Phase 2 Newbies, Take 2!
 

Since we had over 100 posts in the other thread, I thought it might be time to start a new one.

So, all Phase 2ers join in! We need as much support as we can get!

Kara

Glad you like the new ticker, Megan! I changed the weight up because I didn't want to get into a cycle of denial over gaining. Gotta face the truth...those little bites and handfuls of stuff did affect my weight loss. But now I'm over the pity party and I'm motivated to move on.

Kara

Got all excited about the new thread starting and forgot to post my menu for the day. I don't know why but that keeps me honest.

Breakfast - Nessa's oatmeal bars and a hard boiled egg

Snack - 1/4 cup soy nuts

Lunch - Zucchini couscous and salad

Snack - 1/4 of a cantalope and a cheese stick (the cantalope was supposed to be with the lunch, but I had the same thing yesterday - leftovers today - and the couscous and salad was enough at lunch time so I had the cantalope for snack instead)

Dinner - apricot, feta, and pistacio salad

Dessert - Sugar Free Black Cherry Jell-O with Fat Free Cool Whip

Kara

I had Nessa's oatmeal bars for breakfast this morning as well, really liked. I went and printed up some recipies to have more homecooked items onplan. I have been doing really well this week and have limited grains to 1 or 2 servings per day. Unfortunately it is about to be that TOM so I can not tell if I have finally lost again, but the good news is scale did not go up.

Hi Ladies, I'm back!
 

Well, back home from my trip and very glad to be here! It was a long and tiring week, but I was able to stay on plan pretty well. A little short on the veggies and water, and I ate one small bag of Sun Chips in desperation. I had a fridge and microwave in the room, so I went to the store the first day and was able to make most of my meals there. Breakfast was tough, because the only SB friendly things at the hotel breakfast was skim milk and hard boiled eggs, so that's what I had every day, with a half piece of wheat toast thrown in two days. Anyway, tomorrow is weigh in, so we'll see... Travelling always messes up my system, so I don't know what to expect.
And speaking of messed up systems, I decided to go see Pirates 3 one night, and for a treat I bought a small bag of sugar free jelly bellies. I only ate half the bag (maybe 20 beans) - OH MY!!! I found out I do not tolerate Sucralose well, and I will not be having those again. They weren't that good anyway. Nuff said.

Kara, thanks for restarting the Phase II Thread. I've been trying to read and catch up on what I missed this week, but I'm tired and going to bed now! Catch you all tomorrow.

Welcome back, sounds like you did the best you could under the circumstances...Sugar free candy does not like me either, talk about distress LOL.

Let us know how your weigh in goes tomorrow, my fingers are crossed for you.

We missed you schmoodle:) Good luck tomorrow!

Schmoodle,

I hear you about the sugarfree candy. I can handle sugarfree Lifesavers and Mentos with no problem, but once I ate 10 sugarfree gummy bears and I was in AGONY. Never again.

Glad you're home Schmoodle!

Pearl, what did you put in the oatmeal bars? I used half banana and half applesauce and I added dried apricots. When we were at the store today, I got some golden raisins and dried cherries, some more apricots, and some figs. I think I'm going to use walnuts in the fig bars, and I'm trying to decide what kind of nut to add to the apricot and raisin/cherry ones. I feel like they need the crunch of a nut (plus, the rest of the family doesn't care for nuts in things, so this way I can be sure to hog all of the bars to myself - hehehe).

And thanks, Betsy, Pearl, and Schmoodle for sharing your experiences with the sugar-free candy. I've not tried any yet, and I think I might just stay away!

Kara

Stayed on plan eating-wise today. I had a couple extra bites over my serving sizes here and there, but I also ran two miles to the gym, did an hour and a half yoga/pilates class, and walked two miles home. Hopefully it evens out. I find I have to pay close attention to serving sizes or I gain.

We did our shopping for the week, so the fridge and cabinets are stocked to the gills, so much so that you actually have to lean on the fridge to get the door to stick closed! Lots of yummy fruits and veggies in there, and hopefully we won't have to run out if it rains this week, as monsoons are expected to start up here soon.

I'm off to have my Jell-O for dessert. Then I'm going to brush my teeth so I don't feel tempted to have anything later.

Have a good Saturday, 2bies!

Kara

Here's my meal plan for tomorrow:

Breakfast - Nessa's oatmeal bars with a hard-boiled egg and glass of tomato juice

Snack - 15 almonds (May not have a lot of protein with lunch)

Lunch - We're going out to lunch with friends after church. We've been to
this restaurant before and they have great steamed veggies
and a really good fruit salad, so I'm going to stick to those options.

Snack - Cheese stick, if I'm hungry before dinner

Dinner - Tofu, Chickpea, and Sun-dried Tomato Salad from the South Beach Quick and Easy Cookbook and a whole wheat dinner roll with Smart Balance Light spread

Dessert - Black Cherry Jell-O with Fat Free Cool Whip

Thanks for keeping me honest!

Kara

Okay, are you guys breaking out in zits? In Phase I, my face felt very oily, but that seemed to have resolved, and now I've got big zit #2 on my chin! I didn't even get pimples when I was a teenager, so what's up with that? It is TOM, but I don't usually break out at that time.

I skipped weigh in this morning. Just had a bad feeling, even though I've been on track all week, I didn't exercise much, it's TOM (as previously mentioned), and went out to dinner with DH last night, so probably had too much salt. If I get my nerve up, I'll try tomorrow morning. Didn't think I could face it if I hadn't lost, or if I (gasp) gained.

Kara, I added 1 container of sugarfree applesauce and 1 container of sugarfree strawberry applesauce (4 oz each). I did not have any dried fruits on hand so I threw in a small handful of semisweet chocolate morsels. But next time I make I am going to try half banana, half applesauce, I went to store and loaded up on dried fruits and chopped nuts, so I will add those for crunch factor. I am trying to convert my crew into eating more healthy it is a struggle but slow and steady wins the race.

Schmoodle, I have 3 zits on my face as well but I blame it on TOM. hehe

My face has not realized that I have left the teen years behind. I've had issues with breakouts for a long time. Not as bad as the commercials for those soaps and whatnot, but a big ol' honker here and there every couple weeks at least. I've tried everything that I could get my hands on and I haven't come up with any solutions yet. If anyone has the answer to this problem, please post it!

Pearl, thanks for the ideas on the flavored applesauces. I get those for my kids so I could try that for another batch!

Kara

I had rice at lunch. It was not brown rice. I knew I shouldn't have, but I had it anyway. And a little triangle of watermelon. Grrrr. Other than that, though, I had cabbage, broccoli, carrots, and zucchini and papaya, pear, and cherry tomato fruit salad (it had celery, too, but I picked that out since I cannot stand celery!), and banana "soup" for dessert (banana in coconut milk - not the best but so yummy).

Anyway, back on plan now. I'm about to go have a glass of water and cheese stick and then I'll make my tofu, chick pea, and sun-dried tomato salad for dinner.

Kara

You guys are going to get tired of hearing about my "cheating". This is like confession. I'm not even Catholic!

My afternoon was good and I got in the rest of my water and had a yummy salad for dinner. We had Jell-O for dessert and I had three extra spoonfulls of Cool Whip when I was cleaning up. Honestly, I don't think I went over the 100 calorie allowance as the Jell-O was only ten calories and I might have had three tablespoons of Cool Whip on it, which would make for somewhere around 35 calories altogether. But still, it wasn't on the "menu" and I really need to start concentrating on my portion sizes.

Now I want a chocolate. I'm not going to eat any. I just had to get that out. After I do the dishes I'm going to brush and floss and if I still have a hankering for candy I'll chew some gum.

I've got a sink full of dishes and a floor that looks a lot like a baby threw her dinner off her tray...oh wait, that is exactly what happened!

Hope you guys have a great Sunday!

Kara

I posted this in the daily thread, but just wanted to say it again - at weigh-in this morning I had lost 3 lbs!!! That's my biggest week yet. Must have had one of those mysterious whooshes! I was starting to wonder if it was possible for my body to shed weight...

You go schmoodle!!!! Must feel SOOO nice!!!! Good job!

Yea! Just look at that pretty blue flower moving down the ticker!!!

I lost another pound this morning, too, which just brings me back to where I was at the end of Phase 1 *blush*. But I'm motivated now. No more gaining. That's stupid.

Kara

So I was a bum today doing nothing but watching re-runs of 90210! Finally, I showered and got dressed...I could not decide what to wear when I saw a pair of crop pants that I bought a little too tight about a year ago, I had put them on about 6 months ago and they were even tighter...I thought what the heck I gave them a try guess what????Not only did they fit they were a little too big!!

Totally cool!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I'm so excited for you!!!

P.S. I'm sitting here in my PJs at 1:47! Kadyn is asleep in the room where my clothes are and Avery is asleep in the room where my bras are, so I guess I have a little excuse (although I should have gotten dressed as soon as I woke up this morning...).

Kara

Yeah I got dressed at 6:30!!! Sometimes it feels SOOO nice to bum around!!! But the dumb part is I did not work out and I munched a lot...all OP but still!!!

My soon to be 17 year old stepson got back from racing last night LATE and we stayed up talking!!! Naps are GREAT! ;)

You're only a year older than me and you're about to have a seventeen year old step-son?! Woo-eee, girl. Is he a good kid?

I had a good day today. Ate on plan all day and even got in some time at the gym - a mile running on the treadmill and twenty minutes on the elliptical, and of course I had to run down to the gym since we don't have a car and walk home, which I tried to make myself feel better about by continuing to tell myself that I was burning more calories. I stopped at the beauty salon on my way home and made an appointment for a pedicure for Friday afternoon. I was feeling like all that hard work may have worked off that last pound before my goal. I already know what my next goal is, but I have yet to come up with a good treat for reaching it. Can't wait to post it once this pound gets blown out of the water!

My strawberry spinach salad for lunch today was delicious, if any of you want to check out that recipe in the Phase 2 salads section. The balsalmic vinegar on the strawberries was really good! I subbed walnuts for the pine nuts, as I didn't have any pine nuts and did have walnuts to use up. Even the kids ate theirs up quick-like!

Gotta get the laundry goin' so I'm not up until midnight waiting for the washer to finish.

Kara

Yeah...I would have been 14 when I had him :( He is a great kid, fun to be around! Being a teacher I think it is easier to jump into the kids, as I am arond kids ALL day long :) Oh and did I mention he lives with his mom ;)

I am going to try that salad soon! I am so into taco salads right now to get my beans for the day!

Thanks for celebrating with me guys - and congrats to you on the pound and the loose pants!

Good Morning All,

I fell so far off the wagon yesterday, it just rode right over me! A beef sandwich on French bread with a chocolate donut for dessert. Oddly enough, I don't feel bad about it today because I've forgiven myself and gotten back on track.

I just thought I'd check in for a minute. I have my healthy cooking for the week to do before I leave for work in 2 hours, so I'll check back later.

I did lose another pound though.

Happy Monday all,
L

PS: GO SCHMOODLE! YAY MISSMESS! :carrot:

Look it! Look it! All that work is working!

Kara

:bravo: Good for you Kara - all that exercise is paying off. Are you weighing every day?

I am. I said I wouldn't but I am. With adding things in on Phase 2 I wanted to be sure I wasn't doing the wrong thing and gaining for a whole week before I weighed in. I think once I get settled in what works for my body then I'll go back to once-weekly weighing.

Kara

Thanks again to Kara for starting another post man you miss one day and so much to read... Welcome back Schmoodle. Congrats on the weight lost. You rock.
Kara thanks so much for your honesty about your food. I need to do that just post my food. I was doing that in Phase 1 but started slacking off.

So yesterday I had my first grain. I had brown rice. When I came off of Phase 1 I only added back fruit. It was nice now I added whole wheat tortillas too.

So today I had a shake plain yogurt, oat bran, skim milk and fruit (3 strawberries, half a banana and 3 chunks of mango. I had it with Turkey sausage. I had an apple for snack and a quesadilla for lunch with soybeans. it about time for dinner so I wll have a turkey patty and "sweet potatoe fries" so excited first time trying them.

I also just found that some friends of mine from South Africa are coming for a visit. I am so excited!!! I need to weigh in so I can change my ticker!

Hey everyone! I am back on Phase 2 after doing Phase 1 for 3 weeks. It's great to be back reading all the boards...I really miss the camraderie and support. I've been on the beach on and off for a couple of years, most recently a little over a year ago for my wedding. Since then it's been a year of travelling and eating and have certainly found the newlywed 25. Looking forward to getting down a few sizes for my 20 high school reunion in November.

Glad to be back and look foward to getting to know all you on Phase 2/

Cheers!

Hi Shequila! Glad that you've joined us again! I must say that I love your rewards that you have set up for yourself. If I reach my goal, may I join you?

We *used to* live in the D.C. area, but that was a couple years ago. My husband was stationed at Bolling AFB in the Presidential Honor Guard. We loved it there!

Kara

Oooo, Nik, friends from abroad coming for a visit! That should be a blast! Hey, how's it going with your guy friend?

Tell me about your sweet potato fries. I tried baking sweet potato in wedges once and we didn't quite like how they came out.

Kara

I was just reading the recipes thread and realized that I need to make that Taco Bake again. That was some good eats! Thought I'd post it on here so I remember when it comes time to plan what next week's meals will be.

Kara

maybe you will come back... I'm here after all.

Only the Good Lord knows where the Air Force will have us setting up camp! Our family is all rooting for another east coast assignment, and now that we have even more motivation...

Kara

Hi everyone. My computer has been up and down so I haven't been here much. I have still been doing great sticking to plan. I have thought about cheating a few times, but haven't. I'm so proud of myself. I like Kara have problems with portion control sometimes though. I made the cream cheese muffins last week. So yummy, but I couldn't limit myself to just one. 18 mo. old DD loved them to, so they were gone quick. May wait a few weeks before making those again.

nope nothing wrong with it at all. my best guy friend lives in ridgecrest....

i have portion problems too
i can't say no...

so i just dont' have stuff i have a hard time with....

But I have that issue with almost everything. :lol: