

It is funny, but when I was on WW in 97 I lost 30 pounds. (I was MUCH smaller back then too). My mom was also going and before weigh in she would start pulling off all her jewelry....rings, earrings, necklaces..... and then she always had to go right to the bathroom to get every ounce of "water" out before finally weighing in. She wasn't the only one either. The bathroom was always full of women doing the same thing. Some even brought slippers with them because at that time you had to weigh with your shoes on. I always thought to myself, that is so crazy. Either you have lost the weight or you haven't, a few ounces isn't going to make any difference. Fast Forward now to the present day. On weigh in days I try to wear the same outfit that I wore the previous week, and I always try to choose the lightest clothes I have. This past Thursday I had forgotten to change and when I got there and realized it, I felt a sense of panic wondering if these clothes would weigh differently than my others.... ANd you can bet that before leaving the house you will find me in the restroom trying to make sure I have every ounce out!! And I do not wear any extra jewelry on those days.... :lol:

Hi everyone, and thanks for the warm welcome. My 6th weigh in was Thursday, and I lost 2.6 lbs for a total loss of 13.4 lbs so far!

I'm so happy with core! I'm a volume eater and don't do well unless I go somewhat past "until satisfied." I get hungry too fast after a meal and find myself thinking of food an hour after eating. So, I go to "full" and am much happier. But, because of this, I'm amazed that I've lost weight every week. I'm so used to dieting and feeling hungry and deprived that my mind is still not used to actually being happy and not food obssessed AND losing weight. I know I'm not going to lose every single week though, and I think I'm ready for those weeks (?).

It's actually getting chilly in the mornings here in Phoenix and today I had hot tea with a teaspoon of my homemade sugar free spiced tea mix. Ah, what luxury, and no points!

Um, yeah. I'll second that! I had a big ol' blowout day yesterday, just completely lost my mind and ate whatever didn't get out of my way fast enough. The scale showed a pound up this morning (I know ... I shouldn't have even looked!) but it's probably because I drank absolutely no water so now my body is chock full of sodium and holding onto it! I won't worry though ... it's like I read somewhere recently: if a day of falling off the wagon were to make us gain a pound or two, then back in the old days before we started this program, we would have been gaining a pound or two EVERY STINKIN' DAY! And you know we weren't! I guess our bodies have a way of compensating for our little slip-ups and not holding it against us until it starts to be completely out of control and a regular habit!

Enough about that -- I'm also looking forward to starting a new week and concentrating on treating my body with the respect it deserves. No empty calorie JUNK! If I don't take care of myself, who will?

(((stepping down from my soapbox now -- what on earth came over me???)))

Wow, where is everyone! Hope you all are having a great weekend.

I had a party to go to yesterday. Luckily for me it was with my family so I was able to still eat Core. My Niece and I are both on Core and she cooked a delicious ham and made homemade Core cranberry sauce. I made Core potato salad and sweet and sour cole slaw that came out pretty good. My Sister also made us homemade applesauce with Splenda. Good eating for us! I had to spend 4 points on my Snackwell cookies. I was going to try not to eat them but I could smell the dark chocolate cake (one of my favorites) across the room. Once I had the cookies, I didn't feel so deprived anymore. I really love this program.

Kathy, try not to beat yourself up. You know we are all just one bad food decision away from a slippery slope. I know that if I eat something non-Core, and it tastes good, it might just trigger a couple of day slide. You hang in there too, Teri!

Carol, great loss! You must be very pleased with your progress. Any secrets you want to share? What's a typical menu day look like for you? I'm a big cook so I wouldn't mind having your spiced tea recipe or any others you like.

My husband talked me into weighing myself this morning and I have lost another 3 pounds! I try not to weigh during the week anymore so I will not be discouraged, but after arguing for a while with him, I finally decided to get on just to shut him up! :lol: Boy was I surprised that it was down! TOM still has not arrived, although I am feeling crampy so I know he is just biding his time to torment me a little while longer. But so far I have stuck to the plan, and the only things I have splurged on are the WW 2 point bars. I am just hoping I can keep this 3 pound loss this week, for when I officially weigh in on Thursday!

This is a short post, because I have homework I need to get done today. Good luck everyone, and for those that strayed off plan a little bit.... Good job on not letting it get you side tracked, and getting off plan for good. That is what I used to do in the past. What a way to get right back on that bucking horse!!

Vickie, your party food from yesterday sounds yummy! It must be great that your sisters is doing Core too, so she understands! If my DH wasn't doing Core too I don't think I'd be doing as well as I am so far. He's lost 11 lbs and it's great to go to a restaurant and discuss which things on the menu are Core.

I'm don't feel like I'm doing as well this week as before. Too much eating out! We went to a buffet restaurant and the other night and I had a BBQ beef rib, which, according to the Dining Out Companion is 8 points per serving! Is one rib considered a serving? I also got dessert. I spent 15 points that night and another 5 for lunch today. I've never used up all my 35 WPAs and I'm tempted to try using them all this week! After all, what if I use my 35 points and I still have a good loss? Then maybe I could relax a little and enjoy a few more non-Core foods every week! But what if I did use all my WPAs and didn't lose anything? Should I or shouldn't I experiment? I mean, those points are there to use, right?

I'm enjoying cooking again thanks to Core. I've been trying different dishes I've found here or other sites and adapting others to Core.

Here's the Spiced Tea Mix I adapted a little. Unfortunately I've lost the site I got it from!

Sugar-Free Hot Spiced Tea Mix

1 tub Crystal Lite Sunrise orange drink mix
3 tablespoons Splenda® granular
1 packet Splenda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon dry lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon dry orange peel
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoons ground ginger

Measure all ingredients into a small jar. Tighten lid and shake well until mixed. Keep mix dry. Use one teaspoon of mix to one large mug (equal to 1 1/2 cups) of hot tea per serving, or adjust to taste.

Tonight I made an Asian Pesto Sauce I got off the book "Fantastic Foods with Splenda." I spooned it over salmon and it was delicious! I highly recommend this book!

Hi Everyone,

I haven't posted for a while but I enjoy reading all your motivating posts. I am not doing well again but perhaps after I get my ultrasound results, I will get back on track.

Carol -- I see you live in Phoenix--so do I. It's pretty rare on these boards that you find someone from your own home town. I live on the west side.

Since I am a State retiree, I have the opportunity of joining WW for $50 for 10 weeks. I am about ready to do just that. I am like 8 lbs. from my goal again and I really need to get serious about this before it's too late.

I am definitely going to stay with CORE. I agree it is a program that keeps you filled up and not looking for more food!

Well I had better go.

Take care,
Nita

Carol, thanks for the recipe. Have you seen the Barbo recipe site? It has many great Core recipes on it. Let me know if you need the link.

Nita, sorry you're still waiting for those darn results. Worrying about your health can be stressful. Just keep trying to be as on program as you can in the meantime.

I never heard that WW offers any discounts. I am a Federal retiree. I wonder if I could get a discount too? Do you have any information on this or can you tell me where it might be on the WW website? Thanks!

Good morning everyone. Not feeling great today, due to the TOM and all that goes with it, which arrived this weekend. I did not do great this weekend, but I could have done worse. TOM is always hit or miss when I'm watching what I eat, sometimes I have virtually no cravings and all is well, other times like this weekend and now, I am bombarded with cravings. I ate an entire steak Friday night, not terribly bad b/c it was CORE, however I ate well past the 'satisfied' mark. Saturday, I had a craving for a sandwich, so I had a Jason's Deli Club Royal, instead of chips I got a fruit salad (thank God), but it case with a fruit dip sauce, which I consumed, of course. Then yesterday, I went to Sonic and had a typical Sonic meal.

I know this is all hormones, but I am bummed, b/c I am so close to the 10lbs. mark and I feel like I've gained all that I've lost and more. So hormonal and blue that I did not make my lunch last night and woke up too late to make breakfast. I will go to the gym this morning to get some cardio in, I had the sense to grab an apple and banana before I ran out of the house, just had the apple, will do lunch as close to CORE from the cafe in the building, and the banana this afternoon. Also, have been sucking down water like there is no tomorrow.

Someone, posted earlier something to the effect that if what we ae accounted for a lb. or two gain, then we would have gained every day. I am trying to keep that in mind. Why didn't I buy "safe" things for a sandwich and whaever else I was craving, b/c I didn't want it in the house, i.e. a loaf of bread, etc. However, thinking about it the damage would have been far less. Wish me luck and congratulations on your losses!

HI everyone,
I was away for a week visiting family and going to a conference. I ate out a lot and now I realize how huge eat-out portions really are. I didn't stick to any form, permutation or slight hint of WW. Amazingly I only gained a pound. I think it is because at the conference at least I didn't have the time or opportunity for any snacking. So even if I ate a lot at meals, I didn't have a lot inbetween. And when I visited my parents I exercised every day (ugh, two of those days included shovelling snow).

Today I'm back on track and had my black bean soup for lunch, which was excellent. One thing I discovered is that Core foods are fairly gentle on the tummy (although I do get rather gassy from all the beans!). Eating more fat and refined stuff, I found my tummy was always on edge while I was away.

I am very psyched to lose 10 pounds by Christmas. I think this is achievable if I eat sensibly and get 2 APs every day. That seems to be a formula that works for me.

It is really nice to see you all. Believe it or not, I missed you!

Torrey, don't give up. It's not to late to just get back on program. If you keep flushing with the water and start eating right, I'm sure you'll successfully minimize the damage. Hormones are WICKED! I have the same problems and the struggle occurs at every meal during my TOM. It really helps to have safe things around. Maybe it will help to force yourself to plan a safety net for yourself for next month. How much time do you have to recover before your next weigh in?

Hey Robin....welcome back. I was wondering where everyone was, especially over the weekend. I'm happy for you that your damage was only one pound. You can get that back off in a flash now that you are back on program. I was hoping to lose 30 pounds total by January 1. I'm at 9.8 right now so and my current losing rate, it isn't possible. I'm going to keep shooting for it anyway...I'm just not going to shoot myself or be disappointed if I don't make it. Especially with with holidays between now and then.

Hope you all have a great week. I've been struggling a bit this week with TOM but I think I will have at least a small loss.

Hello all,

I am new to this website but I am so happy that I found it. A place to find encouragement and receive it. I love the support everyone shows!! WOW

I am going to be missing my weigh in on Thursday night for a Randi Travis concert......could not resist. So I won't have a weigh in until next week. I think it is going to be hard. The scale keeps me honest with myself.

My weight loss on CORE thus far has been:

5.6
1.6
.6
1.6

and this morning I stepped on the scale to find a 2.0 so that means maybe I am gearing for a 2.6 or 3.6 loss next week. This is my hope. And what is with the .6 ??? Too weird! But I will take it. So in order for my hope to come true I made the WW Veggie Soup. My husband even likes it! I really delved into it the first week I was on CORE so I am hoping it has the same affect this week!

Anyway, I just wanted to say hey! And thanks for listening.

I have the quote If It is to me, it is up to me as well. At grade school where my children attended when they were little, this quote was often used! It has stuck with me to this day!! Love it!!

Cheers until the next time,
Walk on the Sunny Side of Life!! :dancer:

Welcome, Frannie! Congratulations, it looks like you are well on your weigh (pun intended!) to Core success. Hope you'll stop by often and keep us posted on your progress. How much do you have to lose? What is a typical day menu for you? Exercise? Please share the tips and tricks to your success!

Hi Frannie, I've seen Randy Travis twice in person-- years ago. Definitely worth missing a weigh-in for! Have fun!

Hey y'all!
 

How is everyone? I went off plan on Sunday! We had to go get my oldest son from his Dad's house in West, and on the way back we were all hungry, so we stopped and ate Whataburger. I could have gotten the salad, but no!! I had to get the Whataburger with cheese, french fries, and drink. I did opt for a diet drink.....I had been planning on going off plan this week for my birthday Thursday but not on Whataburger!! Oh well.......It sure did taste good!! :lol: Sunday morning I went to my Grandmothers as we usually do every Sunday, and did very well. I ate only what core foods I could find, and I passed up the pecan pie she had made, and the lemon pie. Then blew it at Whataburger.

I weighed that next evening and I had gained 3 pounds! But I weighed again this morning and the 3 pounds were gone....so I will just have to see. I am hoping to average 2 pounds weight loss per week. If I can then in a year I will have lost 104 pounds! So far if I do keep this 3 pounds off, that will mean 6 pounds in 3 weeks which averages to 2 a week. If I can keep it up I will do it!! My weight loss so far has been 3 pounds then .3 pounds. and as of today 3 pounds this week, if I can keep them off until my official weigh in Thursday night. BUT Tom is still being stubborn, and has not come yet. I am feeling all the symptoms for it, I wish It would just come already!!

I used to be SO regular, which might be why I was SOO fertile! ( I have 4 kids, and 2 of them I was on the pill, and one of them there was one night in the entire month that I could have gotten pregnant, and wouldn't you know it I did!! :) ) But after my 4th I had my tubes tied, and ever since I am extremely heavy the first 2-3 days, and I am not very regular any more. Sometimes it comes as a total surprise, I do not feel anything, and other times I cramp for days before actually starting. I don't know WHAT is up with that!! I am finally getting over my sweet cravings that I was having, but when I actually do start they may come back.

That reminds me.........has anyone else been asked when their baby is due, or if you are expecting when you AREN'T!!?? Yesterday it was raining so I went inside the school to wait for my 4 year old to get out of Pre-K, and there was another mom who had a little girl with her. I asked how old she was (4 months). I noticed the mom kept looking down at my stomach and then she said are you expecting?? I said no.......I'm just fat. Once upon a time I would have been devastated, humiliated, and had to fight back tears. Yesterday I was a little embarrassed, but also found it mildly humerous! What is wrong with me!! Have I gotten so comfortable with my weight that I don't care anymore?! Or maybe it is that I know I am going to lose it this time, and this is just one more of the reasons why it is so important for me to do it this time..........

I hope everyone has a wonderful Weigh IN this week!!

Good Luck!

Question about the core plan:
Hello, I'm a visitor here....I have a question about the core plan. Right now I'm trying to be very strict, and I'm going by the core plan but also counting out my alloted points. I know there are some restrictions, like fatty meats, or whole wheat grains like pasta are only allowed for one meal a day...what about breads though? WHole wheat breads, are these included with the other whole grain pastas?

Hello all! Feeling a bit better than I was yesterday. What a difference a little shopping does. I was telling a friend that it's bizarre how spending money psyched me up more than any drug could!

Vickie, thank you so much for your words. I will not give up. I have way too much support from y'all to even think about it! I am taking your advice and am going to begin to set up a game plan for next month. Counting the days, looks like TOM is the week before or the week of Thanksgiving, it has had a mind of it's own (21 days or 28 days). I definitely know that I crave sandwiches so I will get the pantry set w/whole wheat bread, 2% cheese slices and I believe that someone mentioned that Boar's Head Buffalo Chicken and another flavor of Chicken were CORE in the deli. A sandwich like that or even a veggie sandwich w/the cheese is better than hitting the Sonic. (BTW, Cateyes almost went to Whataburger instead of Sonic. I know the feeling.)

The last non-CORE meal was Sunday afternoon. I don't weigh-in until Thursday night. So, I have a little time. Guzzling the water and eating CORE. We shall see!

MissMeliss, bread is not core and must be counted in the WPAs. When I want bread, I use Sara Lee Delightful wheat, which is 2 slices for 1 pt.

ok, thanks!

Tori I bet that lady was just trying to find a way to connect with you. As for your reaction, you sound like you are confident enough in yourself to know that you are much more than a belly. You are a smart, kind woman who is taking control of her own health. I think you are awesome! You know, at 180 I think I look pretty darn fine. Yes I'm fatter than the women in the magazines, but I look good. We don't have to reserve feeling good about ourselves til we are skinny!

Robin