[Silverain54]

Hey Everyone! Thank goodness its the weekend eh?
Well I'm doing good with the program (second week) but I miss cheese! I tried soya cheese yesterday and well.... its kinda nasty. Its ok to cook with, but its not CHEESE! I can't find FF cheese here at all (Ontario, Canada). Anyone have any ideas?

Congrats to everyone with the weight losses!!
Teri, I am a student too. No kids, just a bf. I still find the workload really crazy so I commend you for the hard work you must be doing. This plan takes a lot of planning and cooking but the reward is awesome!!

[Returnee]

Hi All: I'm new to these boards. I love CORE. I only joined 4 weeks ago and lost a total of 8 lbs. Trying Flex wasn't working at all for me. The counting got me nuts. Also 1/2 of our group (Sat. a.m.) is CORE so our leader does talk both and it makes for a great meeting. Thanksgiving should'nt be a problem. Turkey and vegetables, salad etc. I'll have stuffing and dessert; saving my 35 points, and then back to a CORE day. I actually look forward to weigh-in. I don't feel like I'm dieting at all and I eat out weekends. Love it!!!!

Nora

[Vickie]

My normal weigh in is on Thursday. Next week, I'll weigh in on Wednesday so I'll get a whole new 35 points starting on Thanksgiving. I'll be eating stuffing and a little gravy but the rest will be Core. My Niece and I are making cranberry sauce with Splenda and a crustless pumpkin pie. Should be fairly painless!

It's the Christmas cookies and chocolates that I'm worried about! One holiday at a time, right?!!!!!!

[vincar]

Another week, another 1.4 lbs! Yippee!! I got my 10% key chain (key link? key lock?) and my leader had me stand up in front and say what I've been doing to lose the weight. I proudly said "Core and exercise!"

My dh and I went shopping and I got 2 jackets in a size Large, which I would not have fit into before. In fact, for the past 2 years, for jackets and winter clothes, I've been getting women's sizes. Today I went to the petite section and got - not extra large, but just plain old Large! That felt SOOO good. In fact, when I got home, I went "shopping" in my own closet, trying on stuff I had in there that I haven't worn for 2 or more years. They fit! No bulging buttons! It made me even more motivated to keep going and keep on program.

Speaking of Christmas goals, my goal is to have lost 25 pounds by Christmas Day. I've lost 18.7 so far, so I'm 6.3 lbs away. Here's hoping!

Teri, I was a student mom too! I graduated when my boys were 4 and 5. It was really tough, especially on weekends when all you want to do just go out with your family instead of studying for a boring midterm. It was all worth it though. My boys and hubby were so proud. We felt like we all did it together because of the sacrifices everyone had to make for me to get all the work done.

Vickie - I love the barborecipe site! I've made a few dishes from there, and each one has been a winner. Dh raved about the pumpkin oatmeal (Donna's "almost every morning" breakfast). Yum!

Congratulations to everyone this week. We done good, haven't we?

[cateyes]

Way to go Carol!! Awesome Job! I am sure you will reach your Christmas goal, you are so close! I am up waiting for my ex to come pick up my oldest two....... He gets them for the weekend, but was unable to come yesterday. I think I will try to go back to bed after he leaves. I am sooo tired this morning! I would love a cup of coffee!! But I have always had to use sugar and cream in my coffee, and I tried using splenda instead, and just couldn't hack it.

I had a box of Zatarain's Dirty Rice Mix, and I looked at the ingredients and it had brown rice, dehydrated vegetables, seasonings, soy sauce, and partially hydrogenated soybean oil. I made some adding lean ground hamburger meat. I figured it was core, but I was just wondering if anyone else knew whether or not it should have been considered Core. I hope so since I ate it for dinner last night!!

Well.....my ex should be here soon. It is 7:04 and he said he would be here around 7:00 - 7:30, so I better get off here. I am hoping he will not wake my youngest two so I can go back to bed. They are all camped out in the living room. We put a mattress down and my oldest two are asleep on there, and my youngest two each picked a couch to sleep on.... I let them sleep in the living room because I was afraid I would not wake up, and this way the older ones would be able to hear their dad knocking....

Take Care Y'all!!

[Frannie57]

Hi all,

Hope you were able to go back to sleep cateyes! Love to sleep extra too on the weekend and accomplished that one! Although I was up at 530 I went back to bed until 745......whoohooo I am not sure about your rice meal. It is not one I can get..

silvrain....cheese I love it to. I get that laughing cow 68% less fat 2 wedges are 1 point. It is creamy and great with veggies.....spread it on celery. I also buy the partly skim from pine river cheese. they have it in cheddar and mozz. it is good. not quite as smooth as regular cheddar but once you get used to it. if you don't see it in your grocery store ask the dairy manage to get some in. they go all over. (i worked at the store in pine river for a while so this I know) I count the points for it though as I don't know if it qualifys as fat free. Way to go on your 10% with gift! great job!!!!!
I am going to grocery shop today and probably make a casserole for a friend that just had surgery. Her sister is coming on Sunday to look after her but I want to get her something so she does not have to worry about one meal anyway. By then, my day will be done.

Everyone have a great core weekend.

Cheerio,

[Vickie]

Carol, congratulations on your 10% and another fabulous weigh in! Those are great accomplishments. Now you'll go for the next 10%. I'll have to go for 10% about 5 times LOL! I know how exciting it must have been for you to leave the plus sized stores and go into the regular sizes. I dream about that day! I'm sure that you will make your Christmas goal. How exciting is that? I'm glad you like Barbo's site. It really has made a difference for me. Hubby and I just ate left over frozen Beef, Bean and Rice Casserole and it was as good as the first time I made it!

Teri, I have bad news for you on the Zatarain's. It's not Core. I'm not sure what made it not be Core (maybe the partially hydrogenated or some hidden sugar?). I've never made this before so I'm not sure how it works. The good news is that 3 tablespoons of the dirty rice mix (not the completed product) is 3 points. That should help you figure out the damage. I'm thinking the mix must go pretty far huh? Anyway, hope you got to go back to bed. It'll be easier to take if you aren't tired! On the coffee note, maybe you could use some of those DaVinci or Torani sugar free syrups in your coffee? It wouldn't be cream but it would be sweet. I LOVE cream and splenda in my coffee but drink it black when I'm doing special programs. I just have to make it a little weaker when I'm drinking it black....and it has to be fresh.

Frannie, hope your friend is well.

We are all doing great, aren't we?! I'm enjoying the friendship and support. Thanks!

[cateyes]

Yikes!! I was afraid of that........ (the rice not being core). Live and learn I guess!!

I did get to go back to sleep!! It was sooo nice! This is the first day in 2 months that I do not have anywhere that I need to be! My daughters cheerleading ended last weekend, so I finally have atleast one free day! I know I should be doing so many things, but I am just relaxing for once!

I had some 94% Fat Free Kettle Corn PopCorn for lunch today, and it was soo good! I had tried the regular Kettle Corn Popcorn about a year ago, but I did not care for it. I did not like that it was sweet, thinking popcorn was not supposed to be sweet. But my husband ate some at my mom's house and loved it. So I bought the 94% Fat Free one, and now I love it so much better than the 94% Fat Free Butter popcorn. I enjoy the sweetness of it now. I also like that new Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper.

I have started only buying the lowfat popcorn, and any soft drinks I buy are always diet. Same thing with my milk. I used to buy skim and whole for the kids, but I went to buying skim and 2%. When the kids ran out of thier 2% they started drinking the skim. Not one of them complained, so I decided if they will drink skim milk, then from now on that is all I will buy. I only buy wheat bread now, which my oldest son does not like, but the others all eat it without complaint. They griped at first, but got over it. Now if I can just get Garrett (my oldest) to learn to like it. I do not buy ice-cream anymore, just lots of fruit and fat free sugar free puddings. They love it with the fat free cool whip. I never thought they would go for all these changes, but so far other than the one bread issue, they have not complained. It makes me feel so much better knowing that they are eating carrot sticks instead of chips as snacks, and fruit instead of the sugary fruit snacks I used to keep on hand. I have not become a health nut by no means, we take them to Braum's every now and then and let them get an ice-cream cone. I am not forbidding them to eat chips, cookies, and candies, I just do not keep them in the house anymore. The kids used to eat too much of it! So far none of them have a weight issue, but I want them developing good habits now so hopefully they will not have the struggles I have had with my weight.

that is why I love this "diet"! It is definately one that not only I, but we can all live with.

[fiftieslady]

Vicki--I like the idea of not showering until you exercise. Think I will try that--gotta shower before I can go to work so that means I will HAVE to exercise every morning. I feel so much better when I do that--don't know why I get out of the habit!

I actually lost 1 lb. this week! That's 5 more to go before Christmas!

Just think how great we are going to look at all the Christmas celebrations! I even get to order another new outfit as my second 10lb. reward (27 total and counting down)

[fiftieslady]

Vicki, I'm with you--it's those Christmas cookies I'm worried about too. My Thanksgiving dinner (tomorrow) was under my control but then I invited 2 couples to join us and they will be bringing STUFF that I will have to not only avoid but do it without hurting their feelings! HELP! I too start a new week tomorrow so at least I will have the 35 points. I am going to try to remember how sick I will feel if I eat any sugar or overeat.
Oh, I forgot--I made my 10% today. Carol, congrats on reaching yours!

Teri, I love the cvdietdr.pepper! So much better than some of the diet cokes. I do find that I try not to drink more than a couple of them a week though. Cuts into my water quota. I applaud your efforts to limit what you bring into the house. The kids will be so much healthier for it--a treat every once in a while is fine but I think most kids eat entirely too much sugar and junk food. That's the grandmother in me talking!

Well, keep good thoughts for me tomorrow with my Thanksgiving eating!

[Frannie57]

happy thanksgiving tomorrow cateyes! you can do it! I know you can. Congrats on your 10% whoohoo blow the whistles and dance in the streets. what an accomplishment!!!!!!!!!!

Saw my friend tonight and she looks really really good. She is coming along nicely. Thryroid surgery.....2/3 taken out. NO CANCER!!!!!! I think that once she gets the thyroid routine figured out that she will be my buddy at Weight Watchers......YIPPEE.....going to meetings together!! Extra bonding.

Well, off to bed. Everyone take care,
Chat Soon,

Kettle Corn Popcorn......must be something only in the states? Will have to get my brother to send me some.

Cheers,

[Vickie]

Teri, my hubby feels he can live on this plan for life too! He'll be happy though when I get to my goal in a couple of years. We both love pizza and he'd like to indulge maybe once a week. He won't eat it now in front of me because he's trying to be supportive. Once in a while, when we go out, I encourage him to get something "bad" that he's craving. It doesn't bother me too much since I don't have to cook it, and I'm still out too!

Janette, you said 5 more to go until Christmas but it's 5 more to go to GOAL!!!!! That said, it's really impressive that you lost a whole pound this week. All that and your 10% too? Woo Hoo! I've been led to believe that the last 10-15 pounds are torture. As far as Thanksgiving goes, why don't you try the old South Beach trick. Take only one or two small spoonfuls of the really bad stuff. No one can say you weren't polite but you don't get stuffed and overeat. Good luck....we'll be rooting you on!

Frannie, I'm really happy for you and your friend that there is no Cancer. It will be wonderful that you'll have a diet buddy. Hope you'll still stop by here!

[Vickie]

We can't get the new Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper here in Chicago yet. Bummer. I heard it was being test marketed in Texas and I'm not sure where else. So drink up all of you so they release it everywhere!

[Katpo]

Vickie, it's all over the place here! If it wouldn't totally shake up on the way there, I'd send you some!

Same with you, Frannie, and the kettle popcorn. If you can't get it from your brother and want to try it, send me a PM and I'll send you some!

And I agree ... the last 5-10 pounds are just 100% misery. I've been playing with the same 5 pounds for months and they just don't go anywhere, no matter what you do. Maybe my body likes being this weight, who knows? I know it sure likes it a whole lot better than it did at 175, which is where I was last fall!

[Vickie]

Kathy, I wish I had some great advice. At this point, I cannot imagine being 6 pounds from goal! You'll get there.....just don't fall into the trap that I've heard is out there. You start to think, well I don't eat and I don't lose so maybe it's ok to just eat whatever I want!!!! Look out then! Hope you get there soon. Maybe by Christmas?