Carri: NOPE you are eligible for this quarter too. The only one not eligible is Julie since she is buying the next card.

I found a good lowfat meatball recipe I am going to try with the spaghetti I am fixining tonight. I only buy ground sirloin anymore so that really cuts the fat out of stuff and these are only 72 cal for 3 one once meatballs, which isn't too bad.

I finished up hanging those darn pictures, but it is pouring rain here and I am afraid the walls won't dry too well so I am foregoing starting the painting. We have a festival called Memphis in May every year that last the whole month and the first week is this huge music festival and it poured down rain the whole weekend so it was mud city for that and today through SATURDAY is the BBQ contest, which is pretty famous and they are getting drowned in that too now. I refuse to go down there because they charge $10 per person and that is just to walk through the gate. You have to pay to sample the people's bbq entries anywhere from $5 for like one sample to $50 to sample them all. I need to get off and shut down we are having major lightening and thunder.

Faye

Hi Ladies,

@ Carri "not a happy cramper"

Thunder and Lightening we rarely get anything like that here i don't mind the odd storm but i can't remember what YEAR the last one was

Will be another 4pt day here for me its amazing how getting a job where you have to wear pants with your backside on view (no, i don't mean those chaps shirt must be tucked in) can motivate a girl wish i'd got the job years ago

Need to get in the garden and plant while the sun shines BBL

Ok chickies... now I'm really upset, so yaw'l will have to excuse me for a minute...

I hate AOL, this computer gets on my nerves and I could just burn and trash the whole thing!!!!! WHOOOOO

Ok, sorry about that! I just spent a whole 15 minutes typing my post and you know what happens... AOL just cuts off and I lost everything!!!! I swear, why does this only happen to me?!? Plus my daughter is making me CRAZY!!!! I swear she has my throat sore from yelling at her and you know what she does? That is sooo not cool!!!

Guess what everyone, I was in a great mood before this stupid computer made me mad... now my hubby is going to come home and have a fit because I'm on here... But that's ok.. I'm going to be nice just for you guys so you won't think I'm a bad person, or a whiny baby, or oscar the grouch!

Ok Faye, You want to help me? Make my husband eat right!!!! Boy I've tried to get him to eat healthy!! The only time I can get him to eat chicken is the way I'm doing it today, smothered with gravy lol. I tried to sneak a turkey sausage link on him the other day... he ate it but he looked like this: My dad is obese and is a diabetic among other things, and so is my mom. But my dad is the one who taught me how to cook healthier. I would cook healthier for my son when it was just me and him. Hamburger helper with turkey groundmeat, same with Spaghetti and other things, but my husband won't allow it. But oh well, he's friggin skinny anyway, that scarecrow But I'll take some of your recipes though.. Maybe he'll come around!

Ok today was a 4 pt day for me!

Here is my effort for eating more protein and food:

B- Turkey saus link, 1 sl wheat bread, f/f mayo
L- Salsberry steak w/mashed potatoes (lean michelinas) *hide from Mirabelly*
S- Apple
D- 4 oz Catfish filet with green beans and salad

My exercise was:
45 Min Denise Austin
60 Min Treadmill
300 crunches
15 (girl) pushups
a couple of other exercises that I dont know the name of so I make them up!

Well, Saturday is Weigh in, pretty nervous! But at least I'll know something is wrong if I gain!!! Hopefully + =

I wanna try to get to know everybody better, especially not complaining all the time.. that gets annoying I know!! LOL But I think I got it licked for now! I can't remember if I wrote anything else but oh well this is good. I will try to get names together too.. not too good at remembering, still havent read all of the profiles Faye posted for me.... Didnt seem like that many people were on here!!! LOL They are running from me!! Be afraid.. be very afraid!!!

Oh well Satine & Amanda - hope you both feel better!
Faye- spaghetti sounds...Yummy!!

I'm going to go now since I've typed everyone to sleep with all of this.. so I'll check back tomorrow!! Hope everybody have a good evening!!

FRIDAY: Today is Fabulous Lbs Down Friday. How did you do this week?

Jaymi: My dh didn't like the turkey sausage either, but Jimmy Dean has a lite sausage that is a combo of turkey and pork and tastes the same and my dh likes it. I have found that you kind of have to ease into better eating for your family. Try making chicken the way I said and make the gravy from bouillon instead of fat or buy canned ff gravy. I wouldn't worry too much about your family, just make littl changes here and there and let them get used to them.

I will talk to everyone later.

Faye

Morning Girlies!
Quick post......today is my loooonnnnggg day of setting up the theater and helping 45 people through a dress rehearsal.....oh yeah, and dancing myself.

Since this seems to be "fix Jaymie's life" week I've been thinking about some of your posts and you sound soooo much like me a few years ago. I am a stay-at-home mom and ever since I had my first child, I put myself LAST. I thought that was what I was supposed to do.....my babies got all my attention, love and energy. Whatever was left went to my husband. I got SQuAT! I had no love left for myself. Let me tell you, THAT was what made me gain 100 pounds and sink into a decade long depression!!!!!! Over this past year, I have learned so much about myself and how to take care of my family better. I have stopped yelling at my kids, mostly That was what I hated about myself most was all the yelling.

Once I started taking care of ME FIRST, suddenly I had tons of energy and love to take care of my family. For the first time ever, I have a mostly clean house and car. My body is healthier than it has been in 10 years (and getting better all the time). My kids are happy. My husband is happy. Life is great! Oddly enough, part of my learning to do something for myself came a few years ago when dh "politely" suggested that I go find a dance class again. (ok, he practically threw me out the door.....) and NOW look at me! I'm in charge of the whole freakin' group. Sometimes I think he regrets it, because I put so much energy into my dance. But I know he was really worried about me being so depressed before.

SO.......EVERYONE can benefit from putting themselves first and then taking care of the family. You would think that is selfish behavior, but it's not. It's the only way you can effectively raise a happy family. When you ride on an airplane, they tell you to put the oxygen mask on YOU FIRST and then your child. Cuz if you're messed up, you can't help anyone.


Jaymie, I would have a talk with your husband about the fact that you want to change the family's diet to a healthy one. You should NOT have to cook multiple meals! Ask him to help you pick out recipes that he thinks look tasty. He's not going to like everything, and neither are you. Alot of the "diet" foods are just plain nasty! I gave up ff salad dressings and ff cheese a long time ago, cuz EEWWWWWWWW But you can eat healthier just by preparing things differently. Like Faye said, baby steps....change one thing at a time. A body gets used to tastes over time. I've come to LOVE Louis Rich turkey bacon, but any other brand is nasty.

If he won't help you, maybe HE needs to be the one making his own meals. You need to raise your baby with healthy habits or she will have to deal with all this crap just like you are.

Sometime last year, someone posted the link to flylady's website, and THAT place changed my life! So, I'm gonna post it again in case anyone wants to check it out. Everything I've said here is on there, and much more. www.flylady.net


Ok, I said this was going to be short, right?? I got no sleep last night worrying about the show......so I've been thinking about all this stuff for hours. I'm going to try to practice what I preach today and NOT go overboard trying to help everyone else get ready. I'm going to concentrate on ME....so that I can be the confident calming presence that everyone thinks I am

One last thing JAYMIE>>>>>>> THANKS A BUNCH for the Dora comments:
I'M THE MAP I'M THE MAP I'M THE MAP I'M THE MAP I'M THE MAP I'M THE MAP

That's been going through my head for DAYS!

Ok, I really gotta go now. Probably won't get time to post until Monday, so everybody have a great weekend. And think happy calm thoughts for me!

Later babes,
Julie

Morning Everyone ...

Julie, Julie - GOOD LUCK with the show, you will do great!!!

Jaymi - I am with Julie and Faye, you have to break them in easy, if you are trying to throw all this tasteless fat free stuff on him then no he will not go for it, you could learn alot from Faye on how to cook low fat and still keep the taste, so ask her for some recipes...I always choose the "lite" version over the "fat free", the ff they usually have to add alot of sugars or hidden things to make it taste somewhat decent...You will get a hang of it, sounds like you have a little stress going on in your life, take a deep breathe and relax
it all works out, life is good

Of course right now my life isnt so good 2nd full day of TOM and cramps still killing me this morning ( Thanks for catching that joke CAT I guess we have the same corny sense of humor, ha ) ... and the a/c repairman was coming back this morning as he couldnt fix it all yesterday, but hey I got my health, great husband and family - so I will relax and get through this TOM and go on with a smile

Hope you all have a good one, check in later ... oh and p.s. no pounds down, again TOM!!!!

Morning Ladies,

Jaymi, you don't eat very much at all do you? ONE sausage on ONE slice of bread ? i'm having a big fat omelette for brekky one egg, 3 egg whites and a load of ham in it with a slice of wholemeal toast yum-yum. How about something like that? Lots of protein there

I've lost 3lbs this week and i figured out this morning that if i can keep this up i'll be at goal for August just in time for my relatives to arrive can't wait to see their faces when they get a hold of me

Cat: Weigh to go girl on the loss!

I am down 5 lbs this week. I was getting pretty depressed about it all, but I think it was hormonal and water.

POINTS POINTS POINTS POINTS:

Jaymi
Cat
Julie
Faye

Jaymi: Here are a couple recipes that your family would probaby like and are lowfat and really yummy. Just double or triple the casserole for your family size

CHICKEN AND GREEN CHILE CASSEROLE

2 4 ½ OZ BONELESS CHICKEN BREASTS
½ CUP UNCOOKED RICE
1 CAN LOWFAT (98% FAT FREE) CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP
1 CAN CHOPPED GREEN CHILES (GET THESE IN THE AISLE WHERE YOU FIND TACO SHELLS)
1 SMALL CAN BLACK OLIVES
¼ C GRATED LOWFAT CHEDDAR CHEESE

HEAT A SMALL PAN OF WATER TO BOILING. IN A BOWL PLACE SOUP, GREEN CHILES, DRAINED OLIVES AND RICE. ADD ONE SOUP CAN OF BOILING WATER TO THE MIX AND STIR UNTIL WELL BLEND. PLACE IN A ROUND CAKE PAN SPRAYED WITH PAM, PLACE BONELESS CHICKEN BREASTS ON TOP OF RICE MIX AND SPRINKLE CHEESE OVER CHICKEN.

BAKE AT 400 DEGREES FOR 40-45 MINUTES. REMOVE CHICKEN TO A PLATE AND STIR RICE MIXTURE AND SERVE.

MAKES 2 SERVINGS 545 CALORIES/140 FAT CALORIES


Beef Stew

2 pounds extra lean beef stew meat
1 1/2 cups water
1 can Italian style stewed tomatoes
2 onions, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
1/2 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 package fat free beef bouillon
2 cups tomato juice
5 large potatoes, cubed
2 carrots, sliced
1/2 cup red wine
2 bay leaves
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup tomato juice
6 Tablespoons all purpose flour

1. Remove all visible fat from beef and cut into cubes.

2. In large skillet over high heat, cook beef cubes in water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour or until beef is tender, adding water to beef as needed.

3. Meanwhile, in large nonstick saucepan over high heat, combine next 11 ingredients, bring to boil; stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low, cook uncovered for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. When vegetables are tender, remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.

4. In blender, combine tomato juice and flour, mix on high for 1 minute or until smooth.

5. Return vegetables to low heat, add cooked beef cubes and slowly stir in flour mixture. Stirring constantly, cook beef stew until sauce thickens.

6. Serve stew hot with salad and hot rolls. Makes 12 servings; Per serving: 205 Calories, 3.5 Fat Grams


I painted part of the dining room but it is going to have to take 2 coats to cover the tan that is in there currently so I know there isn't enough paint to do the three walls. SIGH! Gotta go and exercise!

Faye

Faye - Those recipes sound good, I may try the chicken one, I love chiles..

Just wanted to check back in and wish everyone a good weekend since I probably wont check in until Monday....Stay OP, I know the weekends are the hardest !!!

Hey everybody!!! Well I was going to tell yaw'l about my day but..... Now I'm too embarrassed!!!

Well my weigh day is tomorrow, but I guess...after tomorrow, I will have to switch it to Fridays. So I will let you know tomorrow...

Faye- Wow 5 lbs!!! Amazing!! I'm just hoping to lose 1 LOL I copied and pasted your recipes. Tried to print them but this computer is Don't get me started with that! I usually retire myself on Sat and Sun, but I might try one of the recipes this weekend.

Cat90- (still dont know your name!!) Yipee 3 lbs!! Dang... what kind of exercises are you doing again?!?! Your breakfast waters my mouth...but I doubt I can get it all down. No I really don't eat a lot at once....anymore. That was a big part of my problem, portions. I used to have 2 real sausages with 2 slices of white bread with real mayo all over it..and still could eat more... Let's not even go to pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, grits....
Ok, don't laugh, but I have yet to master the technique to cooking an omlette!! I do eat eggs though like today, but its the egg beaters (store brand)

Satine- (dont know your name either) Sorry to hear about the cramps....they really suck...sometimes I wish we didnt have to have a TOM unless we felt like it.

Mirabelly- Ok, now you should be a bellydancer/comedian!!! Man you are too funny, @ Since this seems to be "fix Jaymie's life" week) Well you hit the nail on the head...( i think that's right?) But anyway, Depression has been haunting since before we were married, but it didnt appear fully until we first got married. I had to quit my job and move to this new city 3 hrs away from home and sit in the house with my son. Not that I can really call this place a city, because there was absolutely nothing in it but trees, coyotes and deer. Then to top it all off, we moved in a trailer...not one of those fancy ones you see on tv either. I was living in a 2 bedroom house before this...then all that plus still being upset about my miscarriage. I was depressed to the point of actually being sick. I just stayed in the bed all day until my son asked me to do something. Then right before my husband got home I would cook ,straighten up, feed him and my son, and get right back in the bed...Man...that was hard. But believe it or not....as bad as a situation that it sounds like I'm in....I'm improving..big time!!! Kinda scary aint it!!!

OK, so now I'm embarrassed.... it has been like fix Jaymi's life week...so next week....hopefully a newbie will come along so you can fix theirs!!!

Oh, and sorry about that, but Dora is on...right now!!! I just gave in and put it on....Now she's sitting there like a statue. I swear... she could speak spanish and say backpack and map... before she could say anything else!!!

Question: What kind of exercises do you all do regularly?


Ok, 4 pt day for me, here is my second effort, since I've been getting nauseus (or however you spell it) I've added a (little) more:

B-egg, real saus link, 4 mini pancakes w lite syrup
L-Vegetable Stew w/Beef
S- 2 apples (@ diff times)
D- Prob 4 oz catfish, greenbeans and salad or cucumbers

Exercise-
45 min Denise Austin
60 min treadmill

Drank all of my water for the day

I try to do ab work everyother day, just looking for some lower body exercises that I can add on the oposite days.

Well, I guess I'll be going now, my hubby will be home soon so I better get off, he says I'm addicted to the internet if he sees me get on here once..so dont feel like cussing him out today.. too much going on. I dont want to tell you all about that now, will wait until another day, so it wont be fix Jaymi's life week, it'll be.....something else....

Bye Everyone, wish me luck for weigh in tomorrow!!!

Greeting from the chickie that has to cross the road too much!

Work has been so busy this week. I wish that I would have had the enegry to keep up and post more this week but from some reason my batteries needed charging.

Julie, you look AWESOME!

I lost I lost I lost. I am down 3lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah for me. Gotta run time is short.

Hi all

I'm actually down about 2 pounds! NO CLUE how I did it...but TOM just ended so....
Been so busy and tired, so I've not been able to check in too often.

I just talked to one of my best friends from high school, he's on a long road trip and wanted to call people to keep himself awake...kind of bittersweet...Great to talk to him...but it just reminds me how much I miss him.

Congrats on all the losses