Mornin' Chicks~~~
Got cold here last night, not yet frost but soon it will be coming! Yikes. :(
Today is supposed to be nice and sunny about 70 so we are off for another motorcycle adventure. I will try to post more later.
Good to hear from you Mej and Michellez~~missed ya! :angel: :angel: :angel: 's for all of us! We are all kind of in the doldrums it seems for numerous reasons. Not losing here, but i am going to try doing this Special K thing. Saw it on the box. Eat 2 bowls of cereal and 1 reg. meal and lose wt. Anything to get a jump start on going back down. Today i'll have to eat the 2nd bowl for my dinner as we will be gone in the middle of the day and it might be hard to pack the cereal and milk on the bike!:lol: I'm sure i could do it if i thought about it tho'.

:wave: :grouphug: stay :strong: and think healthy thoughts all~~
thinlizzie

Good Morning Mooz and Thin,

Well it is a little cooler today in Phoenix and it should be for two days in a row. In fact, we are supposed to get showers throughout the day.

Yesterday when I went to my hairdresser for my haircut she was so exciting about losing 14 lbs. on the South Beach program that she kept me there for almost an hour telling me how easy the program is and that she is never hungry. I believe someone on our site suggested checking this out and I did but I wasn't so sure I could follow it. However, after talking to Valorie and her upbeat attitude I started checking it out again yesterday on the internet. It is similar to the Adkins program but a little less fat, however, you can use any kind of dressing providing the sugar count is very low. Of course, during the first two weeks there is no bread or potatos.

Thin -- If I am not mistaken are you one who also checked this out. Valorie suggested I buy the book because it has so many outstanding recipes in it. Also, they are not hard to make. One of the things she makes are chicken breasts or turkey breasts by doing the following: You crush up pecans; then she adds a pinch of coconut; she then dips her chicken, etc. in egg substitute and then coats it with the nut mixture; then you brown it on both sides in olive oil and, of course, cook it until it is done. She said it tastes magnificent. I haven't tried this yet but I am going to try it this evening.

I hope the rest of our ladies are doing well today and finding out what works best for them.

Take care,
Anita

Hello Ladies,

Nita - I was asking about the South Beach diet. A friend of mine has brought me the cd to listen to. I listened to it yesterday, but kept getting distracted. I think I need to get the book. I need to visually see the program. I have two friends who are on it & they said it was very similar to Adkins, but not as strict.

Mooz - Glad the fair went well for you all. I'm sure having something like that in your small town is a boost for the economy.

Mej - glad you were able to pop in. My sister is a assistant principal & she has been very busy the last fews weeks. Hopefully you'll be able to get back into your routine.

Thin - Hope you enjoy the motorcycle ride. I saw the commercials back in the spring about Special K. I think any program will work if we just follow it....:D

Did anyone stay up & take a look at Mars? It was very cloudly here last night & to tell ya the truth, I forgot about it. We'll I need to run... talk to you all later..

Hello chicks....
 

I think I was one who suggested the South Beach Diet. (And maybe I need something different such as that.) I think it restricts carbs, but also puts a lot of emphasis that those carbs that are included should be healthy, low GI ones. The creator of the diet says people not only lose, but lose particularly the unhealthy fat.

ChaCha--what a shame about the bees. Bet that does hurt.

And I need to get to bed . . .

There will be another fire walk this weekend. I'd like to go, but I don't think I will.

Meanwhile, not only is DH feeling lousy, but DS seems to have a sinus infection.

So you all stay healthy!

Catlover

Welcome back Chacha--it's always great to hear from old friends--not implying you are "old."

Catlover -- I am really checking out this South Beach Diet more so than I did the first time. Their website really has everything you can imagine about how the program works, including recipes and a complete list of the Glycemic Index. My friend suggests that I still do buy the book because the recipes are awesome and easy to prepare. One of the things I like about it and the Adkins is that you don't have to journal or keep track of anything. For one week now I have basically followed the Adkins program and only have 3 more lbs. to go before I get back to my WW goal. I am still going to weigh in next Thurs. at WW to get their new program and to get some support from my WW friends. I want to get to the point where I don't have to be thinking about dieting and to live a healthy and happy life. Staying away from those high carb foods definitely does diminish your appetite for sweets and the fact that you are not starving you have more energy.

I am going to try and attach a copy of my new car. You can't read the license plate too well but it says "Classy Lady." Now we are trying to sell the 2003 Focus Hatchback because my DH says he definitely does not want to drive ever again. Because of no feeling in his right leg he was having a hard time putting his foot on the brake and in one instance stepped on the gas instead.

Again, it is so great to have so many fine friends like you and I really look forward to reading the posts each and every day.

1Day, Thin, Jodie, HalGal, Mooz and anyone else I may have forgotten to list--have a "super" day today!

Anita

Hello all~~
Nita~~you are doing great w/the picture attachments now! Great shot of you and the car. Is this your driveway? Looks like a very neat neighborhood. Good to see "green" trees in the background. Are those palo verde trees? They are native down there and sure look nice when everything else is brown.

Tho i did not get up early today, i have been pretty busy. Got to my girlfriends for an hour to visit. She has so many different hours working for people that it is hard to find times that match up w/us. So since she had a good hour to herself this morning, i skipped over there to chat. She is pretty much doing atkins also. Had a brat(less the bun of course) for breakfast. I think she said that is only 3 carbs. She is diabetic too, so this carb counting would really be the way for her to go. If this weather holds we are going to try to walk together this afternoon. The winds are VERY strong, and a storm is coming this way, so that will decide things. It is not very warm here now--about 69 deg. And with the winds it feels even colder. Hard to believe this would be weather for a good thunderstorm, but i guess that is what they say.

I had been pretty much investigating the south beach diet on line also. They do have alot of info out there on it. But if you like it, Nita, i suppose buying the book would be good. You can try to get a used one on half.com I always have good luck on there, you don't have to bid on stuff. I end up paying too much on ebay when i want something!

Wow, only 3 # more to lose to get back to the WW for free. :cp: :bravo: NITA~~ proud of you for not giving up.

CHACHA~~~glad vacation was everything you needed it to be. Good to hear from you, but so sorry to hear about the bee stings. Nasty! Glad you didn't get an allergic reaction. That would have been even worse! This is the time of year where the bees and wasps get more aggresive here, so we almost always have a can of that far reaching spray in our truck. When we go to the lake you never know where they've built one since we were there last!

~~~CAT~~sorry to hear your DH and DS are not feeling too good. Hope they soon get better.
Our friends wife w/the lung problem is much improved. They never did figure out what she had wrong, but the cough is gone and she can go back to work, so all is MUCH better with her. We are having them out to the lake soon. Grilling some food and taking them out on the pontoon boat for a nice sunset ride. Will be fun to get together with them.


OOPs! just got disconnected. I hope the power is not out where my server is....or this letter will have to be saved for later on!
Got back on, so i'm hurrying to send this now. I will try to get back on here later.
:wave: :grouphug: thinlizzie

We're Almost There...One More Day to Go!
 

Hello One and All,

Just stopping in to say hi. Dinner's on the go, so I can't stay long. I just wanted to touch base and see how everyone is doing. I've had a good week so far. I'm glad tomorrow's Friday, the long weekend is almost here :cool:

My DH is calling me...:( Dinner time

I'll try to post after dinner.

Take care ladies and have a OP Friday!

:grouphug:

Jodie

Hey Mooz, great photos. I put the slideshow on 2 second changes and could almost see you turning and moving. You look great in those shots.

Have a day filled with sunshine ladies

GOOD EVENING
 

Well, another dull day at work--and Earl ordered in pizza. He needed the comfort food, but other times I've stuck to a slice--not tonight.

Did have a good yoga lesson last night.

Mooz--great pictures. You are so talented!

We are having an Irish fest in nearby KC, but guess we won't go this year because of DH's health. Maybe next year.

Michelle--I liked the web site. Maybe all this virus stuff will get more people interested.

Cooler today--only 98!

Need to go to bed.

Best to all--
Catlover

I am sitting here at the computer when I should be doing housework!! I think that there is some magnet between myself and the computer as I cannot seen to walk past it without checking if there are any e-mails and especially checking out this site!!
I am trying to eat healthy foods mainly with just a little treat although I did have some Ferraro Roche yesterday! They had been given to Sinead and I only intended to eat one but as soon as I had finished it I just had to have another and another ……….. I ended up eating seven!! So as well as being addicted to the internet I am addicted to chocolate! Why can’t I stop the chocolate addiction at least? I did a little research and have posted some info about it and now that I sort of understand why I wanted more after I had eaten one, I am hoping that will help me to stay away from the remainder of them today! So far it has worked and I have not had that ‘first one’ which seems to be the culprit!
I have to really get a grip on this healthy eating for life as any other way spells disaster and misery!


Nita - terrific picture and the car looks great as well!!

Catlover - I'm sure you will make up for the extra Pizza.

Shad - thanks for 'calling in' - you are most welcome anytime. Thanks also for letting me know about the quicker way to look at the pictures - that's something new I learned today!

Thin - I hope the last link worked for you.

Jodie - enjoy your long weekend.

Chacha - glad you had a good time at the wedding and enjoyed your vacation.

Patty - keep us posted about the South Beach Diet.

Mej - yes lets start off afresh in September.

Hal - hope you get the chance to post soon.

Michelle - be assured that we are thinking about you and all the stress in your life.

To anyone I have missed - have a great weekend.




A Balanced Nutrition Plan

Let food be your medicine.HIPPOCRATES
You've heard it a thousand times before. You are what you eat. Good nutrition provides essential high-quality fuel for the mind-body and is important for all aspects of your health. You're well aware that eating an abundance of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (while avoiding saturated fats) can reduce your risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
What you may not know is that these very same foods will also give you sustained energy and a general sense of well-being.
What's more, eating the right kinds of foods can actually influence the workings of your genes and make you less susceptible to depression and other related illnesses.

Time and again you've experienced the intense effects that food can have on your moods. Cakes, cookies, and fudge are known as pleasure foods not only because they delight your taste buds but because they can make you feel calm and happy - at least temporarily.
This sugar induced sense of euphoria comes from several chemical mechanisms in your brain.
First of all, the sheer pleasure of tasting a chocolate treat or powdery donut stimulates your brain's pleasure pathways and the release of dopamine and endorphins, the chemicals that makes you feel exhilarated.
You also get a quick surge of energy as the sugar hits your bloodstream. Unfortunately, that energized feeling lasts only as long as the sugar rush.
Once your blood-sugar levels drop (about an hour or two later), you're left feeling drained and out of sorts. You become an addict looking for another hit.Clearly, then, food can be as powerful as the most addictive drug.
If you're experiencing carbohydrate cravings as a result of taking antidepressants, you're probably well aware of the addictive nature of certain foods.

Addictive foods are almost always processed foods. (I have never known anyone addicted to lima beans.) And you probably know that feeding your cravings only makes you crave the food even more.
In fact, some studies suggest that food cravings may be triggered by low levels of neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins), a phenomenon that may also occur in people who are addicted to alcohol and drugs.
Research by Judith Wurtman, Ph.D., at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that women suffering from PMS - related mood swings felt calmer after eating carbohydrates; carbohydrates help the body to absorb tryptophan, which can be made into mood improving serotonin.






Because of consequences

You will always experience the consequences of your own thoughts and actions. Consider for a moment what a perfectly wonderful blessing that is. The things you think and the things you do serve to mold the world around you. What more could you possibly ask for?
It is at once an awesome responsibility and a magnificent opportunity. You can think, you can act, and by so doing you can shape your world. Because your thoughts and actions have consequences, you have a choice in the way your life proceeds. You have a choice in what your world becomes.

Even if your consequences seem to be a burden, that too can be a blessing. For it compels you to see the need for adjusting and improving your choices.

Because of the consequences that flow from your thoughts and actions, you can go where you want to go, be who you want to be, and live in a world fashioned by your choices. Choose wisely in each moment, and you'll eagerly welcome each new consequence.

-- Ralph Marston