I think that if its a lifestyle change then you should be able to splurge a little bit and have what you want. But maybe these suggestions would help us:

Get a childs portion
Share some with a spouse or friends (so you don't eat all of them)
Bank calories for that day like eating more salads and save extra calories for your night out
Exercise more the next day and be extra careful the rest of the week

Even WW allows extra points for you to go out and have a good time. if you limit yourself too much you will end up bingiing

Anyone has any suggestions for gettting a 4 year old to sleep. Tonight I tried the nanny's approach where you sit on the floor make no eye contact and evenutally they fall alseep faster as each night goes on. Tonight was night 1 and it took an hour.. ugg. i thought i was going to go berzerk. but it did keep him from playing with his toys and i did learn that his light i was letting him keep on was too bright that the outside light was enough cause he is in the front of the house. anyway that light is out of his room for good. i will keep you posted on how the nanys approach works but doesn't anyone have any suggestions would be great

karyn~I hope you have some success with your son. I know it can be difficult to lget them to sleep. but it will be worth it. All three of mine now go to sleep on their own. YAy!! Not too bad, but too much, but I am offsetting it with lots of exercise. I am hoping for a good return on the scale on Sunday. (no gain) ((hugs)) to all you fabulous ladies!!! Later Chica's

Welcome back Ellen ~ How was the cruise?? Wonderful, I'm sure!!
Welcome back Karyn ~ Glad you're back and going to join us!! One thing that works with my daughter for getting to sleep at night is I rub her back for 10 minutes and 10 minutes only, then leave the room with a promise to return in 10 minutes to check on her. I only check in to kiss her on the head, say I love you and leave. The reassurance that I'm coming back helps her.

I've kicked it up a bit over the last two weeks and it's working - I lost 4 pounds this week with exercising more, eating smaller portions and picking healthier choices - ex: cottage cheese as a side instead of fries.

I want to let you ladies also know I'm with another group that is starting a weight loss challenge very soon - the thread is called BEAT THE BULGE and it is a point system where you get points for healthy eating, exercising, drinking water, etc. and add up your points each week. It's like a contest so it's very motivating. You should look for the thread and join in!!!

Have a great day!!
~ Sandra

Thanks Duseldorf !!! I thought this cat was just perfect to keep me motivated!! Thanks for the tips too and feel free to join us anytime.
~ Sandra

okay I am getting real with myself. I weighed myself on my scale yesterday and i have gained alot but not all. I changed my ticker so i need to get going on this. I have been cooking alot lately and trying to cut my bills down so not all my shopping is the lean stuff. ON monday I am starting over. This is my goal.

1. Keep walking the dog every day
2. Do a video 3 times a week or free weights
3. drink all my water
4. Limit my junk food to 1 serving or none at all
5. portion control!

With the snow coming I can't commit to this but monday i am going too. but i will try to be careful this weekend! Good Luck everyone with the storm!

PS I have a party May 13 and have to loose by then!

Thanks for the warm welcome!!!

The cruise was great and we had a blast. We came in second on a "twisting" competition, but I think the other copuple only beat us because they had been married for 37 yrs. (the crowds went nuts for people who were married for a long time) I did not do too badly, but I did gain 5lbs, but I am goijng to give my self a week to get back to where I was. I think it is probably water weight, because I was not able to get my water in and things were a little salty(but oh so yummy) I have to run, but I will post more tomorrow.

Later Chicas

Good morning ladies ~
Check out the BEAT THE BULGE sticky and threads - I've joined in on a challenge that starts today...you should all join, too.

Karyn, it sounds like you have a great plan....good luck girl! You can do it.

I already ate some chocolate today but I'm gonna try to do better the rest of the day.

~ Sandra

Good morning ladies!! I am off to a good start, but I am still wiped out from my trip. I am slowly getting through some of the stuff, but I still have to do a majority of the unpacking~and I haven't started the laundry yet either! I do have to take the kiddies to the eye dr this afternoon, so I am aiming for 1hr with the hula hoop today. I am hoping to get my exercise tapes back in by wednesday, but before than I have way too much to get done.

Just a side note~The cruse had food being served 23hrs a day(24 if you went for room service!!!) I was floored at the amout of food people were eating!! I know I ate a little more than I would normally have, but I made two rules 1. Only one plate and 2. no desert except for dinner. I did pretty well, but I did have a couple of extra deserts along the way. Well, I have to get the girls dressed. I will check in later.

Good morning everyone - no exercise yesterday AND ate chocolate!! UGH!! So I'm going to work harder at it today!!

BTW - for those of you who have been here for a while, WONDERFUL news for my niece Heather (and NRSLDY's daughter). Her body is responding really well to the chemotherapy treatment, her tumors are shrinking and some of them are even GONE!! The ones in her abdomen and chest are GONE, the ones in her neck and armpit are still there but we are very hopeful since things are working so well already!!! Woo Hoo!!! Thank you for all your kind words and prayers for her.

OK...gotta get my butt moving....talk to you later.
~ Sandra

Sandra~So funny, I was just thinking about heather this morning. Infact, I was going to ask how she was doing. I am very happy to hear that she is responding well. I will keep praying for your family.

I did well yesterday, but I only did 25mins with the hula hoop and I had a run in with some twizzlers. but I am down 2 more pounds, so I am thinking the extra weight is just water weight. I am really trying to be good to get back to pre cruise, plus I want to lose 20lbs by easter. I know that is kinda ambitios, but I was losing 2 a week before Christmas when I was doing good. So I am back to really really trying. I am going to drink my water and I have enough SF stuff to carry me through. (I usually only use the slimfast for one meal a day) I really wanted to snack yesterday(big stomache from the cruise) but I did pretty well. It helps when you don't have much in the house. I really need to go shopping!! Will probably take the girls while DS is at school tomorrow.

On the up side, I am finished unpacking, and I only have about 2 more loads of laundry to do!! And my kitchen got cleaned up today the kiddies really helped me out. I am feeling less overwhelmed with all the stuff i had to do. I will get the rest of this under control tomorrow and I will get my exercise tape in along with some hula hoop. ((hugs)) to all you lovely ladies!!

Ladies, I have a small dillema. I get all set to exercise, but then because I don't sleep well, I don't have the energy to do it in the morning. I feel worse after having slept for 7hrs than I did the night before. I know we need a new mattress, but right now I can't figure it in to our buddget. I may meable to get it mext month, but it is so hard just getting through the day as it is right now. I can't imagine if I had to do this in the long term. DH does not want to spend the money to get hte type of matress that I want. Any I deas how to make the matress I have more comfortable?? Thanks

Hi Guys~
You all know I'm a part time nurse, right? Well, I usually work day shift and when the schedule came out this last time it had some evening shifts on it which have really screwed me up. I'm sooo tired. I get home at midnight, can't go right to sleep so that happens about 2am and have to get up at 7am with DD for school. I end up skipping my morning workout cuz I feel too crappy. Waaaa!!! I have to figure this out because it's bumming me out. Hopefully, I won't get too many evening shifts next schedule and I'll get back on track.

Anyway, off to drink lots of water and work on that portion control. Have a great day ladies!
~ Sandra

OMG Ellen ~ I can't believe we both just posted about sleeping bad and not being able to exercise at the same time!! Too funny!! Have you tried flipping the mattress over and maybe putting the head at the feet? Sometimes it makes just enough difference.....
~ Sandra

Snadra~We are too funny!! I had not thought about flipping the mattress, and it is time to flip it agan, I know I did it recently, but It porbably was farther away than I thought. I hope you don't get too many evening shifts. I used to work those hours and it can really mess you up if you can't get to sleep right away. Take care ((hugs))