New and would like a buddy

[Teresa3]

Thank you, Polly! Now I'm in the line-up with the rest of you! I'm so hungry and tired, but I'm going to try to stay the course. Look forward to hearing about your day, Cheryl, and Mi Chick. Hope it's gone well for everyone. Teresa

[MI CHICK]

ok here are my Mon #'s:
all time high 249(last week)
start date 6/18/07
today's wgt 247
goal 160
5'6" 53yrs old

Thanks for sharing all the neat pic's of flowers/store/
yourselves. Always interesting to see! I am only
email & goggle smart on the computer so who knows
if I could ever get any pic's loaded in...the Monarch's
sound very interesting as I am an avid bird watcher.

Made it thru the day. I always do fine all day long &
then in the evenings I way over eat. Most of my wgt
gain comes from this problem. When I lost the lbs
before the first few weeks I ate induction which seemed
like way too many calories but the lbs came off & I felt
great, just like the book said. Then I tried to not eat
so much protein as I didn't want to end up with gout
or some such problem. Got into making all the LC
recipes which was fun & tasty. But I did really start
to slow down loss wise & then I got into the LC chocolates... & then I stalled and we all know the
rest of that story....so I can see the pattern & know
that the more simple I keep my eating the better I
will do. And I need to loose a good # of lbs soon
as my poor feet are not happy with me!! I work in
home health care as an aid so I am on my feet all
day.

I'm looking forward to getting to know you all better.
It's very encouraging to come in from work or just
before bed & read what others are doing. You don't
feel like the only screw up in town....LOL!!!

Today's menu was:
B=Steak & 2 eggs
L=tuna w/mayo & shred cheddar
S=2sl lunchmeat spread with cream cheese
D=LF ham slices w/dill havarti cheese & celery
sticks
S(while watching baseball)=raw almonds
everything was measured/weighed & written down
to keep me on track and I have tomorrows written
down so that I can scoot thru my day off w/o having
to waste time thinking about what to eat.

Everyone have a good "rest of the evening"

[catwings]

Morning ya'll...I think we can all agree nighttime eating is our downfall. I think with me, it's the TV watching. TV=eating. When I read, I don't tend to snack, because I'm doing something with my hands (turning pages, holding the book). I read a lot, but in the evenings, after working around books all day, sometimes I just want a simple escape like TV. And a big bowl of ice cream. Or like last night, I turned that ice cream into a sundae. That was NOT necessary. Then later I had a popsicle and when I went to the kitchen to get it I had a handful of pecans. Again, not necessary!

I really want to lose this weight and I expect ya'll do too. And it looks like it's going to take giving up this nighttime comfort eating.

Here's my plan this week (starting tonight) -

After dinner I'm going to have my regular coffee w/ cream and davini syrup (zero carbs). Then I'm going to do a small project like clean out a junk drawer (this can be done while sitting down and relaxing). After that, I'm gonna take a soak in the bathtub. I've read that a hot bath followed by a cool shower will increase your metabolism. After my bath, I'm gonna watch a little TV and wait for that snack craving to set in. When it does I'm gonna be ready for it. Get up and drink a big glass of water, do a little exercise or perhaps make a move on my husband ;-).

My boobs are so big I knock stuff off the counter when I walk by it and my shoulders always hurt from the stress of my bra. My feet hurt, my back hurts and my family is prone to diabetes I'm gonna get if I don't get some weight off. NIGHTTIME SNACKING IS NOT WORTH IT!!!

Nice to have you join us Chick...sounds like you are on track with your menus. I enjoy reading what other people are fixing for themselves and I find it helps keep me straight when I want to cheat.

Happy Day!

Polly

[catwings]

Todays plan

B- 2 slice bacon and dry protein special k cereal, coffee w/ cream
L - to-go chinese

(our little resturant lets you get a to go plate, fill it up from the buffett, then they eyeball it and say "two dolla". My husband goes by to get it on his lunch hour and brings two of them to the store. He gets me stir fried beef, chicken and veggies. No rice, no noodles and no deep fried stuff)

D- baked parmesan chicken strips, green beans, sliced tomatoes and cukes.

S- only coffee tonight!

[KirbyTris]

I'm sorry that I've been missing in action. Even though I have been especially busy at work and home, I've also been ashamed to come here and report that I've fallen off the wagon. I'm having an incredibly hard time getting back on and I feel like crap!

Work has been very busy. I'm not used to this. It's usually very slow over the summer. I've also been spending too much time on the computer at work, and I'm in fear of getting fired for being on the computer for personal stuff. I'd check in with you all at night, but I'm too busy eating.

I also started physical therapy and the extra time it takes is like the straw that broke the camel's back. How in the world am I suppose to keep up with everything?

Sorry for my ranting. Reading all of your posts have given me renewed hope. Thanks! I promise to get my life turned around. I'll try posting tonight. I'll have a BIG glass of water ready.

I'm thinking very fondly of all of you.

Thanks!
Cheryl

[KirbyTris]

All time high: 234 (BMI 37)
Start date: 10/2/06 (234 pounds)
May 1, '07 - 214
June 1, '07 - 216
Today's weight - 213
Goal - 150 (Normal BMI 24)
(need to lose 63 pounds)
Height - 5'8"
Age - 48

[Teresa3]

Cheryl, please don't feel bad about falling off the wagon--we're all going to have that happen from time to time. The important thing is to not beat yourself up about it so you don't say "so what I don't care" and start a big binge. That's what I always do. You've made great progress the last couple of months so just look at that, and even if you stay the same for awhile, it's great that you've lost the weight you already have. Shoot, I feel better for just having lost 3 lbs. so far--it's better than gaining; and the low-carb diet just helps me feel better physically; I have less pain. So be gentle with yourself and hang in here.

Are you having physical therapy for your arthritis? Are you in a lot of pain? I hope it helps. I do find that starch, wheat , sugar bring on more pain in my inflammatory condition. Fish oil helps. Hope you feel better soon!

Teresa

[Teresa3]

It looks like nighttime eating gets us all. I've been a little better about it lately by making one cup of tea after another, with cream. And my standard TV snack is just 1/4 or 1/2 of a lc chocolate bar, eaten very slowly with the tea. I just make it a rule that's all I'll have until bedtime when I have a small handfull of pecans w/cream cheese. I just can't go to sleep hungry.

Polly, keeping busy is definitely an over-eating buster; it just takes up the time. And there's something about just sitting in front of the TV that seems to make me hungry! But I'm usually too tired in the evening to do anything. Taking the dog for a short walk helps, so does getting on the stationary bike for a few minutes.

Mi Chick, hang in with us. It takes time to make changes, a little here a little there. Slow and steady wins the game!

B - egg, sausage, spinach
L - Salad, beef moussaka (took out the potatoes)
D - beef tenderloin, broccoli
S - lc choc, few pecans, cream cheese

Great hearing from y"all!
Teresa

[catwings]

Bless your heart Cheryl...looks like you are going through a rough time. I try hard to keep my life simple but sometimes thing pile up and when they do it drives me crazy. All you can do is muddle through it and do your best to keep a good outlook on things. I always try to remember that everything is easier when you are slim! I've been skinny before, I speak from experience. Everything from walking and shopping to how people treat you, it's an easier world. In my opinion anyway.

Teresa your menu sounds delish...I haven't had moussaka in years.

I nixed my cooking plans for tonight and picked up two chick-fil-a sandwiches (grilled) on whole wheat rolls. I tear most of the rolls away as I eat them.

My husband is outside pulling peanuts up outa the garden (they grow underground ya know)...I'm gonna bowl some later at his request. Going to try to stay away from them tonight but am looking forward to some for breakfast.

Hope your day went better than yesterday cheryl!

Polly

[MI CHICK]

Hey Cheryl the support is not just for the days that we
can come on singing hurray I lost lbs today, it's also
for when we need to come on grumbling about what
a screw up we are for having done what we KNOW
we should not do. That's when we need the support
the most--so no more of this ain't been around cause
I messed up stuff ok! This is only my 2nd day so I
haven't had time to screw up yet....LOL!! I've always
been a big stress eater. Course I also overeat when I
am sad/tired/angry/happy & want to celebrate....so I
love my food way too much & just have to get a handle
on it. Today's menu:
B=scrambled eggs w/cand.bacon & cheddar
L=3 pieces roasted chicken
D=4oz sirloin burger with 1 sl jack cheese, salad
of tomato & lettuce & dressing
S=1 cheese stick & 23 raw almonds
Am a little bit hungry now but it's 10:45 & too late to
eat. Have that awful 2nd day withdrawal headache to
boot.....will take a Tylenol pm so that I get some sleep.
Getting up to have a glass of water is not going to help
me with the nite eating....it will just depress me that
all I'm getting is water & that will temp me further.
But since my right heel hurts when I walk on it I
could get up & walk around the house once & think
about how I would like to get rid of the foot pain. Seems
like that might motivate me. Did do 15min of exercise
today. Will try for 30 tomorrow.
I love to read too--but turning the pages has never
stopped me from snacking while reading...even though
sitting on the patio in the summer evenings & reading
with diet Pepsi & a cigarette was a grand thing too....
at least that is one bad habit I seem to have shaken
Polly how do you make the Paremesan Chicken strips??
Had been a long time since I'd roasted a chicken & it
tasted so good! Have some ck breasts in the freezer
that would make good strips.
On the way home from our haircuts tonight DH wanted
to stop at Baskin/Robbins. It was hard to say no thanks
but more because I felt like an idiot cause I knew he
was thinking ok how long will it last this time. And it's
a truthful question as I have been struggling with my
wgt the last 10yrs, losing & then going up & up higher
each time. As you said Polly I don't want to not get a
grip until I have health issues that losing wgt won't solve
anymore!!
Well gal's it's always uplifting to read your posts & add
my own thoughts. Now I can go pack lunches for
tomorrow & set up my Wed menu w/o getting into
trouble in the kitchen.
Have a good nite!

wow it sure seems funny to be pulling up peanuts
at your house....visited my cousin in AL last April
& she had a pecan tree in her yard & gave me a
bag of pecans to take home with me! Not quite
the flowers & veggies that we grow in MI LOL!!

[catwings]

I meant to tell ya'll yesterday, I exercised for 30 minutes! And it wasn't all that hard. It started chasing my old cat around the store. He's fat too and I was trying to get him to move around some. We chased one another up and down the stacks for about four minutes, then when he went and hid, my blood was pumping so I jumped on the exercise bike and rode hard ten minutes, then did some toe touches and dancing around to Tom Petty. then I started walking briskly around the store while lifting my arms. I got tired of that pretty quick so I got back on the bike for another 8 minutes and by that time, 30 minutes had passed. The mixture of stuff made the time go by faster. I'm gonna try to stick to this routine at least once a day. Will probably get interupted by customers often, which is good in an economic way ;-)...maybe I can get them to join in!

It rained here this morning, a wonderful thing because we are in a drought. Puts a shine on the day.

Still weighing 211 but I feel skinnier than I did last week. Good feeling don't ya'll think?

Boiled some peanuts last night and didn't eat the first one. Did eat a bowl of ice cream after dinner but I measured out 1/2 cup and didn't add anything to it. Didn't eat anything after my bath and was very proud of myself when I went to sleep.

Todays menu -
B- 10 boiled peanuts(2-3 nuts in each shell) and dry blue box special K, coffee w/ cream
L- bacon and spinach fritatta, tea w/ splenda
S- black coffee and a few peanuts
D - gonna do the parm chicken strips tonight

Chick...I pound the breasts out then slice them into strips. Soak in egg and half and half for 30 minutes, then season w/ paprika and dredge in parm cheese. Spray a cookie sheet with pam and lay the strips out. Bake at 400 for about 10-15 minutes, then turn the broiler on and crisp up the tops. I find the faster I cook them, the better they are. make sure your oven is good and hot before you put them in.

Cheryl...were are ya??? Doesn't matter if you fall off the wagon as long as you climb back on. Don't give up!!!

Polly

[Teresa3]

Good Morning, Ladies! Although I guess it's pretty much noon where you all are. Time for lunch--my favorite meal!

Polly, you're an inspiration on the exercise. Mi Chick, I have foot pain too, and find it hard to get enough exercise. I have to break it up into small segments. Polly, you've given me the idea to break my bike riding up into 5 min. segments throughout the day. I have tendonitis in my calves, and maybe this won't irritate them so much, and maybe will raise my metabolism a bit. I'm still stuck at 162, but I did notice my pants are looser.

B - egg, sausage, spinach, tea w/cream
L - chicken tostada, no shell
D - seared fresh tuna strips, chard, crookneck squash
S - 1/4 lc chocolate bar, few pecans w/cream cheese

Those boiled peanuts must taste really good! Here's to a great day--Cheryl, miss you; hope you're doin OK.
Teresa

[MI CHICK]

First half of my day has gone well. Soon I will
be leaving for work.
B=sirloin burger w/2 sl jack cheese & 1 tb mayo
L=roast chicken
S=23 raw almonds & 2 cheese sticks
D=salad w/lettuce,tomato,ham slices & shred cheese
& dressing
S=2 stalks celery with 2oz cream cheese
My lunch & 1 snack will go in the cooler with me to
work. Did 30mns of exercise this a.m. so I'm ok for
the day if I just stick with my eating plan.

Woke up early this morning with the charly horse that
is always a problem w/Atkins. I already take calcium.
Does anyone remember what the other supplements were
from the book?? Was hoping not to have to find time
tonight to go thru it & find the answer

Teresa 162 sounds like heaven to me!!! Just keep at
it. I won't weigh till Mon cause the constant rolling
around of #'s that our bodies do naturally always
upset me.

I have one of those Gazelle's and in the past it was
always at the back of the livingroom where I could step
on it & do 15ms many times a day. While dinner was
cooking or between switching loads of laundry etc. By
doing just the few mins I was able to do it around
work too. So the little increments all day long added
up to more than I would have ever done all at once.
So I know that approach works Teresa. That's another
thing about the Gizelle once you place your foot on it
your wgt settles & you aren't coming down on your
foot over & over so it really helps take the hurt out
of exercise. I had one machine for years & it finally
died & I really missed it. After about a year I found
one for sale from an individual for only $50 so I was
happy. Always love a good deal!!

Well I need to get a move on. Will check back in after
work tonight. Have a good healthy day girls!!

[Gramma]

Hello --- I've been reading your posts for several weeks now and decided I couldn't want any longer to tell you what an inspriation you all are to me. That's because I'm a "former" Lc-er who fell off the wagon several years ago and only now is ready to take up the battle again. I live in Dallas, Texas, and I am a gramma although the grandkids don't live here in town. At age 60, I know I must get this unnecessary weight off before I develop some of those later in life health problems. I'm off to choir rehearsal now, but I'll be back with you all tomorrow. Here's to our total success!!!

[MI CHICK]

Gramma!!
It's amazing how much a few words from other
people can help & inspire!! I am wondering where
LouAnn & LittleBit & Carolina Girl are???? They were
with the beginning of the thread. Hope they have
just wondered off to another thread & not given up!
You lost weight on this program before like many of
us so you know it works, & you're right it can be now
or never for us (I'm 53) Was thinking on my drive
home from work today how excited I was when I
first started on Atkins and was losing wgt for the
first time in many years of "dieting". Was satisfied
with all the real food I was getting & happy too that
the cravings were gone. I actually looked forward to
each new day eating in this new style! Am not quite
as excited as I was then but I am happy to be getting
myself under control. The headache came back this
afternoon but a Tylenol took care of it. Drank more
water today, but I can't do tons as I'm up all nite
peeing.....& then I'm crabby cause I got no sleep....LOL!!
Got a diet Tonic water to drink for the leg cramps.
Was too tired when I got in from work to do much
dinner prep so I just put 6 cherry tomatoes/4oz tky
ham/1/4C shred cheddar & 2 tbsp ranch in a bowl &
stirred for a salad. Was good! Am still hungry & have
to think of a quick easy fix so that I can pack tomorrows
lunches without getting into trouble in the kitchen.....
Be good with those nite time tv snacks gal's!!!

[catwings]

Hi ladies, welcome Gramma, the more the merrier! We lose a few here and there (pounds and posters) but we're hanging in there!

We ate the rest of the carb smart ice cream last night and I"m not buying anymore. It's the bars or none at all. the ice cream bloats me up and I haven't lost anything since we started eating it.

Exercised 15 minutes yesterday but was interupted and never got to start back. I've figured out everytime I get a lull in business all I have to do to get a store full of people is to start working out!

Chick...I used to have a problem with leg cramps (before atkins) and my doc said to eat bananas because they were full of potassium. since we can't eat bananas on lc, you might want to get some potassium supplements. When I get to work I'll look at my vitamin book and see what other foods are high in potassium. Also, when I got leg cramps I was standing on my feet a lot, which I understand you can't avoid in your job. You might want to stretch those muscles that are cramping up several times a day.

today's planned menu -
B - coffee w/ cream and 3 slices of bacon
L- leftover chicken strips, salad w/ ranch, tea w/ splenda
S - probably coffee
D - Steak ums w/ onions and fresh peppers outa the garden. I"m gonna leave my whole wheat tortilla out tonight. If I do, I can keep my carbs well under 20.
S- sf popsicle

I've done OK on my goals this week - my water intake has been good. I drink a lot during the morning and taper off as the day goes on. Also I've exercised more this week than last. Not doing any marathons but it is a step up.

everyone have a good day!

Polly

[catwings]

How's everyones weekend looking? I think I'm gonna try the boot camp I was considering last weekend. I'm gonna read up on the meat fast and the fat fast and work up a plan. Also gonna try cutting out all sugar substitutes for the weekend. Just the weekend mind you.... Shake things up a bit and see if I get another drop in weight. I was hoping to be around 200 pounds on July 4th.

Polly

[Gramma]

Hi, and thanks for the welcoming words!

Tell me about the boot camp?

And it's been a while since I did my initial sign-in; can you tell how to go in and show my current weight?

[catwings]

Go up to the top and click on "control panel" and then "edit profile"...you can make changes there.

when I say boot camp I mean a strict weekend eating wise. I can't be super strict all the time or I'd be miserable but I think a couple of days of less than 10 carbs a day would jump start things.

[catwings]

I've read up on it and I think I'm going to do the meat fast this weekend, Sat morning to Monday morning. Meat and water but I am going to stretch it and have an egg a day also. No coffee, tea, nuts, dairy or sugar free snacks at night. Monday it's back on my regular plan. We'll see how my body handles it. I'm gonna roast a turkey breast tomorrow night and maybe cook a small pork loin too for variety. These will be my breakfast and lunch but I'll planning on getting to-go chicken wings Saturday night...again, for variety.

Happy Thursday Evening!

Polly

[Teresa3]

Hi, all--
I'm late checking in today--you're probably all asleep; it's 10 p.m. here. Welcome, Gramma! We're gonna get this thing done!

Chick, I agree w/Polly on the potassium--I supplement w/4-6 pills per day, and eat a lot of spinach and greens, and drink tea, which is high. Also take Cal/Mag 1000mg/day.

I had a fantastic experience last night, due to you all. At my women's group, where we always have a multitude of sweets, I brought lc chocolate, and only ate 1/4 of a bar, while I watched the rest of them gorge on cake, brownies, fruit, bread and crackers! I never have been able to accomplish that before! So thanks to you, great strides are being made!

I had a good day today, too. Went to the gym for 1/2 hr. and walked 15 min. Ate on plan.

Polly, if I haven't lost my minimum 1 lb. by Sat. a.m. I am also going to try
a meat fast or the fat fast. I can only be real strict for a couple of days, too, but I want my minimum. Catch ya later! Sweet dreams Y'all (dream about being a healthy weight...)
Teresa

[catwings]

I almost blew it last night. Had a hard day and came home irritable. I had bought a different brand of the steakum/philly cheese steak I had been buying and when I opened it up....ewwww, it was those formed sandwich steaks and it looked nasty. what we had been eating was the great value brand philly cheese steak that is very good. So I'm at a loss for dinner, nothing else thawed and I decided I'd send my husband down to a little dive down the road that serves greasy burgers and fries. Before starting low carb, we ate there quiet often because they were homemade and not fast food. But the white bread and fries...yech. I soon got a grip and ended up making a quick fritatta and a pepper melody salad on the side. Was proud I didn't fall into that burger and fries trap. Got to make sure I have a back up plan for something quick in the future.
209 this morning, back down from the 211 I've been stuck at.

Will post my menu later.

Congrats on keeping away from all those snacks Teresa...it ain't worth it!!! Ya'll are an inspiration.

Polly

[catwings]

BTW...we've had a raccoon hanging around our chicken pen and trying to break in. We put out a live trap (humane, it's just a cage) last night and baited it with the nasty steakum things....caught the sucker! Hubby is dropping him off in some woods about five miles away on his way to work.

P