Will power dust...rain down on me!

Yes...funny how the "dating" changes you whole attitude about everything. One -- tv hasn't been on all week - have been out and about walking. Two -- feel attractive, more so that I did last month (so it's the whole brain/mindset thing going on). Three -- not worrying so much about what goes in my mouth (moderation). Four -- drinking my water!

One day at a time -- I think this month will be a good one. I am getting more exercise in. I went on a 2nd date tonight with the same guy...we went walking and talking. He's not the one for me -- nice fellow and all, but not my type. He has however motivated me to keep working at getting this weight off. Never once did he say anything negative and I know that he is attracted to me. It's just not a good fit you know?

Hope that everyone is doing ok. Holidays/vacations are a tough time. We have the Calgary Stampede here. Every corner has a free Stampede breakfast of sausage and eggs...goes for 10 days. I did have my annual corn dog, but stayed away from all the rest of the stuff. Happy about that. Hard to really stay motivated when you are out having fun. Seems like punishment to force yourself to have "salads" when the rest of the group is having a good time.

Elan, it does sometimes seem like punishment to have salads when the rest of the group is having a good time, but just think of the rewards! You'll be looking fantastic and the others won't be and then they will say something like "How does she do it?"
Lately, a few people have actually noticed my weight loss and have made comments and have asked how much I've lost and things like that. I feel so great when that happens and it inspires me to continue.
Thank goodness it is summertime and salads are more tempting in hot weather.

Thanks Linda for putting a different twist on it! You are absolutely right. I think I need to remember that "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels!"

I've been to the gym three times this week! I have plans to head back tomorrow morning, too! Yippee!

Watch out for the dating diet- I was thin while "hunting" but all those wonderful dates with my future husband where we ordered appetizers, drinks and desserts just to extend the evening landed me here! Heck, I had fun getting here, though!

Milwaukee is a city chock full of summer festivals. I drink water and occasionally soft pretzels or roasted corn with very little butter and sail through it. It never hurts me to do a little people watching to see the outfits I want to wear/bodies I want to have and the back-page-of-Glamour-magazine dont's for motivation... you can become the hottie everyone wants to dress like/be like!

The stampede is great to get a lot of walking in, or if you are out at bars, dancing....I think the breakfasts are the killer, as well as all the lunches put on by businesses.
Good luck and enjoy.

Elan, while I gave you great advice. I admit that the last two nights I didn't follow it myself. I blew it. So, we are all human and have to remember that.
Lafayette, I remember those days when dining out was a huge part of my relationship with my husband. Luckily, my metabolism was different then, I guess? At any rate, maybe the two of you could take long romantic walks together?
Linda

Just popping in to say good luck ladies! :)

No magic dust needed. All thats needed is a comittment to yourself, more days on then off. Remebering its a Lifestyle, which for me is... Leading a Life with Style. ;) Not allowing or giving comtrol or power to outside influences be they, people, places or things. :lol:

It works IF You work it!

Long romantic walks are often promised yet never quite materialize... my fiance is also overweight but not exactly with me on the diet or the exercise. Plus, we are both workaholics and, when we do get home early in the evenings, it's usually to do some charitable work, clean the house or collapse in exhaustion. Ah, the American Dream... work crazy hours, eat junk at drive-thrus and hope to God that 100 Calorie Snack Packs will lighten something other than your wallet.

I want to lead a life with style, too!!!

Sassy, you sure are "stylin" (a term my husband picked up from his business trips to NYC).
Lafayette, sounds like you both need to make some kind of committment to each other to eat better and take better care of yourselves. It's hard work, I know.
As for me, I went to the gym and have my weigh in later on.

Dating Update....I made a grown man cry.... EGADS!!! Was a nice guy but a little too "sensitive" for my liking. BUT...with that said...I am eating like a bird! What IS IT WITH THAT????
You girls are the BEST. I so look forward to coming here and reading your posts. Makes me feel human with all of this stuff.

Elan, I had to laugh just a bit with your post about making a grown man cry! What did you do????
As for me, I had my weigh in yesterday and was up 1.4 pounds. Oh well. I ate out three times over vacation, I had dessert. What was I to expect?
I'm looking for a truly fab WW friendly dessert that no one would know was a WW recipe, preferably something chocolate, to bring to my in-laws over the weekend. Any ideas?
I really want to impress everyone, but I'm thinking something in the 5 - 6 points range per serving would be OK and within my own flex point level to handle. We are going away, and my MIL always feeds us so well when we visit. We don't have an option as to what is served, but if I offer to bring dessert, that will at least control that one part of the meal. I can hopefully portion control and maybe bring a few low point snacks in my suitcase that will tide me over when all there is are very tempting foods on the coffee table!

Try my "creme brulee" recipe! It's best when made within 1-3 hours before dinner although I have made them the night before.

Make white chocolate sugar free fat free Jello pudding according to the pie filling instructions, pour it into 4 small ramekins right away before it sets, push 4-5 fresh raspberries into the pudding and cover gently, level the top of the pudding, sprinkle sugar (the real stuff; Splenda just burns) to coat the top and carmelize with a brulee torch (do this right away or the sugar will be absorbed into the pudding). Cover them with Saran Wrap and pop them in the fridge until you're ready to serve.

You can eat the whole thing- sugar, too- for 1 point!

No one will ever guess it's Jell-O, much less only one point! I put a few more fresh raspberries and a tiny bit of fat free Redi Whip on top when I serve it. You could even go all Martha Stewart and add a fresh mint leaf.

True diet purists could even subtly eat around the carmelized sugar... but that would be sad ;(

Good luck!

Lafayette, thanks! I'll try this, however, the desserts for the weekend are already made. My daughter ended up making two WW cookbook recipes, one is an apple tart kind of thing and the other is a brownie with dried cherries and chocolate chips in them. Both look and smell great, and they are fairly low in points.
I'm a bit worried about the weekend, though, as my MIL always really treats us quite well where food is concerned. She is the kind of person you don't "make waves" with, as the saying goes.
I hope there are some low point choices.

Hey ladies!

Remember...that disease that we have (say this really fast and no gaps between.... FATONMYTHIGHS.....) Normally I say this to my mother when she's trying to stuff me more! ha ha!

ok..making the guy cry - I was asking questions about his past relationships and how he has changed it.

Have a date next week with Engineer..nice guy...still thinking if I want to pursue this a bit more. (Cryer didn't make it to the 2nd date).

Heading out to the lake to see my daughter tomorrow...it's going to be extremely hot! The Stampede was NUTS...and there is still the weekend to go with it! It will be crazy!

Talk to you all soon!

Elan, sounds like the crying guy just needs a bit more time to heal from the last break up? Maybe he's just sensitive and might actually be someone who would be very tender and caring? Just a thought.
Hope you have a nice visit with your daughter.
I, as usual, kind of blew it over the weekend, but it could have been worse. It is so hard when you are a house guest at someone else's home. Next time, I swear I'm going to bring my own food and just put up with my MIL's aggravated attitude. I think she'd probably make some kind of cutting remark about her food not being "good enough" for us or whatever? It's truly difficult. If it were my own mom (who has sadly passed away), she would allow me to dictate what she served us all, as our relationship was always open and kind. If I said, "Mom, I really need to keep the food for this weekend low fat/WW friendly", she would then ask me what would be appropriate to serve, etc. However, at my MIL's house, she is a very good cook (not that my mom wasn't) and loves to entertain. We always get great things there, but not always the best choices. She would not take kindly to being "told" what to serve. I try to get around some of it by offering to bring desserts, at least, which helps.