Leec, Congrats on the 2 lbs. that is awesome. I wish I could have said the same. I'm trying real hard to be on track this week so I can be successful on Monday. I'm doing a new WATP called "the walkdiet", it has a 1 and 2 mile on it that you can combine for a 3 mile if you want. It doesn't utilize any weights or bands but it seems to be a little more cardio than the others I have, I like it. Be sure to let me know if you discover any good tapes I may not know about.

Miki, Glad to hear from you. Sorry work is going so badly. I have been reading Dr. Phil's weight loss book and he has a questionaire in there and one of the questions is "Would you being willing to quit your job in order to attain your weight loss goals". I know, I know not possible for most people but I have definately had jobs in the past that I have felt made it nearly impossible to lose weight. Sounds like that is what you have right now. If you get more $$ that will be great but still won't alleviate the 50 hours a week (which is insane by the way). I hope things improve for you. Good luck this week and try to make some time for yourself.

MJ

Hello :)

Actually had a free minute again so thought I'd check in. Both kids had plans tonight so Phil and I are going to pile up on the couch to watch a movie shortly. It's rainy outside so it's a perfect time for that.

Emjay, work is actually getting some better. For two weeks now, I have taken an hr lunch break everyday plus left by 5:30 each day. Big improvement plus the other girl is back from her maternity leave now which helps a whole lot.

I gave my boss the letter Friday. He stopped by my office that afternoon and said, "Just wanted to let you know I"m working on it." We'll see exactly what that means soon I hope.

Fast food is the biggest problem I've had I think. I was too tired to cook at night or if I did get off early, I wouldnt want to do it when I finally had free time so we ate out alot or I picked it up and brought it home. Not healthy at all.

Going to try to get organized this weekend and shop for groceries for meals I'm going to try to plan for ahead of time. Making out menus for the week helps me.

Hope you girls have a good weekend. I'll be back when I can.

Miki

Miki, I'm glad things are going better at work. I know what you mean w/ the fast food. I have had a hard time being prepared enough to have good food in the house but am trying to get better at that. The hair salon I work at is located inside of a Walmart so once I get done working I haven't felt like going grocery shopping, even though I am right there. But on the up side we just got a Subway restaurant inside of the Walmart also, healthy convenient food, very exciting.

I came down w/ the flu/cold a few days ago and am now just starting to not feel totally miserable. Therefore I haven't excercised in a few days, very frustrating. Hopefully all goes well on the scale tomorrow AM. And hopefully I feel well enough to resume excercise again.

Leec, Hope things are going great for you. Talk to you soon.

MJ

Hi girls,

I am down 3 lbs. this morning. I was so happy because since I have been sick I thought I would have gained. But this gives me renewed motivation. Gotta go now so I can workout. Hope to hear from both of you soon.

MJ

I'm new here but just wanted to pop in and say Hi! I am trying to keep track of flex points but eating the south beach/sugar buster way - making my carbs count for something instead of the white things. I heard once "no white at night"! Hope you have a nice day and maybe I can join you on the accountability track. What type of eating plan are you girls following? Thanks. Have a great day! I'm anxious to lose weight with you!

HI girls,

I'm doing pretty good this week. No loss this morning but that's okay. Hubby and I went on a managers weekend retreat with his company so I didn't exactly stay on plan. I did however have a fantastic weekend. I guess its worth it. At least I didn't gain.

MJ-Congrats on the 3 lbs lost.:carrot: :carrot: Hope you get to feeling better.

Miki-Good for you for giving you boss the letter. I hope only good comes of it.
Hope you also enjoyed movie night.

Cheeky Chick-Welcome. By all means join us! I personally am counting calories and exercising.

Have a great day.
Talk to you soon

Leec

cheeky chick, Welcome! We are always looking for more chatters, please join us. I notice we have the same goal weight, we can work together toward it. I kind of follow WW winning points but mostly I just use it as a guideline. And I do Walk away the pounds (dvd's that I love) and walk outside. I have kind of been interested in S. Beach but never tried it would love to hear more about how it is doing for you...

Leec, Congrats on maintaining. That is nice that you had a fun weekend, it's good to get away w/o worrying about food and excercise the whole time you are gone. Keep up the good work.

Talk to everyone soon.

Good morning ladies! Hope your day is going well so far. My week has been going well since I have cut out almost all white stuff and have been eating healthier and whole wheat/low carb items. I have also been exercising at the Y on an ARC trainer for 20-30 minutes 4 days so far this week. Does anyone have any recipies for low point dessert ideas - I've been snacking on ff sf pudding - the cook and serve kind - cause it tastes like homemade. I like frozen blueberries. I love dried dates but have to be careful cause I know they have lots of sugar. I'm trying to watch the sugar intake so any tips would be much appreciated. Hope you day goes well and am eager to get any diet insights you may have that have helped you. I also journal my food, do you?

Good Morning Ladies,

I'm doing pretty good this week. It's been pretty quiet at work as I am between projects. It's actually pretty nice.

Cheeky Chick-Glad to hear you're doing well. Sounds like the exercise is going good. Keep up the good work. A few things I like for dessert are fresh fruit, jello, lf sf pudding, weight watchers makes some really good icecream bars and another idea is to take a mini chocolate rice cake and put a thin layer of peanut butter on top and microwave for a few seconds. Its yummy, tastes like a recese's peanut butter cup. Just a few ideas I can think of right now.
Miki or MJ if you guys have any other foods ideas or recipes, I would love to hear about them. I'm always looking for new ideas so that I don't get bored eating the same thing all the time.

Have a great day!

Leec

I just got this little XBox this past week!! I love it - my personalized license plates say "bxy ldy" - boxy lady - that's me! Ha! My hubby is going to look funny driving this around.

Yum, that recess idea sounds great. I'll have to try it!! Thanks so much. Have you tried Pudge Brownie Mix? It comes in 4 flavors. I take 2 T. of the dry mix and mix with 1 T. ff yogurt and microwave for 30 seconds. Top with sf & ff cool whip. It's to die for. It is warm and gooey and is 1 point. To make myself not want more than one and in order for me not to just scarf this down, I have a cup of hot tea or coffee to go with it and I sit down and enjoy every bite - my kids know not to talk to mom when she is having this dessert! Ha!

It took me years to get into an exercise routine because I thought I had to sit an hour aside to do it- not! 20 minutes is better than none at all so now I try to squeeze that in 4 times a week at the minimum. I've lost 34 lbs and want so bad to be in "one-derland" soon!! I've been battling the same 10 lbs for a couple of months now yo-yoing!! Ugh! Hopefully, you guys will kick me in the pants and get me going! :) Have a blessed day!

I get these at Walmart and they are a lifesaver for me during that TOM: Baskin Robbins Sugar-free Mint Chocolate Chip hard candies. I think they make a fruity flavor one also. I love twizzlers - the pull n peel kind - wish I could find a similar substitute. Any ideas? Any hard candy you like?

cheeky chick, Cute car! Who makes the xbox??? I don't have many lowfat snack ideas as I have been eating what I want but in moderation. I'm trying not to be on a diet too much this time I want to find a solution for lifelong weight loss. Good luck huh? But Leec's choc rice cakes w/ peanut butter sound really good I think I will try that ( I love peanut butter cups). Good for you w/ the excercise, definately 10 minutes a few times a day is better than nothing. Keep up the good work on weight loss, you have come a long way.

Leec and Miki, Hope you guys are having a great week. I am hanging in there, unfortunately haven't been real motivated to excercise because of this pesky cold that keeps hanging on.

Talk to you all later.

MJ

emjay - Scion (Toyota) makes the xb car that I got. I love it and I love the gas mileage - much better than my Durango. Thanks for the words of encouragement. I, too, am trying to eat like I will the rest of my life instead of considering this a diet. I have tried in the past not to do a food journal but it doesn't work for me - I am more accountable if I write it down. If I bite it - I write it. :) I use a steno pad and on the right side I write down my thoughts - how I handle stress and times when I get home from work and I'm famished, etc. It helps to look back at this and see what I did and some easy low-point snacks that carried me through. Just like an alcoholic is addicted to alcohol so I am addicted to food and I know this so I have to battle it daily. I want to be healthy. :p Changing the subject, I read that you have a pug dog - that is so neat! What's his/her name? We love animals also - we have a dog, 2 cats, 1 goat, 1 pony and jillions of fish & whatever else comes our way during the summer which we keep for a few weeks and then let go - turtles, reptiles, etc. I need a bumper sticker that says "I brake for turtles!"

Cheeky Chick I love the concept if you bite it you write it. Currently I use Fitday to log all my calories but I think that maybe I will start a paper journel just to keep track of my feelings.

I am with you guys on the whole diet word. When I started this almost 13weeks ago I told myself that I'm not on a diet, I am just learning how to take care of myself. I like food way to much to be on a diet anyways. haha.

Hope Everyone has a great weekend.
It's cold and rainy her in MI so not a lot planned for the weekend.

Talk to you later.

Leec

Well it is Monday AM and that means one thing - weigh in. It wasn't a positive experience today, I am up 3 lbs. I seem to be having a fight w/ these same 3 lbs. lately. I can, however, look back this week and see my errors. So I will do better this week. I'm feeling better and have a plan to get out and walk w/ a friend this week, should help a lot.

cheeky chick, I do have a pug. She is the greatest little dog. Her name is Libby and I rescued her about 2 years ago. She and I were supposed to go to a pug picnic this past weekend but as Leec said it has been cold and raining in MI so we did not go. (Leec, the picnic was in Clawson...too far to drive for crappy weather) What kind of dog do you have?

Leec, I love food too much to diet too, I'm just learning how to control my behaviors. I'm kind of in a slump right now but I will get out of it. I wish the weather would clear up. Hope you have good luck on the scale today.

Miki, Hope everything is well with you.

MJ