I honestly love plain old water... but on days when I am hungry and don't want to eat... crystal light ties me over to the next snack or meal. I will continue to have it from time to time regardless of what they say. I don't overdo it and if I am losing consistently then I think it is fine.

Honestly though... I would have thought they could have given me a real answer...

My meals for today so far:

1 oz rye toast
1/2 tbsp low sodium Peanut butter
1 sliced orange

Stuffed Pepper:
Lots of fresh garlic
4 oz lean ground beef
1 med tomato diced
1 med red pepper (sliced in half and seeded)
1/2 oz cheese (I had a Tbsp milk in my coffee this a.m.)
1/2 c rice
Spices (a dash of pepper, chili powder, paprika and 1/4 tsp worcestershire sauce)
bake at 450 for 20 - 30 minutes

Can you tell I am off work and bored?!? LOL!

yeah I was told no on the flavoured water because of the sodium..it showed when i was drinking that instead. I am waiting for an answer on crystal light. will post when I get a reply

I have an answer..
well full of aspertame so no..no good but a glass a day cannot hurt but it doesnt count as your water.


from me now...aspertame has been thought to add to cancer causing issues..

That is pretty much what I discovered too. But I would rather have crystal light now and again than a diet pop. I don't like pop and the sodium is thru the roof. I have a hard time believing that 5 mg of sodium will make or break you though. And if you seriously dillute the crystal light then what harm could it cause... and why can't it count as water? Caffeine issues I understand... sodium I understand... diuretic drinks I understand... but Crystal light (other than the aspartame) is not the worst thing in the world. I drink water 99% of the time but by golly.. I won't feel bad about the occassional splurge on Crystal light. :)

My mother in law stopped by so I haven't even had lunch yet and it is almost 5 PM! YIKES!

I too try to stay away from the aspartame...don't really like the taste anyways. I haven't drank much soda either... I think one on my first day and then I decided to simply drink my water.

I opened one tonight...and omg, the taste of it...and the feeling that I had in my stomach...no thanks. Fed it once again to hubby LOL

So I weighed myself at home tonight...usual time I got to HM.
Seems like I might have lost another 0.6 pounds.
WI & measurements tomorrow - exciting!!

To my surprise, I'm really enjoying this and I don't feel deprived AT ALL.
Mind over matter I guess... I feel happy, full of energy, and so motivated.
Of course...it's only the start of the 2nd week...but I feel like this is it.

Happy Happy! :carrot:

Hey all!

I totally agree, I have no idea why CL can't count as water! Maybe just to try to limit the amount you have in order to get your water in for the day?

I've tried Crystal Light a few times but am not a huge fan, although it's not because of the aspartame cause I still like my coke 0.

Chantal: good job on the weight loss!

UFF: Great job on the wieght loss milestone!! You'll have to get yourself an awesome reward (although I'm sure the lost pounds are almost reward enough)

I have no idea what my body's problem is... go for my next wi Saturday and the scale is not showing a change. Took all of your advice and am resisting cutting out my FE in order to help with weight loss but I don't know what else to do. Worried that it had to do with having limited BM so took some Senoket (sp?) that they recommended to see if that helped but no change.


Any ideas/suggestions? I'm starting to get very frustrated. It's not like I lost a lot at the beginning to help me get through it either...

I had the elimination problem too. High fibre helps...
I bought the HM Soft Cleanse and at the same time used a laxative tea I got from the local health food store. I believe it is Senna Tea. It did the trick! You can go in and ask and they will know exactly what you are talking about.

Also, try sprinkling ground flax seed (ie. 1 tsp on oatmeal) or something like that. Drink more than ever before, steer clear of coffee, and increase the activity. All of these things combined should get things moving. I had a 4+ lb drop the week I did all of that. FELT GREAT!
My centre also told me to drop my Calcium down to 1/day until things 'got moving'. I hope this helps as I know exactly how terrible it feels to be bloated and heavy feeling. Hang in there... one of these days you will have a significant drop. Our bodies need time to adjust to all of the changes. I hope this helps.

Well as far as a reward for the lost pounds, you're right the loss is almost enough...HOWEVER, i did put an offer in on a house...so maybe that will be my reward!!?? Will find out tomorrow, cross your fingers for me ladies!!

UFF: Fingers are crossed! Hopefully you hear back soon as anticipation can be a killer!

Meme: Thanks for the advice! I really hate tea but may have to grab some as a last resort! For now I'll up the water and ask about the calcium next time I'm in! Also need to try and sneak in some cardio this week somewhere...

P.S. My initial thought about drinking more was.. "Yay Brown Cows, here I come" haha. Still trying to cope with lack of beverages... don't like the hard liquor so no point wasting my FE on it!

Have an awesome Wednesday ladies!

if you have more questions that you arent getting answers..there is a site on facebook where 5 or more people there are owners or branches as well as counslelors that can give ideas.

my theory..if you arent or cant follow the program as they direct, you really cant complain about it "w.l" not happening.,.you pay the money to lose it, therefore follow a proven program. tweak it as you like..but you have to be responsible for the results or lack of.


friend..Best of luck on the offer!! I know how it was when I bought mine! I was on pins and needles for awhile!!!! let us know as soon as you can!!

For Michele
 

Michele: Have you tried varying your menu?

Here's what I've been doing. I'll try it for a while and see what it does for me.

Breakfast:
I've been switching from a Smoothie (tofu, milk, fruit) one day to cereal the next.

Lunch:
Today, I'm having salad w chicken.
Tomorrow, I'll have a protein with a starch.
Fri, I'll have veggies w protein.

Dinner:
Same deal.
Today, I'll have a protein w starch.
Tomorrow, I'll have veggies w protein

Might be worth a try. And vary what you eat...cause your body gets used to eating the same thing... Anyhow, these are my thoughts!

And for the BM, you could take some Flexseed Oil Caplets...doesn't count as anything and helps! And is ok with HM too.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

I'm so full of energy!! It's a GREAT day...even with the snow. :D

WI tonight & measurements - EXCITING!
I think I've lost another pound...plus can't wait to see the inches.

Wishing everyone a great day! :hug:

Thanks for the info ladies! I'll try Meme's suggestions first and if that doesn't work then try to change things up a bit as per your info Chantal! Already on my third bottle of water today!

Meme: Do you remember how much the cleanse from HM was? Just want to know what to expect...

A bunch of the staff are going for pizza smorg lunch today...yummy. But, as Lady said, if you can't follow the program you won't see any changes. Besides, less money out of my pocket!

For lunch I'll stick with my chicken, peas and potato! And blueberry yogurt... yum :)

Recipe!
 

Here's a recipe I'll be doing tonight :)

Pan-Fried Pasta Pancake with Vegetables
Serves 4
Try this tasty alternative to plain pasta. It's fun to make, it reheats well, and thanks to the egg substitute, it contains no cholesterol.

Ingredients
8 ounces dried pasta, such as linguine, vermicelli, or spaghetti
1 medium carrot, shredded
2 green onions (green and white parts), thinly sliced
1/2 cup fresh snow peas, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon canola or corn oil
Egg substitute equivalent to 4 eggs
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking Instructions
Prepare the pasta using the package directions, omitting the salt and oil. Drain in a colander and transfer to a large bowl. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes.
Stir the carrot, green onions, snow peas, and sesame oil into the pasta.
Heat a 10-inch nonstick omelet pan over medium heat. Pour the oil into the pan and swirl to coat the bottom. Heat for 30 seconds. Carefully spread the pasta mixture evenly in the pan; cook for 1 minute without stirring.
In a small bowl, stir together the egg substitute and pepper and salt if desired. Pour over the pasta, tilting the pan to distribute the egg evenly (do not stir).
Cook, covered, over low heat for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the eggs are thoroughly cooked. To brown the other side, invert the pancake onto a plate, slide it back into the pan, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
Nutrition Analysis (per serving)
278Calories
3.5 gTotal Fat
0.5 gSaturated Fat
0.0 gTrans Fat
1.0 gPolyunsaturated Fat
1.0 gMonounsaturated Fat
0 mgCholestrol
290 mgSodium
47 gCarbohydrates
5 gFiber
3 gSugar
14 gProtein

Michele: I don't remember the precise amount but it was a 1 week supply and approx. around 30 bucks I think? I really don't know if it was the Soft Cleanse or the Senna tea that did the trick for me... but man did I ever feel better! LOL! Good luck! :P

Lady: You are absolutely right. Those who are sacrificing in their lives financially to pay for their program can testify to how important it is to stick to the program as precisely as possible in order to be successful. And each individual will learn in time what they can and can't do on program (Ie. small cheats). Most importantly, we need to be disciplined with our program as much as possible but at the same time gentle with ourselves (and one another) when we fail to meet our expectations. Our bodies are complex... but if we stick to it we will succeed.

I have set a mini-goal/reward for myself. When I get to the -25lb mark I am going to treat myself to a spa treatment. I am very excited about that!

Heading into the city this weekend so I'll see what I can find at the health stores.

I was trying to decide on mini rewards for myself too.. just not sure that the spa is the thing for me. hmmm... Usually I buy clothes but I'm gonna try and make it by with what I have and reward myself with a new wardrobe a the end.:D

I guess the whole reward idea is pretty personalized. I know that the spa isn't for everyone... but the day before my wedding in January my maid of honor and I went to Ten Spa... and I fell in love with the whole experience!

Food typically is a reward for people... but in our case that isn't exactly the best solution is it? :) And clothing... well our bodies are in flux... but there are some items you can buy that will work regardless of your weight... like shoes, boots, purses, accessories? It seems like I want to reward myself all the time now... I feel like going shopping... lol...

Trying to figure out this ticker thing...

Woo hoo! How exciting!

So...my offer on the house was accepted!! Now i just have to get through financing and inspection...ugh!

girl that is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Look on the positive side and don't let it over whelm you! this is a wonderful step for you and i KNOW you are going to love it!!

Michele - You lucky girl! You got a ticker!!! Can't wait for mine :)

Friend - Way to go on the house!!! If this is meant to be, all will go well... Have faith!

Thanks to all for your feedback on mini-goals and stuff...real interesting!

I tried the recipe last night (Pasta Pancanke - Frittata)....OMG...it's AWESOME! I tweaked it a bit.
I think it'll become a fav with our family :)

So last night was my WI & Measurements...I was a bit disapointed.
I lost only 0.2 pounds...but I know, I know... I've had my periods for a week now, my cycle is screwed up, stopped my pill on Monday...so I'll probably have them for another week still... *sigh*. I didn't have great BM for the last 2 days too.... so that MIGHT explain. It's just a BIG drop from last week!

Inches - I lost 5 3/4 inches. Pretty happy with that but again, I felt like it was way more!

That's that for me :p

Chantal - 5 3/4 inches is nothing to sneeze at. Our cycles are pretty rough when it comes to seeing the kind of numbers we might like. I think we can all relate...

Michele - congrats on your ticker!

UFF - very exciting! The rest will be a cakewalk!

Lady - It is great to have someone who has been thru what UFF is going thru to encourage her.

And finally... guess who is down just over 5lbs?!? MOI! WHOOHOO! That is only my loss since last Saturday. The girl weighing me actually swore when she saw the numbers! :) YAY!

Meme, Chantal: Great work on the losses! I agree that 5.75 inches is nothing to sneeze at, and 5 pounds... I think I would have fallen over!

UFF: Congrats on the house, I'm sure the financing and inspection will go well, but it must be overwhelming as a new home owner. Maybe at some point I'll be writing about finding a house too! Just try to focus on how great it will be to get into the house and start making it your own!

Maybe without TOM my weight will be down this week... fingers crossed!

Meme: WOW!! 5 pounds - that's awesome! Did you do anything different??
So happy for you !! :carrot:

Thanks everyone for the support...yeah I guess 5 inches is alot for my 1st week... but I can see SUCH a difference in my clothes!!

Salad Dressing:
What do you guys use? It's really FRUSTRATING for me to take my Free Exchange...I'll get the spritzer tonight...I know I can do an oil based one...but with only 2 Fats...at 1 TEASPOON per Fat... hard to actually have a 2 cup salad well covered.

Thoughts??

I use salsa as salad dressing a lot, it is a free exchange but you get 4tbsp as opposed to 3 tbsp of salad dressing. Sometimes I mix 2tbsp of salsa with 1 tbsp of ranch salad dressing for a 'santa fe' ranch thing lol, its pretty good!

I just use the spritzers, but have to admit that I am more likely to eat cauliflower or carrots raw than have lettuce. Hopefully the spritzers are easier to find in your area than they were in mine!

hey friend, I have a salsa recipe that counts as your veg and not your free exchange! Want it?


where is Bride to be?????

Chantal: Honestly, I just followed the program. I measured and weighed everything and stuck with all natural, fresh foods. Plus, my centre took away my free exchange. There were no extras whatsoever. I also drank all of my water with the occassional crystal light on top. That is about it. Hopefully I will continue to be successful this coming week.

Hi Everyone! I'm new to this group and am in need of some motivation! (I'm frustrated with my center and don't feel very motivated from them at this point.) So first of all, I hope everyone is having a good Easter weekend! Second, I am 3 1/2 weeks into HM and have only lost 6lbs, 9 inches and am STUCK where the scales are concerned right now. My husband is also on the program with me and he's lost a lot more weight and inches to date. I know men loose much faster however I'm becoming discouraged. Is this the average that a woman loses in the beginning? Just 5+ lbs? I follow the diet to a T, and still feel like snacking late at night. I've began working out to boost the weight loss but still no less is coming off. Am I being too hard on myself thinking that I should see more results by now or is this 2lbs +/- decrease normal?

Thanks for you insight!!!

2 lbs a week is normal..but not everyone loses that fast...your inche loss is awesome though!!!!!!!!!!!!
Men do not have to contend with the horomone issue (unless you consider our hormones hahah!)..but they also can gain it back easier.

How are you eating..as in are you always eating a protein BEFORE you eat your starch? Are you saving most (50%) of your veggies for your evening meal and you f/e as a snack for the night?


WELCOME!!!!!

Welcome Mom 2T! Chin up! Weight loss varies from person to person. We all have hurdles to overcome at various stages of the journey. We all want quick results (ie. see big losses) but ultimately; slow and steady wins the race. If you continue losing at this pace then you are going to do great. Those of us who see minimal numbers ie. .2, .8, 1.2, etc... ...now that is discouraging. We have all been in your shoes and will probably be there again. Ignore your hubbys success and focus on your own. It isn't fair to compare. You are doing great!!!
If you really feel like you are doing everything in your power to stay on track then perhaps it is time to change something up... whether it is how and when you eat your foods or adding in some of the other supplements (CLA, L-Gluts, Lean Extreme or whatever). Hang in there and keep us posted! :)

So does anyone do a blog? I just finished mine for the day..and have a tonne of work to do besides it house wise cleaning.Somedays those inspire me as well!

time to go and make some oatmeal..C ya my friends! Happy Easter!


He is Risen!

He is Risen INDEED! :)

So TOM must be approaching because I feel HEAVY!!!!!!! BLECH!

Easter dinner brought special challenges. While everyone else indulged in all of the usual fare I had my chicken breast, veggies, and Spaghetti squash. However the whole family benefited from my 'health kick' :P because my contribution to the family meal was a marinated bbq chicken breast. I invented the marinade:
Balsamic Vinegar, Olive Oil, Parsley, Fresh Garlic, Pepper, Paprika, Chili Powder, 1 package of the Crystal Light Grape flavor crystals and the MB salt substitute. It got rave reviews! I can't share the proportions because I fly by the seat of my pants... but it was yummy!
I also made some non-healthy red lobster cheese biscuits (I love those...) and didn't even have one. YAY ME! I hope everyone else found success with their holiday festivities! WI tomorrow for me. I hope this heavy feeling passes.

Mom 2T: Welcome to the group! You started the program just after I did and our loss was about the same but you did lose more inches than me! I think after 3 weeks I was down 5.5 lbs and 7.5 inches. Around the 3.5 week mark my scale also seemed stuck but somehow by the end of the week it straightened itself out and the weight started coming off again...

Meme: I love red lobster biscuits and have made them a few times myself - so good, but not worth getting yourself into trouble over!

Hope everyone had a good Easter, I was lucky enough to have only a small gathering (My parents and hubby) so mom made sure to make a meal I could eat (minus the stuffing and gravy) so it worked out well!

Very excited about my last weigh in, even though I didn't think it would be good. I went in earlier than usual (even before my usual late weekend breakfast) so it may have a slight effect on next weeks numbers.

Down 3.5 lbs and 4 inches!! Brings my total to 9 lbs and 11.5 inches in 4 weeks - exciting! :carrot: Now down below 200 again (barely) but feel like I have much more energy tahn I have the last month so gonna try to get moving!!

Have a good week back to work everyone!!

Michele : Congrats on being down! :) That feels good doesn't it? Way to stick with it!

I feel so OUT OF TOUCH with you guys!!! haha
So, my long weekend is almost over...and I survived (Glad to read that most of you survived too!). I have to say that I'm very proud.

I weighed myself last night..and if all is the same at WI tonight, I should have lost another 3 pounds since Weds...that would bring my weightloss for this week to 3.2 pounds! I'm hoping for more (obviously) but I'll take what I get.

I've lost 6.8 pounds to date...adding a 3.2 loss would make it a 10 even!
:carrot:

I'm soooo motivated and excited that I'm changing my life.

I ate eggs this morning (never liked eggs)...I made an egg, turkey & cheese tortilla wrap...delicious! I bought a squash today (never ate that either)...

I'm ready to discover things and give it a try!

Thanks you ladies for your ongoing support & ideas :hug:

Here's to a awesome week ahead!!

Chantal

wow you guys have been busy!! i just had to catch up on like 7 pages of posts!! obviouly i cant stay away this long!!

To everyone new welcome!! Its great to have new ppl to bounce support off!
So how did everyone do over easter? I Unfortunatly had a huge family gathering with all the fixings so i stuck to small portions of everything and i said no to the gravy and wine..my two favs lol mmmm! i think i did okay my weight stayed the same over the weekend so i call that good for a holiday!
How many times a week are you guys going in for w.i? i was going 3x week for the longest time but now life if soo hectic im lucky if i get there every wednesday and i just feel like is soo important to get in there, also who else is horrible about writng in there journal?? im the worst i kno i should they always yell at me lol :(