50 or more week of Dec. 9
 

If you have 50 or so pounds to lose, or are losing, jump on in and join! You'll be sure to get a warm welcome!

Linda, your DH built a color tv set??!! Wow!

Hi to everyone from rainy South Texas! We're under a flood warning until tomorrow morning, and I had to tie grocery bags around my feet to get out to the car today. (Still haven't finished that walkway.)

Just two more weeks until the Christmas holiday, when my DS and db-i-l bring Dad back home. Dh and I are hoping to go down to Laredo next weekend, and the Riverwalk the next, for a little r&r and shopping. Guess I'd better save up some points!

Hope everyone's having a great Monday!
Regards,
Jan

Y'know, when I was in grade school I could build an AM transistor radio from scratch out of junk in my dad's garage. I wouldn't even begin to know how to do that now.

I'm glad someone started a thread because I gotta go to work. Today was my first weigh-in, and I lost 1 pound, so that is a bit of encouragement.

Have a good week all!

Kelly

Yay, Kelly, way to go on your loss! :) Doing the happy dance for ya'. Losing 1/2 to 1.5 pounds a week is the WW way, so you're right on track. And I'm impressed: you could build a radio out of junk?! Amazing.

Ladies, I heard from Texaslady! She's just fine, and says to say hi to everyone and that she's been thinking of us. Problem is just that her modem has gone on the fritz, and her password doesn't work from work, and she's trying to hook up with cable service or something faster, from home. She's feeling good, no post surgery problems, and I'm sure will be back with us soon. Whew.

Hope everyone had a great Monday!
Jan

Well, my dad was an electronics technician which made for exceptional junk for making radios.

Is it okay to post here for help? I can't meet my minimum points. Today, I was flat stuffed ALL day, and I am still 2.5 below my minimum points. I've banked my 5 and am done. I don't think I can eat that much again --I was miserable cramming it in all day. I'm not a snacker and I'm trying very hard to keep my fat below 30%, and make my points as well. I'm also trying very hard to eat all of my veggies, fruits and dairy. I ate so much today that I couldn't even fit my water in which I usually drink all day long.

I spent an hour this evening chopping veggies for the 1-point minestrone soup, but what's the point??? *burp*

Kelly

Edited to add today's menu:

Morning
2 cups black coffee 0
1/2 Onion Bagel 1.5
2 Tbsp Cream Cheese 2

Snacks
1 small apple 1
1 large banana 2

Midday
6 oz Yoplait 99% Fat Free Strawberry Yogurt 4
1 medium orange 1

Evening
4 tbsp Hidden Valley Ranch Fat-Free Italian Parmesan Dressing 1
1 slice oatmeal bread 1 (homemade even)
1/2 cup mashed potatoes 2
Giant Salad 0
Hamburger Gravy 6

Snacks
2 tbsp sunflower seeds 2

Hi Kelly! Of course it's ok to post here for help; that's what we're here for, to support each other in this journey! Re: not enough points, in looking at your journal, I noticed there wasn't much protein. I've read that protein is important at breakfast and lunch, especially. Have you thought about adding a slice of crisp bacon at breakfast, or some veggie sausages? And on the salad, maybe some lowfat croutons or a light olive oil vinaigrette? You could add some granola to your yogurt at lunch.

Looks like you're doing great at working in your fruits and veggies. And you're so right to work towards at least the minimum; if you have too little, your metabolism slows down.

Hope everyone has a great day! Gotta run .... class incoming!
Regards,
Jan

Yay! I met my minimum points. Unfortunately it was because I bought a perfectly revolting Red Baron Frozen Pepperoni Pizza on the way home. UGH. But, I had promised my husband homemade pizza tonight, then went and helped a friend about 2 hours more than I had planned to, and pizza dough takes over an hour to make. So I made a concession. I'll probably be up all night burping. If you haven't tried it, the 1 point Autumn Minestrone was actually quite good! I didn't use vegetable broth, but used fat free chicken broth instead. I'd be happy to post the recipe if anyone is interested. Is it this dead because of the time of year?

Kelly

Kelly

Hi Kelly! WTG on meeting your minimum points! And yes, would love to see the recipe.

Re: the forum being so quiet, I guess it's the time of year. Also, ever since 3FC changed the groups around and ours got buried another level, we've had some problems with people finding us, I think. I sent a PM to the admin, but never got a reply.

I hope you'll stay with us, and that our other members will have more time after the holiday and come around more often; I miss everyone's posts...

Hope you have a great day! ttyl,
Jan

I had thought the boards seemed harder to get around in now, but hadn't put 2 and 2 together. I kept losing myself. I finally boomarked this section of the board. Here's the recipe... it is even for crockpots which makes it easier. I made it as-is except for the broth, and I only used half a bell pepper.

Autumn Vegetable Minestrone (1 Pt)

2 14.5 oz cans vegetable broth
1 18 oz can crushed tomatoes – undrained
3 medium carrots -- chopped (1 ½ cups)
3 small zucchini -- cut into 1/2" slices
1 medium yellow bell pepper -- cut into 1/2" pieces
8 medium green onions -- sliced (1/2 cup)
2 cloves garlic -- finely chopped
2 cups shredded cabbage
2 teaspoons dried marjoram
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup uncooked instant rice
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Mix all ingredients except rice and basil in a 3 ½ to 6 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat setting for 6 to 8 hours or until vegetables are tender. Stir in rice. Cover and cook on low heat setting for about 15 minutes or until rice is tender.

Hello Ladies,

How is everyone doing? I am doing great still battling this cold. I weighed myself today and lost another 2 lbs! This is a milestone for me because I am now officially in the 220's. I am very happy. I have a long way to go, but I know I can get there with weight watchers.

I need to get on and post more, but they have been doing some layoffs at my job. Today was the last one for now. Several people that I like are gone. I can't believe they do this two weeks before Christmas!!! I am very blessed that I am still here.

Take care everyone!

Tonya, another 2 pounds, that's terrific! I knew you'd make the 220's before Christmas! I am so happy for you.

Glad to hear you didn't get caught up in the layoffs, though I'm sorry some of your friends are gone. I agree, that's a heartless thing to do right before Christmas! I hope they're through with the downsizing.

Kelly, thanks so much for the minestrone recipe! I am printing it out right now. Sounds like a really hearty soup for a cold winter evening! I'm a real fan of soup, especially crock pot versions.

JOYce, I got the copy of the newspaper article you sent, thanks so much! It's a lovely story, and you deserve all the wonderful things they said about you; you really are a giving person. I'm sorry to hear your computer has a virus, and hope you can get back to us soon!

Nothing much happening around here today, but things will soon escalate. There are two faculty parties this week and another next week, plus my good friend's son's graduation party. Also, dh and I are driving down to Mexico to do some Christmas shopping on Saturday, and plan to go out to a really nice restaurant we've always wanted to go to. (I will finally have a chance to wear that black dress I bought for the non-cruise!) So I'm trying to stay fairly low in points now, to make up for the upcoming risky events. I just barely squeaked by at my Dec. weigh-in (lifetimers have to stay within two pounds of goal, and weigh in once a month, or they pay the meeting fee). Gotta get a little margin on that by the January weighin!

Hope everyone's week is going along well! Janet, Carol, and Linda, drop by when you can! Texaslady, hope you get your modem fixed soon! Lilithu, let us know if your articles go online, so we can read them if there's an English/Spanish/or French version! Hope you're enjoying your new job!

Regards,
Jan

I'm back..
 

It turns out that it was my dh's puter that had the virus, 15 of them! so we are all healthy again!

Tonya Congrats on the 220's!

Thanks Kelly, for the recipe...I'm not much on veggie soups, but will give it a try. I know they are good for me.

Bible study Luncheon was today, was lots of fun. I fixed my 'famous traditional' Wassail, the ladies brought pot-luck finger foods, they were delish. I was pooped, let dgd order pizza for dinner. It's always fun when a group comes in that have not been here before, they were amazed at the doll collection, and enjoyed looking it over.
Our sharing question was "what are you most looking forward to at Christmas" ..our family has really dwindled , so it will surely be different, but I said I look forward to cards from old friends, and the Christmas Eve program and service.
ttyl

Tonya, you made it, with days to spare! Congrats to you, keep doing what you have been doing, and the weight will continue to fall off!

KellyQ, I am very impressed that you made a radio from spare parts of your Dad's. You must be very talented! Thanks for the soup recipe, it looks really good.

JanetMae, I am so glad that you got ahold of our texaslady and found out that she is all right. Hope she gets hooked up at home soon. It was thoughtful of you to get in touch with her and report back to us. How is school?

The carpeting is in the new library, and all of the furniture has been moved in. Today dh hung all of the family pictures on the walls, so it looks like a real room, now. We'll pick up the new door tomorrow. The room is wonderful!

Tonya Congrats with your loss, you're doing great!

For myself, the loss is going really slow... But I'm not doing anything wrong, so I guess I just need to continue and not give up. I've come this far, so I know that eventually the pounds will go away.

Yesterday I went shopping. It was great, I've gone from a size 20 to a size 16 (if the metric system I've found on a site is right), so that means I no longer have to shop in the 'big is beautiful-section!! That felt great: I've bought two regular jeans and a great sweater, and I could almost find anything in my size. :)

So that was really motivating to go on.

JanetMae, my articles will only be published in Dutch, so I guess it will be extremely hard for you to understand ;) Gotta go and finish them, my deadline is getting really close.

Take care

lilithu

JOYce, glad the luncheon went so well! You are always doing fun things like that. (The way my house looks right now, I wouldn't dare host a party! Gotta get crackin on that, as I'll be doing Christmas dinner there for the family!)

Linda, I was relieved that Texaslady is ok, too. It's not like her to be gone so long from the thread! How exciting that your room is taking its final shape; I know you will really enjoy having that done in time for Christmas!

Lilithu, you're right, I don't think any of us can read Dutch. I can (slowly!) read Spanish and French, but that's it! I think it's wonderful that you are so fluent in different languages. And kudos to you on reaching size 16 already!! It's a major milestone, getting to shop in the regular department; how fantastic you must feel about that!

Guess I'd better run for now; have to make a green bean side dish to take to the jh faculty party tonight. (I'm on two faculties, high school and junior high, this year, so I get to go to three parties: jh, hs, and a hs ladies only get-together tomorrow.) Also went to a tea party here at school today, hosted by the homemaking dept.; did ok points-wise, though it was tempting.

Hope everyone has a great day!
Regards,
Jan

Well, in my infinite wisdom (NOT) I had leftover homemade pizza (8 pts) for breakfast... without thinking that today was our work's Christmas party. Although I always opt to answer phones at the front desk instead (1. it makes me really popular, 2. I don't have to deal with a party) there were still a ton of delectables laying about all day. One was my serious weakness... whipped cream. I just LOVE whipped cream.

So I ate every single point available today. I also couldn't resist the cheese popcorn which thankfully turned out to be only a point per cup.

Tonya, congratulations on your loss!

Janet, good luck at your parties! I was also sorry to hear about your non-cruise, but the way I see it about now, you may have gotten really sick. Thousands of people have about now. If that isn't some kind of bio-warfare, I don't know what is. I'm surprised it isn't top news.

JOYce, I'm not huge on veggie soups, but was surprised at how filling this one is. I generally like thick creamy soups. I told my husband he was welcome to have some... and he said something along the lines that he needed something to remove the paint from a project he's working on. :(

Linda, we're remodeling too... unfortunately it's a conversion from a garage into another bird room. I guess that has it's benefits too though!

Lilithu, congratulations on your size loss! That is almost more motivating than a weight loss!

Kelly

YAY, Lilithu! Congrats on now being a size 16, that is great! You must be really happy about shopping in another department! Keep up the good work.

KellyQ, another bird room, wow! Are you going to be adding to your collection of feathered friends? Do they wake you up early in the mornings? Have fun on your remodeling; we had so much fun while dh was doing ours. Makes me a little sad that it is finished. :^:

You'll have to just keep adding on Linda :D

This new room thinned us out a little. We have breathing room again, but the birds don't ever stop. We have one possible incoming... little cockatoo. (plus another outside aviary full of cockatiels) I'm hoping to keep the cockatoo in her own home though. They just need a lot of guidance. We also have a woman in the Army who might be deployed and needs a foster home for her Amazon if that happens. We will certainly take her bird here until she returns... she doesn't need that added worry. Our new garage conversion is now known as "Amazon Alley" and that is all we have in there.

But, my friend Florrie came over this past weekend and said... you have a SPA? That's a SPA!! Uh... yeah. It always had bird cages on it. :D We've never even used the stupid thing since we moved into this new house --we're even paying for insurance on it.

At this time of year, we have the absolute pleasure of getting up before the birds and being able to watch the news before starting feedings. During the summer, we're catipulted out of bed and have a mad dash to make up breakfast. If we're still asleep at 6:30, it's a miracle.

I can't wait until the sheetrock is up in Amazon Alley. I want to paint rainforest trees on the walls :D

Kelly

I like the idea of a rainforest painting in Amazon Alley, Kelly! You must be very artistic to even be entertaining the idea. I can barely draw my breath -- I'm no good at it at all, all I can draw is little stick figure people. I wonder how many pounds of seed you go through in a month!:eek:

Carol and Janet, how are you two doing? Please check in and let us know, I miss hearing from both of you.

Texaslady, I hope that your computer will be back up and running soon -- I need the "latest" from you, also!

Well, this helps me out so I figured it out. We're filing nonprofit right now and this is something I can add to my pile of paperwork.

For the birds, for the month of November:

70 pounds of seed mixes
45 pounds of fruit
43 pounds of vegetables
14 pounds of nuts in the shell
7.5 pounds of pasta

GEEZ Louise :eek:. YES, they eat healthier than I do :D

Kelly :cb: (couldn't resist the dancing banana)

UGH. I just made the crockpot 4 pt. Chicken stroganoff... with the chicken breast, can of lowfat mushroom soup, nonfat sour cream and the onion soup packet. If you haven't tried it... beware. It was pretty bad (IMO). Then again, I'm often shocked and amazed at what some people will eat.

Kelly

Wow, Kelly-- an amazing amount of bird food! Is the pasta cooked or dry? Thanks for the heads-up on the 4 point chicken stroganoff.

Hope everyone has a wonderful, OP weekend. Take care of yourselves.

The amount of pasta above is dry, but we cook it first before serving. We usually get the tiny shells (If my husband is shopping) or macaroni salad pasta (If I'm shopping) :D

Is anyone else on WW Online? I'm really getting disgusted with it, and when I posted on their boards, my message was summarily deleted. I now have 19 points banked in their journal. That's not right, is it? I thought there was a max you could bank, but darned if I can find it on the site.

Also, does orange juice count as a fruit? What about yogurt? Does the fruit in a yogurt count as anything or am I stretching? I'm really having problems getting my fruits and veggies in.

Since I drink a ton of juice, I've been drinking out of the Ball pint canning jars. They have measurements up the side, so I can just pour the amount I want into it.

I discovered a good low-point breakfast this morning. I went to get my english muffins out and it seems we have a mouse in the cupboards. There was a waste of good money --nearly the entire contents of the drawer.

Anyway, I took two slices of bread, spread them thinly with about 1 T of Just2Good mayo, put sliced tomatoes on it and then sprinkled on about 1.5 ounces of cheddar cheese. Popped it in the broiler until golden and bubbly. It was very good but needed a little salt :D

You guys could do better on points by using lowfat cheese and bread. The Mayo is 1 point, and the tomatoes are zero.

How much fiber constitutes "high fiber" bread? That is something I can simply add to my bread when I make it. That would lower the points.

Kelly