Need a motivating buddy to lose 50 pounds with by April 2007

[cardenas5usa]

Did I push too hard?
Jina, you are a major motivation in my life right now, just you being you. When I come and check in, and you have posted, it makes me feel good that you took the time out of a busy schedule to see how I am doing. Maybe that sounds bizzar since we don't even know each other in real life, but it is true. And it is a wonderful gift from some higher power to have given me the chance to find another person going through the same thing I am going through right now. I hope you didn't feel like I was being too pushy about your eating. I think you are doing a great job; having a new baby, being back to work, and being married is a lot of work, throw in being on a diet durring the holidays it becomes all the more of a busy life. I am happy to continue what we have started already, weigh-ins, exercise goals, and being a cheerleader for each other.

I was coming to check-in and see if we all wanted to post our favorite recipe, regaurdless if it will fit into eachother's diet "plan." The gyros recipe that I posted was the best I got written down. I am mostly just a creative dump cook. Have any gems? Jina's chicharron chicken nuggets are one of my faves. Jina, do you coat with oil spray after you get all the "crumbs" on the chicken? I havn't tried that yet but I suspect it might make for a really crispy coating. Mine so far get a little soggy on the bottom from the steam. Got any tips?

Well I hope you both are doing well (T. getting better)and enjoying the holiday spirit. So nice to hear the music and smell the smells of the season. Big Hugs sorry for stepping on toes Ashley

[basketbalhotty22]

are you still trying to lose 50 lbs by april?
cuz i'll do it with you

[cardenas5usa]

Yes we are still trying to lose 50 pounds, but the 3 of us have decided to keep this group small. I would love to talk to you though, I tried to PM you but it says I don't have the privilage to do that, so maybe you could PM me. I added you to my buddy list. Ashley

[basketbalhotty22]

oh gotchya..
so should i "exit" this thread?

[cardenas5usa]

Well, I am not anyone to tell you to exit. I didn't even start the thread, Jina (stelakate) did, but the three of us already came to an agreement. Jina, what's your opinion? But like I said, PM me or start a new thread that I can join and then leave a message for me here. I was curvy all throughout HS. It is a hard thing to deal with! Ash

[cardenas5usa]

Good Morning!!
That doesn't usually happen for me. Seems like I am last most of the time. Usually it's because I have to drag Maya out of bed, feed her like a baby(not a morning eater, in fact not a morning person, just like her dad), brush her hair, the whole routine. Sheesh it is frustrating! T. does it get any better when they are older? I know I used to be totaly self-sufficient when I was littler, in regaurds to getting ready for school, and making my breakfast, and getting on the bus on time. But, I was an only child and my mom worked full time, maybe I am enabling her?? Who knows! Gee, don't I sound like Dr. Phil?!?

Well, I am pooped. I did my cardio and pilates yesterday evening and then when Efrain came home (early) he wanted to jump right in and do it. So, I did them again. That was tough, but I just made the moves smaller the second time. my abs feel like they are going to pop

So how is everbody's workouts going? Hope you feel better T. so you can get back on your plan.

So how many calories do you think you guys eat a day? I am thinking that I am not eating enough. Whenever I add them up lately, I come in around 1000 a day. I am eating when I am hungry, and sometimes in between so I don't get that huge hunger pang all of a sudden. also, usually about 50% of my cals come from fat, despite eating many lower fat substitutes. But that is to be expected right, take out a key component of a diet and the other two things go up accordingly? Usually come in around 95 grams protein a day.

Alright, I have to seriously contemplate if I am too tired to go to Curves. Today is Efrain's day off but he is using it to help his friend/boss build an office in the downstaris of the restaurant. No back up today for me Ashley

[carbjunkie]

Good morning. I was feeling like crap again yesterday and this morning so I slept in until 10:30 and I feel better..still sick but better. I'm even going to try and get on the bike and do it slow for 30 mins. Ash..it doesn't get easier when they're older..just a new set of problems and attitudes. I have a bunch of teenagers in my house and I tell them they act worse then when they were toddlers..they laugh. I'm eating around 1500 right now and yes..you're eating way too little..you will stall out quick if you continue that. I'd go for around 1400 cals then after you've dropped a significant amount of weight..you can lower that to 1200 to maintain. The body needs 1000 cals just to function so up them with some good veggies. I believe adding a large amount of veggies to the atkins plan is very important. Ok..let me know what you guys are eating today.

[Stelakate]

Ashley-it isn't you, it couldn't be---are you kidding me? You are so motivating and inspiring, I could cry thinking you thought it was. It's about me and the way I am. I am an "all-over-the-map" kinda girl. I just don't want anyone thinking the help I need is tweaking my plan. Just dont want either of you wasting time suggesting things about my eating (which is so diff. than yours!) when I can tell you honestly--I am doing all I am capable of.
I feel my motivation slipping and I think about giving up all the time, until I get a email like yours that says you look forward to hearing from me.
That is helpful and I appreciate it. I tried to PM you -but it isn't set up in your settings, maybe try control panel to work it out?
Basketball-I am all about the PM thing too but find it hard to keep up w/ a bunch of girls, sorry. I would like to help encourage you though and dont mind you stopping by. Exit sounds so mean!!!!!!
Ash-good job w/ all your workouts. You are awesome! Also, good job at McDonalds-you are awesome for skipping the bad stuff, not to mention not finishing your kids food on top of your own and still working out. You are doing all the right things. Excited to see your number this week.
I will go for now, just know I didn't mean any harm by the mail-just don't want you to take focus from yourself by trying to help me when I am so complicated diet wise.
E is a great partner in crime, exercising with you all the time, and suggesting it!!!!!! -LOVE IT!!!!!!!

[cardenas5usa]

What would you consider a large amount? Here's how much veggies I eat, about a cup sauteed in whatever I eat for lunch, a large salad sometime durring the day. Another cup of veggies with dinner. and veggie snacks throughout the day. Maybe I am underestimating the calories I eat, but I weigh/measure almost everything so I can get to know the amount. That way when I go out or to a friends house, I am able to aproximate correctly.

Today in light of trying to up my calories and lower my percentage of calories eaten as fat, I made my pizza in a bowl, with a little 50% less fat Italian sausage 1.25oz, .5 slice of meaty bacon, 2 oz of tofu, and 5 slices of turkey pepperoni. To that I added about a cup of various chopped veggies that I keep ready for use in the fridge. Mostly bellpepper, some onion, zucchini, and a wee bit of jalapeno. I top with a teaspoon of spaghetti sauce and 2 Tblsp of lite mozzarella.

I forgot to tell you,
tonight for dinner, Efrain and I have been invited on a dinner cruise. 3 hours of dancing, dining, and free drinks. I am planing on having one drink to celebrate the success that I have had in the past month. I am not sure what they are serving but I am sure they will have an array of meats and cheese to choose from, and a good salad. After all, it is being put on by the food distributer for my hubbys restaurant, they better distribute some good food! Still not sure what I am going to wear, many of my cloths are kind of saggy?!?

T. I am glad you got to sleep in, that is one of the things that will really make a cold/flu beat it and fast! Tomarrow you ought to feel even better!!

Ashley

[cardenas5usa]

I am so glad Jina you aren't perterbed at me. Yesterday I felt a wee bit sad. I wrote that message and edited it and reedited it. The fact is I do feel so empowered when I see a new message by you. It is really great to know I am not alone. So keep up the good eating! And how's the exercise buddy thing working out?

The PM thing, I know I was trying to figure it out too, finally I emailed the site to ask them why I can't do it. They emailed me back and said I have to be a member for 25 days before PM is activated. How weird!?! But I got 5 more days to go. I am thinking of writing them back and seeing if they will waive my last 5 days since I am a participating member and not just sitting on my haunches We'll see what they say?

Happy as a clam, Ashley

[carbjunkie]

When I say more veggies I just meant fill up your diet with these calories. You seem to be doing well in the veggie area from what you say but just watch the fat on low carbing ya know? You and your hubby will have a great time at the dance. We are here to help each other..not nag..or tweak each other's eating habits..just offer suggestions and encouragement. That's all we can do from a computer screen. Jina you can do this I have no doubt!

B- 2 eggwhites small wheat toast
L - chicken soup (again cuz I just don't feel like anything)
D- pork chop n broccoli
S- piece of dark chocolate (yeah yeah)

[Stelakate]

I wish!!! This has been a long - very bad eating day. Just slid off the wagon and into the cookies.
I will get it going, tomorrow! Ash-the workouts are going OK, I like doing it- or rather, the way I feel afterwards. I felt really good this weekend, like I looked really cute-so I shouldn't always let the scale dictate me, it is such a weird thing the way it can make you feel great of not.
It does look like you don't eat many calories.
I on the other hand, couldn't tell ya. W/ Atkins- it's hard to tell------I eat a lot of higher fat things (meats/etc) so who knows, I just watch the carb count.

Anyway - I am hoping to get the rest of my Xmas cards addressed to send tomorrow and will upload that family picture on the site tonight. Ash, I will put more on myspace so check that out.

PS: have a BLAST dancing and eating and enjoying your last months efforts-you DESERVE IT!!!

[cardenas5usa]

Ooo, Jina, can't wait to see the new pics! I am heading to MySpace right now to check and see.

T. I think I need to pull out my BS chicken breast (that's Boneless Skinless, .) I have a ton in the freezer, frozen into nice one pound bags. I buy from Efrain, since he does all the ordering for La Provence, he gets it for $1.10 a pound. I have just been lazy to get it out ahead of time. Tomarrow for sure, rather, tonight for tomarrow. What a goof I am!

Ashley

[Stelakate]

havent quite got them all uploaded yet. busy w/ baby and xmas cards....will try later or tomorrow. Tell me how your cruise went. What did you wear?

[cardenas5usa]

this outfit? I have had this shirt for like a year, but it had slowly got too tight and the slits at the side where spread wide like a "Y." Now it fits with material to lap over at the sides! OMG, am hot or what? The first time I have felt like this in a long time! Ash

[Stelakate]

girl you look Spicy in that shirt, you look soooo beautiful!!!!
I can see in your face you are starting to feel as good as you look and let me tell ya, you are looking FABULOUS!
How was the cruise?!??!

I am back on full force today-the fudge, banana bread and plate of homemade treats didn't even tempt me today-it's pilates at lunch and endurance training after that.

Tonight I hit the precor again. Only have a few days till weigh day....prob wont make goal but I will give it hell if anything!
How are you girls today!??!

[cardenas5usa]

Jina, I did feel great last night! First time in a long time! I can feel myself smiling more these days. Thanx for helping me with all that I have accomplished so far! Your the best! Mwah!

The cruise was great, it was packed, too bad, it left no room for dancing, but Efrain and I managed to snag a top deck table for two right next to the bar. Lucky us, cause down stairs it was more like communial tables and everybody sat elbow to elbow. We got to see the Christmas boats, they just started up for the year, and a magician.

I had a chicken breast with wild mushrooms and creams sauce, very little sauce. I asked for no rice, extra veggies. A great salad with balsamic vinagrette, 1 solitary beer (I swear beer has never tasted so good!! ) and oh my, a slice of cheesecake. All in all I still managed to make wise choices. I could have gone for the pecan pie, and a ton of beer, but I was fine with moderation. Oh, and I even treated myself to 2 half slices of bread with my chicken. So I am counting last night as a planned "carb-up," kind of fool my body and keep it guessing. So we will see how it pans out on Friday. I can't believe it is Tuesday already!

We went to Efrain's cousins house late last night to see the Virgin, very nice. I passed on the atole, tamales (even though they made my absolute favorite, rajas), and posole. I was still very full from my dinner. All of Efrain's cousins were amazed at how I looked. They hadn't seen me in maybe 6 months, and they just kept on about how I looked. Efrain said he was so happy to see me smile so much.

Okay so back on the wagon today, I have got to do some chicken breast today. Normally I am a huge chicken person, but I haven't eaten that much the past 2 weeks. It was really good last night and I think I might try to recreate that here with regular mushrooms.

So I'll do pilates with you at lunch! I already went to Curves this morning, but I want to get in an extra workout today. You precor, I'll cardio-kickbox! T. how bout you? Jump on that bike and ride it like there is no tomarrow.

You're and ace for resisting banana bread, and fudge, that might have made me go gaagaa, I love banana bread!

Well girls, off to make breakfast, check yall later, Ashley

[carbjunkie]

Good morning. I just had my eggwhites with a splash of antibiotic I worked out for 30mins on the bike and I even up'd the level. I figured I'd try to sweat this bug out. I still don't feel well but I've gotta get moving. Ashley you look great I can't remember the last time I weighed under 200. I am so ready though. Jina..I'm glad your spirits are up and you feel more motivated. One day at a time. Let me know how you guys are doing today?

[Stelakate]

hey girls! T-great job on the bike and kicking it up. It will strengthen your immune system and get you back to 100% in no time. Just had lunch-it was a big salad w/ chicken and grilled calamari....yummmm.
We walked instead of pilates, but we actually jogged an entire city block (downhill) and walked a bit, then on the way back we jogged up the hill......the entire city block. It was so hard, and Rebecca who has a hard time keeping her legs up and going was struggling so I was working her all the way up the hill, and we made it. It was hard, but helping to motivate her kept the focus off of what I was doing and I was actually getting a little carried away-kicking my knees way up, like on loser last week....that hurts. But, it's over. We jogged back through the parking lot to the office.
Very satisfied w/ that. I really want to jog/run a 5k next spring.
Also thinking the scale might not be my friend and wondering if I should revamp the goals........maybe I should be a person that goes by measurements and how my clothes feel. How about by how I feel, cuz until I weighed Friday-I was feeling like a supermodel. I am thinking about that, will figure something out.
OK-hope you are well girls, talk later!

[cardenas5usa]

now that I have eaten lunch (chicken breast, sauteed shrooms and onions, broccoli) I think I'll do my pilates.

Jina-good job on the heavy walk, going up hill is soooooooooo hard! We went hiking awhile back and we had to go up this path that was cut into a hill switchback style, I swear I about died! I started to get tunnel vision and everything, I remember thinking wholly sh*t I am in bad shape! You must of burnt hella calories. Awsome job!!!!!!! I am so proud of you!

T. 30 minutes on the bike and up a notch, cool! There ain't nothing like jumping in with both feet! You will sweat that bug out for sure! Speaking of feet, my mother read a study and was just telling me about it (she is a foot care nurse ) that people who go around barefoot really do get sicker. And people that keep their feet warm are less likely to get sick. So, maybe try putting on some extra socks, maybe it'll help you get better faster? At the very least it will help you sweat that bug out!

I am so glad that everybody is do well today, renewed motivation for all!! Yeah!!

Scale Vs. Measurements You know I like both, it is fun to see a number get smaller on the scale, but it doesn't tell you, "well this week you lost 4 inches off your J.Lo butt!" Which is really what you want to know. So Efrain and I did measurements on Sat. So we can see how body weight/muscle shifts. Like I still got flab that waives back when I waive but at the same time, my bicept muscles are like, whoa, where did those come from. So I am anxious to see how they grow and become defined. Have Katie do yours, if you havn't yet, you'll be surprised how fast things change.

Way to go girls! Keep it up! Ashley

[carbjunkie]

Jina..you sound hyped..good for you! Ash..great lunch. I went out to lunch w/hubby to have japanese. I had a salad w/halibut two pieces of veg tempura(I know) and orange slices. I love this place..it's my favorite but I left out the rice this time. Anyway, I'm going to get on the treadmill for 20mins right now because I'm having a glass of egg nog and spiced rum with my sister tonight while we write out christmas cards. I will go extra light on dinner. You guys both sound like you're doing great..keep it up!

[Stelakate]

How are you!?!
I am doing great. Had more calamari last night for supper and coffee, that was about it. Wasnt interested. If I can remain "uninterested" at night I will drop weight, that is the worst time for me.
Katie even stopped at the mexcian store and got fresh enchiladas last night-but not even tempted.

It's just time to KEEP it going. Rebecca drove our route from yesterday, it was over a mile but the part we ran was .30 of a mile!! HORRAY! We have only been running .15 (and her less then that) during our training sessions at lunch. That is awesome for us!!! I cant believe it was that far, that is a big deal!! I feel like I can really be a runner someday-which might sound cheesy-but it's always been a goal of mine.

SO! The weigh in debate.........I dont want to weigh anymore. I want to see how I feel and how my clothes fit, at least for a while. I am not saying I wont get on the scale from time to time but it's just too much pressure.
I guess when I have dropped some significant weight it will be fun to jump on and see....WOW 25 pounds gone?!?!??! But the 1 or 2 down or gaining 1 or 2 is too frustrating!
How are you girls today?! Stela has a Dr.appt. w/ shots today-always makes me anxious.......

[carbjunkie]

Hi J..I hear you on the pressure. That's ok if you don't feel like getting on the scale for now. I have been frustrated with myself these last couple of days. I know I can't eat certain foods and it's upsetting so I have to realize being thin is more important to me than food. I didn't eat di