well i don't know about the benefits of any entirely "free" day. definitely not a binge. that would not be good. but i think it is good to plan on having random days where, in additon to healthy foods you might ordinarily have, you might have a treat (in moderation) that you usually say no to. i have heard that if you consistently deny yourself foods that you really like, then you can get tired of dieting in general and can just abandon your plan, especially if you are temporarily not getting results.
i don't think that this would work for people that eat compulsively, due to trigger foods.

I agree Cadwell, for bingers (like me!) free days would never work. I think it would make it so much harder to get back OP the next day. But, some people could do it and it might work if they have more control.

Uncovering--I don't think all or nothing is the right attitude, but free days might not be best for you either. What plan do you follow? Can you work treats into your program so you don't feel deprived when you really want them? I am counting calories and I have already decided that when I really want something I will have it, but in a portion that I can fit within my calorie limit. It's kind of a portion control thing. Also, finding substitutes for things you love will help get over most cravings without having to eat the exact thing you want. There are lots of healthy sweet things out there if you have a sweet tooth. Try to work it into your plan, so it's really not all or nothing, it's just portion control and keeping within your plan. Any plan that absolutely allows no treats ever will not work in the long run.

LauraB--How did the dinner go? What did you have?

Great job not binging after the fight Mel, that can be SO hard because we all know how hubbies can get the blood boiling at times ;)

Sandi, that way of counting from dinner to dinner is a great idea. Last time I counted calories I ended up never having enough left for a satisfying dinner and would binge at night. So far I haven't had that problem (only done it 2 days though LOL) but in the future I may have to do this way as well.

Jeanne, I don't know when strawberry season ends but they are still selling them in our grocery store. I might try it with frozen ones as well, thaw them out first overnight. And it might work with different fruits, using different flavors of jello. Peach sounds yummy.

Big pat on the back to everyone in the group...WE CAN DO THIS!

As for me, the scale is still sitting still :mad: I have gone kinda scale mad, weighing every morning just hoping it might move down. I'm just hoping by next Wed. it will. There's no reason it shouldn't with the counting calories and exercising. Yesterday I came in just under 1800 calories, the very upper end of my limit and I didn't feel overly full this time. It was a heavy exercise day, so I really needed the calories. I spent 2 hours doing some very hard gardening work, 8 miles on the gazelle, and WATP 1 mile. So, those calories were well used! I use up 500 calories just in 4 miles on gazelle, so a lot of them were burnt up just in exercise. Today might be a less active day, so I will aim my calories more toward 1500.

I was shocked when I went to some of the fast food websites. Some of the products advertised as healthier are not really that healthy! Especially Subway, their new wraps always seemed to me like the healthier option, but really they are lower in carbs...but super high in fat and calories! The turkey wrap made my list with 190 calories, 6 grams fat...but the others were way, way higher than that. I was surprised.

Did you guys know that taco bell has a way of making things healthier? It says on their website that if you order and say "fresco style" then they will substitute any sauces or mayo, etc. for this tomato mixture that has 0 fat. You can put in any of their products on the website and it will show you the new nutrition facts fresco style...and it really makes a difference! I could fit a lot of things into my calories easily if done fresco style. I wonder why this isn't advertised more widely, because I didn't know this.

Okay, off to another day, I'm late getting the youngins up. I don't know how we will ever make it to preK on time LOL

Theresa

I am not too sure about a free day either. I have those "trigger foods" that I CAN NOT touch or I will lose control..Remember the Lays chips comercial (SP?)where they said I bet you can't eat just one?? well that's me with chips, cookies, breads,donuts etc.... anything starchy made from processed flour and loaded with sugar. I am still going thru withdrawls. I have bought a few packs of the 100 calories snacks because they are portioned correctly and I have had a couple single serve size baked lays .. But I can't keep big bags of cookies and chips in the house - I am finding that if I can work in a treat or two a day I don't feel deprived at all. am depending on FF/SF jello with coolwhip free today for my cravings.. I did good yesterday with my first day of points and today is getting easier.. although it's almost the TOM and i may have to buy some SF/FF chocolate pudding or frozen fudge pops

I made the strawberry pie last night and it was gone in record time.. I had one piece and we added dollops of coolwhip free on there.. I like the idea of peaches ... may have to try tonight! :lol:
we got a bonus coupon from our direct tv and we get free showtime channels so I did get to watch that movie "supersize me".. Kinda scary.. I am going to choose very carefully tomorrow at McDonalds and I told the kids once a month we can go for fast food and ONLY once per month - place of their choice. they were all ok with that ?????? (I am wondering who kidnapped my kids and replaced them with kids who are ok that mom's on a diet and now they are eating better too and not fussing about it?? :lol: ) Of course the school they go to doesn't allow any foods for lunch or snacks that has sugar listed in the first 4 ingredients and that includes High Frutose corn syrup...and no foods with artificial colorings etc..

I tried to ask for the fresco style at taco bell one day and they all looked at me like I was crazy including the Mgr. so maybe that's why they don't publicize it more-because they don't know about it.so I went home copied the stuff off the web site and next time I went to taco bell showed the Mgr.. they were still confused :dizzy: .. I am so glad the closest taco bell is 20 miles away! Burger king is right down the road from work But I don't like BK so I never stop- my biggest stopping place was chick fil a or mcdonalds..as they have the best biscuits and fries ... the dr. told me to write down what I used to eat in a day and compare it to what I am eating now to see the difference in calories and fat .. I am ashamed to say that the calories I used to eat for breakfast is the same amount I am now eating for breakfast, lunch and 2 snacks and on Binging days it was my calories count for my now whole day eating..

Laura B I hope all went well last night

Mel .. I am so glad you didn't binge.. I got upset with my hubby last night and went was able to do longer on the evil :devil: bike than before...
Everyone have a great day and thanks for all the support..

Have a dr's appt. this afternoon - the nurse has agreed when she weighs me not to let me see the results- they are so great there!
Sandi

Good morning all
I did good last night at dinner. When we arrived there were large boiled shrimp, and nice cheeses and crackers on the coffee table to eat while we chatted before dinner. I ate 10 shrimp. Dinner was baked chicken, summer squash and mashed potatoes. I pushed a piece of chicken around my plate (thank you Melissa) and ate alot of squash and a piece of bread. Dessert was icecream, a tiny scoop with cooked fruit on top so I was fine. I put my day into fitday.com when I got home and I was under 1300 calories.
Being part of this group ,made all the difference, cause I knew I would be posting this AM, and I didn't want to say I messed up.
Re a free day. There is a diet book, by Rachel Heller, that says eat zero carbs for breakfast and lunch and eat a healthy supper of anything you want, that must be consumed in one hour and you will lose weight. I ate so much in that hour, I could burst. I do think tho that a planned falling off is good cause you know you will stop and you can always say when you are craving something that you will have it on your falling off.
If anyone wants to get totally turned off to fast food, rent the movie Supersize Me. What you see is so horrible you will never go to Mickey Ds again.
Laura

I watched Supersize Me as well and I thought it was a bit overboard because he eats at McD's every meal every single day...and who does that? And made sure to eat everything on the menu at least once...who does that? Yes, eating there a lot will blow you up if you don't make good decisions, so that point was made clear regardless. When I looked at their website to see what I could have I was surprised to see how high in fat these new chicken sandwiches are...even the grilled ones are 500-700 calories and at least 30 g of fat!!! it's the same with Subway and Arby's with their "healthy" wraps...they are mostly 500-800 calories a piece and at least 30-40 g of fat. They advertise the "lo carb" and make it out like they are healthy but they aren't. Okay, enough of that rant lol

Here is what I did put on my list to choose from when I end up at McD's:
Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken = 220 calories; 6 g fat
Chicken McGrill Sandwich (NO MAYO) = 290 calories; 5 g fat
Side Salad = 15 calories; 0 fat
Apples with Caramel Dip = 100 calories; 1 g fat
Fruit N Yogurt Parfait = 160 calories; 2 g fat
Tangy Honey Mustard Sauce = 70 calories; 2 g fat

And Chic-fil-A, since someon mentioned it (they are hard, very high fat in everything):
Chargrilled Chicken Garden Salad = 180 calories; 6 g fat
Southwest Chargrilled Salad = 240 calories; 8 g fat
Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich = 270 calories; 3.5 g fat
Chargrilled Chicken Cool Wrap = 390 calories; 7 g fat
Fresh Fruit Cup = 60 calories; 0 fat
Side Salad = 60 calories; 3 g fat
Honey Mustard Sauce = 45 calories; 0 fat
BBQ Sauce = 45 calories; 0 fat
FF Honey Mustard Dressing = 60 calories; 0 fat

I did Arby's, Bojangles, KFC, Denny's, Subway, Taco Bell, Wendy's, if anyone is interested in those lists just let me know. Don't want to post all that if no one is interested. I am going to add Burger King, even though we rarely eat there. And Hardees, we eat there occaisonally but might as well go through it and be prepared if it does happen.

Theresa

LauraB, you did AMAZING at your dinner last night! Make sure you are eating enough though, 1300 is kind of low for women...doctor told me not to drop below 1500, but that may be because he knows how much I am working out, who knows. Just make sure you are not starving, that's all I worry about.

Sandi, glad you liked the pie...I am going to have to get some strawberries now! Let me know if you try the peach. I was thinking today that rasberry might be good as well. Or maybe blueberries and rasberries mixed with some other flavor jello.

Theresa

Thanks Purple for the nice words.
I did around 1300 last week and lost 2 pounds so I'm thinking that might be ok.
Right now I am not working out at all. I still have Lyme disease and not ready yet. Maybe next week I can start and then come up in calories a bit.
Laura

Well, Ladies my first work out at Curves was yesterday and I loved it. Was sweatin and you could really feel it working, I love the hydrolics instead of free weights cause you cant lose your form. So I am gonna go every second day for the rest of August then gonna try from Monday to Saturday come September after kids are back to normal school routines. I have decided I'm not going to weight in weekly cause they weigh you and do your measurements monthly at Curves, my monthly weigh in is on the 10th or 11th so I will post my results probably on the 12th of every month. I have already lost 6 pounds in two weeks cutting back on my Pepsi, so I figure if I can stop the Pepsi habbit and exercise I will be all set. ( yes I drink lots a 2lt a day, down now to maybe a can or two) I quit drinking Pepsi about 2 years ago for 3 weeks and lost 15lbs, with out exercise so I figure if I can stop drinking it and WITH exercise I should be able to do farily well. After I lose 25 lbs gonna try and buy a treadmill so I can also walk daily, I have gone for a couple walks now but another 2 month or so the weather will start to get crappy way up here in Northern Ontario, our winter are soemtimes -40'C so I figure a treadmill might be a very good investment. Wish me luck ladies and keep up the great work.

You're on the right path, Ice Princess...this time YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT!!!! :cheer: :cheer: Just keep positive and keep checking with us and we'll all get to our goals...and stay there!

I am going out shopping with hubby and kids tonight and we might end up eating out...so I have my list all printed out and in the purse, ready to be used. I feel I have the power to stick to it and order off my list, even request NO MAYO when necessary. Before, I used to just guess what i thought was healthiest, but now after looking at all the facts I realize I was picking very high fat things! Now I"m armed and ready.

Theresa

Hi guys!
I am such a moron! I didn't know there was a group for us to post here! I thought it had just all moved to emails.

boy I coulda used this over the last week. It's not been a good one on many fronts, hopefully today will start a better week!

Carrie

Just checking in before I hit the sack. Carrie, glad you found us again! Hope no one else is stuck on the email thinking that's all there is.

I'm not going to be around tomorrow, but will try to check in at night. We are going to the farm and have a lot of work to do with the horses. First is taking Tilly to the vet to see if she's pregnant or not. Then it's working with the newest member to the barn...we named him Sundown and he's absolutely gorgous, almost all white with some nicely placed brown. I won't be planning formal exercise, but we will take the horses out on the trail so that is great exercise in itself. Actually, I probably burn more calories riding than I ever will on the gazelle. I want to get Tomahawk out in the field and let him burn through the wind...he is so fast, I just love being on him!

Okay, night everyone. Have a great day tomorrow and I'll check back in when we get home...unless I"m too tired.

Theresa

theresa.. i love taco bell fresco style. maybe it's from growing up eating san diego-style taco shop food, but i just don't think that cheese belongs in a taco. salsa is where it's at! not that eating gigantic carne asada burritos with guacamole helped me lose weight! i usually stay away from fast food as it leaves me hungrier than before i ate it, but in a pinch, i'll get fresco-style tacos from taco bell or a southwest chicken pita from jack in the box. the pita is great.. only 260 calories, and good flavor too. sandi, if the taco bell people there still don't get it about fresco, you can just ask for salsa instead of any sauce or cheese. that way they don't have to do much thinking :)
scales are pretty dumb. maybe you're losing fat and gaining muscle. at least that's what i tell myself when the scale stays the same, but i think i'm getting trimmer. not that i can stay off the scale. if i had one at home, i would probably weigh myself ten times a day.
carrie, thanks for the congrats on the job. i am keeping my fingers crossed, but i know there will be a lot of competition from all these out-of-work experienced-with master's degrees-planners vying for *my* job! all i have is my college internship :( i hope things start going better for you this week.

I am feeling very down. My grownup son is behaving very badly and I know I can talk to him but I can't force him to make better decisions. I wish he was back to playpen age so I could pick him up, put him in the playpen and not let him out iof my sight and into the real world where I have to worry about what stupid thing will he do next.
so needless to say, what I really want to do is eat until I feel totally full, sweets and salty stuff and lots of bread and butter and I could even eat a whole watermelon. Sounds crazy huh? I managed yesterday. I stayed at 1300 calories, and I don't want to lose my resolve, cause if I do, he will come to his senses one day soon(I hope) and then I will still be fat.
Laura