First off, this is for you Emma. I have read almost every one of your posts for the past month or so and I have been both encouraged and inspired by your accomplishments so pull up your bootstraps girl and find that place again that has made you so successful. I've got faith in you!

Now for me. I posted earlier today that I was eating out this afternoon with a friend. I want you all to know that I ate completely on plan. Had a nice big old salad with every on plan veg that I could find plus hb egg, beans and topped it off with vinaigrette dressing and ice tea. It was just the best ever feeling knowing that I wasn't going to fall off the beach. An hour or so later, we walked out of there and I was walking on air. Completely enjoyed visiting with my DH and friend and did not miss eating myself into a coma. Proud of me, myself and I!

AWESOME job, T&T! I know exactly what that feeling is and it's wonderful!

DH is on final test number 5 out of 6. I can't wait until he is finished. He's crabby and mama needs a pedicure.

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p2

1: banana w/ almond butter
workout
2: black bean burger patty, salad
3: greek yogurt
4: beef stew, salad

That's very sweet, thanks! I try to be really positive and focus on things I can control, but I have felt surprisingly discouraged and unmotivated lately. Time to shake it off. I will start with today :)

VERY cool! I remember this feeling ... "walking on air" - LOVE it!

So here goes. After a few days of winging it, an actual plan.

Phase 2

B - coffee with fat free milk. Muffin in a Minute with mixed berries (forgot I had that mix in the fridge! yum).
S- veggie sausage with low sodium V-8
L- More lentil soup that I froze. With Greek yogurt. A cup of cinnamon vanilla tea.
S - broccoli/orange pepper with spicy hummus
D - Butternut squash mac & cheese that I didn't make last night since I didn't have any milk. Big ol' green salad. Stewed green beans that my hubby made last night.
dessert - greek yogurt with raw walnuts and a clementine

OK if I eat all of that: 1419 calories; 44 g fiber (whoa); 41% carbs 37% fat 22% protein

Phase 1.5 (no grains)

Just made Fireside white bean and sausage soup in the crockpot and have plenty of on plan food for B and L so now I can get on with my day and not even worry about what I'm going to eat. Plus I have leftover salsa chicken breasts in the freezer in case of an emergency. What a great feeling.

By the way, the scale is tormenting me! So close to my year end goal that I can reach out and touch it! Can hardly wait for the sixties!

Just made one of my favorite lunches: a morningstar farms spicy black bean burger (p2 because of the corn), romaine, tomatoes, red bell peppers, cucumbers and salsa as the dressing. fast, easy and REALLY yummy. I'll be having these for the next few days :)

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P2

1: ezekiel toast with .5 tsp almond butter, yogurt
workout
2: "taco" salad with lots of veggies and a cut up black bean burger; clementine
3: cucumbers and celery with laughing cow
4: deep dish spaghetti squash pie

exercise: at least 60 min. treadmill

B-Chocolate smoothie with spinach
L-WW veggie pizza, light on the cheese
D-WW spaghetti with chicken italian sausage

Very off plan both yesterday and today. Hardcore PMS + Family baking day= too many cookies, but I'm okay with it.

I made it through a day of baking without completely bombing myself. I didn't eat any cookies - not even a part of one. They are sitting packaged as gifts in my fridge.

I'm gaining right now. I think it is the monthly bloat time - darn, that comes so fast!

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P2

1: eggs with spinach
2: chicken lettuce wraps
3: roasted chickpeas
4: roast beef, green beans, salad

exercise: bike ride with the family

Yesterday (phase 1.5) no grains

B - Decaf coffee w/sf creamer, mock pancakes, 1 turkey bacon, sf syrup
L - Lrg grn salad w/chicken, mushrooms, radish, tomato, yellow and grn squash, lf wht cheese and lf ranch dressing
S - 1 cup Greek nf plain yogurt w/cinnamon, splenda, walnuts.

Today I plan on having leftover Fireside white bean soup w/sausage for either lunch or dinner and have plenty of on plan food for the rest of my meals and snacks.

Zef, I am not ready to make cookies without sampling so will stay away from that this year. Proud of you for being able to do it.

T&T, to be honest, i chose the stuff i made based on how big of a threat it was :) the only thing i made that would have been an issue, i made sure to only make JUST enough for the gifts.

Hi chicks, checking in for today:

B - mushroom soup - mushrooms, pine nuts, aubergines
L - mushroom soup - same as above (what a variety :))
S - creamed rice with cinnamon (half a tin)
D - chicken and stir fry veg (no oil but water, soy sauce, lemon and cashew)

I did not intend to eat the rice but i was really craving it or maybe the cinnamon, for tomorrow planning a bit of squash in low fat yogurt with cinnamon and cashew nuts.

Today I went shopping and I felt a bit sad about all the food that I cannot buy but I prefer this way and losing weight than staying the same weight.