Happy Mothers Day everyone
Just finished cleaning, doing laundry, and shopping. Just a moment to rest a bit before getting some lunch.
Siwa: sounds like a fun party. There is a Red hat group here in the park, but I have just never had time to be a part of it.

Candice: How did the new cookie recipe turn out? And was your scale wrong, since your DH had been using it?

Magnoliamouth: You must be quite a bit cooler in North Fl. than we are here in Central. But I love it anyway. I have turned into a real Floridian, and get so cold when we go north to visit.

I have lost the 1 lb. I gained when we went on our vacation. Now, to just keep going down in the numbers.

Hi Barb, Kate, Alice Hope you all have a great day tomorrow. Ann

Just checking in on everyone. Had another pretty good week. we are still eating our prepared foods, which comes to 1600 calories a day. I've been to the health club and exercised everyday this week. Do I get points for that?

With the over 300 group I also post with, we decided to give Dr Phil a try. I have never been a fan of his, but since the group was planning on giving it a try, I decided to be open minded and read it too. We are doing a chapter a week making it a "12 Step" program. We've just finished week one. I'm not sure I want to be that honest, even with myself :lol: If it gets deeper as it goes on, it will either work, or completely turn me off.

Let me add my Happy Mother's Day wishes to all of you. Have a great day!

The cookie recipe was wonderful!!!!!!! Good thing it only made 12 cookies!


Butter Pecan Cookies 4pts each

Makes 12 (3 inch cookies); Prep time: 15 minutes; Total time: 30 minutes
These delicate, buttery cookies, which get their crunchy texture from
toasted pecans and a sugar coating, practically melt in you mouth.

3/4 cup pecans
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar, plus more for coating
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 350°. On a baking sheet, toast pecans until
fragrant, about 6 minutes. Let cool completely; finely chop.

2. With an electric mixer, cream butter and 1/3 cup sugar until
light, about 1 minute. Beat in vanilla, salt, and flour, scraping down
sides of bowl, just until dough comes together. Fold in pecans.

3. Separate dough into 12 pieces; squeeze dough to shape into balls.
Roll in sugar. Place, 3 inches apart, on a baking sheet. Gently flatten
with the bottom of a glass (reshape sides if necessary). Sprinkle with
sugar.

4. Bake until golden brown, rotating sheet halfway through, about 15
minutes. Sprinkle with more sugar. Cool cookies on a wire rack.

Anyone know why my last batch of blooming tulips drooped this year. (It has been very dry and it was about 90 the day they opened, could taht do it?)

How much have you lost. I am sitting on 19 pounds lost now and 28 to go, and I may go 32 more. That is probably a better look for me.

I wish someone would have a red hat party around here, I'd love and excuse to buy and wear a hat! I just got a Bunko kit and I'm hoping I can hook up with some ladies in my area and convince them to start playing. It can be a bit tough since I leave about 20 minutes outside of a small, small city. But if not now then maybe in the future!

I don't like Dr phil very much so I would have a hard time doing anything of his.

Oh darn on that cookie recipe. I have high cholesterol and have to really watch what I eat. I have to stick to stuff that is not going to raise that if it is possible. Just had a check up on that last week and I am worried about the results. Hopefully it is down far enough that I can avoid medication, or get the doctor willing to see if it will go down more with the next 28-32 pounds. But if he says take it I will.

Well I did my walk on Saturday even though it was our anniversary, but I still did well all day with food because I wanted to bank a bunch of calories for dinner. I had to do the same on Mother's day. I weighed Monday and had lost a 1 lb. I tried to keep myself from thinking I might have lost 2. Oh well chickies here is too a new week and a thinner week for all of us.

Hi: I guess I am in a minority, as I do like Dr. Phil. He tells it like it is, doesn't mince words and expects people to listen and put into practice the helps that he gives. but he also can be very kind and does a lot of nice things for people. Those people on his weight loss challenge have done very well. Or at least most of them. I think that there are maybe a couple that just haven't really done what is needed to make the program work. Guess we will find that out soon. And he is helping a lot of teens.

My personal opinion is that most people don't really like to face the truth about what makes them the way they are, myself included, and so when he comes on strong like he does, people get turned off, rather that face the facts. Just my opinion.

Making Dr. visits this week, and also have a mammogram. Fun fun.
Barb: Good luck with your program.

Magnoliamouth: Every pound down is a good thing. It is so hard not to want to lose it all fast, when it took time to put it on. we are a nation of folks that want instant gratification, I think. Keep up the good work.

Candice: the cookie recipe sounds good. Four points per cookie? But I am also a cholesterol watcher.

Talk to you all later. Ann

Rain here but not enough yet, we are very dry....got some yard work done in the light rain again. We need to mow again...just can't get DH too excited about it untill it gets to your knees!

I do not think I will ever beable to give up my cookies! Last I checked my cholestrol was 167 and that was 2 years ago. It was down form 205 since I had lost weight. ( But I was not eating as many cookies then either...maybe I need to get it done again!)

It was dry here also until this week. We had rain Sunday and Wednesday. Now today looks like and all day soaker. So maybe it will come your way, Candice. I did lots of planting on Tuesday. Always happens----I bring home a trunk load of plants and by the time I spread them around the yard it looks like NOTHING. I'm not even close to done but still............Now some cooler temps are predicted so I'm glad I didn't get too many impatiens in yet. The alyssum and herbs can take it a little cooler so no prob there. Still have lots of tulips, lilacs and azaleas blooming along w/a few other things so still looking quite springy.

Spent Tuesday night in the ER checking on a possible detached retina. I saw some mighty unusual things in my eye. They finally determined it was not detached but there was something in my eye that shud not be there so told me to see ophthamologist the next day. I did that and it is not a detached retina but a bunch of other stuff floating around in my vision. It's VERY annoying! I keep washing my glasses but it doesn't do any good.

Siwa: sounds like you have 'floaters'. Me too. I was told that after a while they can sort of settle in your eye and not be too troublesome. And that is true. Now the only time I am truly aware of them is if I look at water, like when I am in the swimming pool. Then I know that I have some small polliwogs in my eye. I can sympathize with you. But time will help. It is scary the first time it happens.

Had an interesting test today. At one time I had the H-pylori bacteria, which causes stomach ulcers. Thought it was all cured, but learned you can get it again. And I have been having some of the same recurring symptoms as before - so- Dr. said no blood test as that now would always show positive. There is a new one where you fast over night, then next morning blow air into test tubes, drink some stuff, wait 15 minutes and then blow air into two more test tubes. A very simple test. If it is not positive, then I guess they will have to look for something else. Oh joy.

Candice: enjoy your cookies always in moderation of course. :D:

Hi All. Where is everyone? Ann

ANN--I've had floaters in my other eye for a couple years but this was something different. I saw dark, wide ribbons swirling across my eye which widened and dissapated by turning into thousands of dots. This happened 3 times in a couple hours. I talked myself out of calling a dr until talking to a friend about it 5 hours later. Then I called our insurance hotline and the nurse told me to go to the ER now. That frightened me so I went. Turned out to not be vision threatening. Now I have a couple big floaters in the 2nd eye after the ribbons disappeared. It took me about a yr to get used to the floaters the 1st time. Now I keep thinking I see something and turn to look at it and realize it's IN my eye. Very annoying. I also have retinal puckering which makes for blurry vision and straight lines have dips in them. My eyes are so precious to me cuz I'm a visual person and all this at age 54 makes me wonder how I'll make it to 80 and 100.

Siwa: Oh you'll make it. My hope is that I never get maculara degeneration. i have a couple of friends with that, and my DH SIL has it. That can really be tough. I would have headed to the emergency room too, as you describe your experience. I know, I often turn my head and think I see something. It is annoying, or I think there is a bug flying around. I get it mostly when there is nothing else in the line of vision, like looking at water, or out a window. Fun Fun.

So glad it turned out not to be vision threatening. Hope you have a good weekend. Ann

ANN--I'm just feeling sorry for myself cuz everything seems to be going wrong at once. Seeing a dermatologist next week for a patchy unhealing spot on my face. I didn't wait around w/that one once I realized this thing was not going away. Skin cancer is ALL over in my background, including both my parents. ----I'm feeling OLD!

ok gang, I'm a slug and not being very good with my posting or my getting into 3fat chicks, but I can say, I have been maintaining my diet and exercise! I have missed you guys but everything seems to get into my way. Lots of emotional issues with my grandson that is living with us, have gotten me down. I just say a lot of silent thanks it hasn't thrown me off my own goals. Most days it makes me feel sooooooo old and out of it all. I am down to 165.5 which leaves me 25.5 pounds to goal and I am considering dropping down another 5 pounds, but waiting to see when I reach 140 pounds. I want to know how that feels and see how it goes from there. The other 5 pounds is reasonable but I also know long term maintenance may be a defeater.

CandiceJ: girl I understand you on those cookies! I have tried to subsitute low-fat graham crackers 2 at 120 calories, health valley Double choclate 3 at 140 calories, or chocolate chip rice cakes 2 at 120 calories for my old favorites. I keep pushing that good health low-fat eating and telling myself, you want to eat the fat, or take it from your A--.

Ageoldie: back on 5/8 you said you were doing dr phi's diet with another group, how is it working for you? As I said I'm not a fan of his but will give his diet a try if I hit a bump in mine. Actually something I think, it is good to switch diets during a long term diet, I think it helps the boredom of the same ole plan.

Lizziepie: I am glad his plan is working for you and for others, sometimes some diets don't work for some, or as you said they don't want to be honest with themselves and really lose the weight. The biggest fight is within ourselves I believe. I know mine is. My mind has to be ready, not just my body or my desires, or we'd all be slim, cute etc.. I think some body types and/or some people just do better on some diets. I think it is a mental thing to. As far as me, I know I feel less deprived if I can choose between many kinds of things. I am also not that big of a meat eater, even though I like chicken and fish.

Siwaosis and Lizziepie: What can you do about the floating thing in the eye? Is it just age or what, does it go and come? Sometimes I feel like I need to wash my glasses and then it still looks cloudy. I need to make an appointment for an eye exam, but hate to have my eyes dilalated. Somebody fuss at me about this!

Siwaosis: Don't feel sorry forself to long, everybody needs a good waller in the mud, but you are a survivor so don't let it get you down. And don't let it kick your diet and goals out of the door!

I am so glad to be able to get caught up with you chicks and see what all has been happening. Here in Central fl we were supposed to get rain, didn't happen! We need some it has been so hot and humid. I got a little wild yesterday and planted some yellow crook neck squash amoung my dh's palm tree landscaping, he didn't like it but didn't say anything too bad. I also planted some strawberry plants up by the side of our screened porch. I love how strawberry plants look and can't wait to pick them too.

Siwa: Magnoliamouth is right. we all need a good time of 'wallering' now and again, but just don't let it be a habit. And by all means get to the dermatologist. My DH and i now go every 6 months. he has had several places which wouldn't heal especiall on his nose. but she takes care of it. He spent so much time in the tropics and out on the wing of the bridge of ships that he had a lot of sun exposure.

Magnolia: We were looking for rain too. And so far, nothing yet. We do need it. There was a peice in today's paper about the lake levels going down. How old is your Grandson? I haven't really followed Dr. Phil's diet program. I was doing the South Beach for a while and now am back to WW. I really thing that is the best overall program for the long haul.

Candice: I just don't bake anymore, and yesterday i spent a lot of time looking a cookies and all their calories, fat content, and possible points. And ones that didn't have partially hydrogenated fat. Hard to fine those, but finally settled on some organic chocolate ones called NewmansO;s. Haven't tried them yet. Our Granddaughter, and husband and their baby(can you believe a great grandchild) are coming on Monday, so I am saving them to break out when they come.

Hi Barb, kate, Alice. Hope everyone has a good weekend. Ann

No rain no cookies, but a shaply body on the way!
 

Lizziepie

Good thing on going to the doctor, faster treated faster healed. No rain still yet, but thankfully we have a sprinkler system. The worst part is it stays overcast and humid. I'd rather have the rain or sunshine, just make up its mind!

How is the South Beach diet? When I get to my last 10 to 5 pounds I may switch to something else, and I was thinking of either south beach or The Zone, but also, I may stick to what is more reality based for me real food and counting calories.

We ate at Applebee's last night and they are coming out with a Weight watchers menu, he tells the calories, protein, fiber and I think carbs. I had the Grilled Talipea with a mango sauce last night 340 calories, and my hubby and I split a chocolate raspberry cake, which was 230 whole and 115 for each of us. I had the calories banked cause I knew we were going out somewhere. It was good and I felt filled, they quite a bit more on their menu, check in your town and see if they are doing it there to.

Weight watchers is good, and they have a good plan to flow you right into maintenance. We all know it is hard to diet, but I think keeping it off is much harder than losing it. I am bulking up for the end goal keeping it off, doing everything I can think of to help me do it, and mostly just trying to educate myself on the whys and whatfors.

Did you check the organic food Health Valley and if so how did they compare to the ones you have. This may be probably wrong, but right now I am only counting my daily calories so some of the fat calorie watching falls into that, but I don't really watch that as close as I should. I know it will be something I will need to pay more attention to during maintenace of my weight.

Hope ya'll are having a good weekend and as fat-free as possible.

Well, I'm pretty sore from workng outside yesterday for 6 hours then doing wash, and cleaning the kitchen and small freezer...was on my feet for 12 hours straight! I used muscles I didn't know I had while balancing on a board I use to walk on over the garden, you would have thought I was surfing! ( I thin board at that!) been eating lettuce and radishes form the garden..Yummmm!

Well yesterday I did not exercise and didn't drink my water, I did stay on food plan, knee is killing me from weather. But today I am going to be all over it. I am also hoping my DDR pad and DVD arrives early am so I can play with that. This is not going to be long not much to say and I want to get my treadmill done, and I always drink at least 24 oz while I'm doing that so it is killing two birds with one stone.

Just normal everyday stuff going on here. It's been a little too cold to plant things in the garden yet. I had begun and then it changed to cold so I'm holding off on some of the more tender plants. Problem is others are buying the stores out of things that I also want. I don't want to store them near a window so I just don't buy til I can plant. What are others doing? planting and then planting again when the cold gets their 1st plants? Serves them right. I understand that we're all anxious to get gardening after a long cold winter but.........All the dahlias were sold out at one store and it's still 2 weeks til they shud be planted.

I have an outing planned today w/a GF. We're going to an art exhibit, lunch and then a special grocery. Sounds odd, I know. The store is Aldi--don't know which part of the country they're in other than here. We hear that they have fantastic prices on many produce items and some other things. There is not one located near either of us so when we found out that there's one near the art exhibit we added that to our plan for the day. GF's sister in Ohio shops at Aldi all the time and says the deals are too good. One must pay $.25 to rent a cart which is recovered when the cart is returned and they don't supply bags. Just a couple ways they keep the costs down. Hoping to come home w/lots of veggies for the week.

MAGNOLIA--Your dinner at Applebees sounds good. They are one of my fav chain restaurants. You're doing so well on you wt loss. Such determination. Keep it up.

CANDICE--Were you walking on the board in the garden because the soil was wet? Does that mean you've had rain? We had rain again last nite. Tulips still going strong. We have a new anti-deer device we're trying this year. It's a motion detector that sprays water. Last year the deer ate the hostas to the ground so hoping to stop that from happening again this year. I keep forgeting that the sprayer is there when I walk out to that particular garden but it stops me before I get wet.

Siwa, we did get an ich but need much more, and I used the boards so I do not compact the soil. I still hsve cucumbers and zucchini to put in and been potting my stuff in the garage and leaving it in until this last fron passes due to the wind factor. Everytihng out here blows away!


Yard work today, the shovel and my hips do not get along very well! All my iris are blooming and smell delightful! Brought a bouquet in, filled to vases.

Perfect day for gardeining but I just came home from the dermatologist. The unhealing spot on my face is only an inflamed seborrheic keratoses. In other words, nothing to worry about. She froze it today and retuning in 4 weeks for recheck and a full body check.

We bought a truck load of plants yesterday but no time yet to get them into the ground. Hoping it will be nice again tomorrow. I'm ready for a full days work. That "special" grocery was a disappointment. I guess they have different things every time you go in so you can't go expecting to find certain items. It quenched our curiosity anyway.

Hi everyone: Sounds like you are all busy with gardening. We had great fun Monday with Grand daughter and husband and baby Ryan. A delight. Just talking and loving to run around. It was no mistake that babies come to the young, that's for sure.

Siwa:Glad the spot on your face is not a problem. We also went to the dermatologist on Tues. DH had several spots zapped, but this time I was okay. DH has been sick with a cold, which turned nasty, so he went to the Dr. today. Bronchitis, and he has antibiotics, and they gave him a lung treatment, and had to have a chest ex-ray. He very generously gave me the cold. I have been steaming, and coughing. Hope it doesn't get worse. I can't take any over the counter meds. One of those wierd people. See late. Now I'm going to go nurse myself. Ann

Lizzie, hope you get to feelin' better:D

Siwa, did you have storms too? The wind about beat my iris to death. Mowed yesterday and hand trimming to say and putting mulch down, maybe a few more plnats. Got grass in my eyes and now I can't see very well. Hope I do not need to go to the doc for eye drops again. I am allergic to the grass when it hits my eyes. Glad your spot was nothing....how often do you get a full body check, I have never had one????????

Planted around the yard for several hours and then DH and I went to another garden center to buy more. DH wanted to check out this store cuz he saw a report on the news that ranked it #1 for price and quality. Who can remember the price of all plants so I couldn't really tell about the price rating. It didn't feel any different than any others to me. Now I have another truck load awaiting planting. Rained all day yesterday so I did some shopping instead. Rain predicted for the next several days too. Not raining right now so I'll go out soon and try to get a few more plants in the ground.

Candice--No storms, just rain. You seem to get a lot of wind in your area. It's been quite a windy spring here but not as windy as you are. I've never had a full body exam so this will be my first. I've noticed a lot of moles on my back and I can't see them and don't trust DH to know if they look OK or not. And I have a lot of other lumps and bumps in various parts so the DR suggested she do a full body exam. Because of my family history w/skin cancer and having light Scandinavian skin I thought it was a good idea. I don't know how often she'll advise me to have it repeated.

Let's go to number 9. 5 pages is a lot. See you there. Ann

WEll here I am back from the dead. I weigh in at 161.5, but need someone to use a Tazar on me for not exercising for the past 1.5 weeks. My last posting had me going on a trip to visit relatives and get caught up and then meeting dh at my brothers about 5 hours away. Well to make a long story short. Dh stuck his nose in a big issue that had nothing to do with him, and made a very ugly scene. Hurt some of my family with his attempted actions and I am still po'd at him. I have stuck to my diet, but not exercised as I should. Thank god for some good habit forming and determinations that it did not totally throw me for a loop. Today is my offical measure day and also I am trying to get caught up with 3fatchicks. I could boo hoo all day over this but won't bore everyone, but will say this. I felt like giving him the big "D" word and going my own way! That is some what of an explaintation of how hard this all hit me! I really think my loss of the 25 pounds has given me confidence to stand up to him and not let him bully me! I think he has been very shocked that I took a tough love attitude with him over this and will not pudge off of my position. Normally, I am the peace maker between us. He is still in the dog house and he knows it "big time".