Memorial Day 2012 Challenge!!! We Can All Do This!!!! Come Join Us!!!!

[sorenkkg]

Compelled-- I rambled on and on and I forgot about the chocolate nibs. It's not a brand name, it's a product description they are literally pieces of the cacao bean that is used to make cocoa powder, chocolate etc, but basically, in it's original form (i.e. not ground up, etc). They taste of chocolate, though not as intensely, and they don't melt or anything, so they stay whole in cakes etc (I've been known to throw them into a LC cheesecake).

They are high fiber and FULL of antioxidant

I've bought them at whole foods (whole paycheck ) AND I checked, and they have some at Netrition.com , just do a search on nibs and you'll see the Navitas ones. 1g net per 1 ounce (that's 2T serving).

S.

[Crazy Mimi]

Cindylou – What a great advocate you are for your daughter! My MIL used to say (practically as a greeting) to my kids “You’re getting FAT!” I let the hubby know that wasn’t acceptable and it stopped. That was the way it was in his family. He has no issues with weight; never has. His is the epitome of self-discipline. So I guess it didn’t hurt him. And interestingly, he sees that I struggle and he has NEVER been critical of my weight, up or down. He doesn’t even talk about it.

IMO For whatever reason some men don't care about what others say about them. My DH couldn't care less what people think of him. I, on the other hand, care about what people say, think, etc. So much so that sometimes I tell him I won't go to town with him looking like that...... So maybe i do sound like my mom sometimes.... But, he doesnt tell me Im fat, or that I don't look good in something, he is even so sweet or smart that when I ask him how I look in something he asks me "How do you think you look?"

[sorenkkg]

Originally Posted by Crazy Mimi

he is even so sweet or smart that when I ask him how I look in something he asks me "How do you think you look?"

SMART MAN!!!

I think they are getting wise to our "traps"... I have to work really hard to give my husband one he can't get out of (can't think of an example right now though)... he generally has the *right* answer for all those little woman/man questions...

how do I look in this?
do you like my hair this way?
who's right-- me or my mother?
is this too much/too little makeup?
can I keep these shoes I just bought and love but they're sortof ouchy yet really cute?

[cindym]

Hi Everyone ~ Event was a success but even better than that .... I am still "on plan" ... other than a couple of rum and diet cokes, I was amazing. The long days and nights getting ready have set in and I am exhausted.

Looking forward to having a more normal week.

Still struggling with water ....

Leo ~ Interesting. I remember the diet pills with ephedra which didn't work for me

Compelled

Thanks Soren ~ I will call around

CindyLou ~ Answering a question with a question is very smart. My DH is very thin, eats what he wants, doesn't drive so he walks everywhere has never commented about my weight and always says he loves me the way I am.

[Arborea]

Hey everyone.
The new week has just started over here, so I'm wishing a good start of the week and a nice week to all of you!
The weekend was great, once again there were friends over for rpg sessions. Food was on plan, fluid intake was a little less optimal. I couldn't resist measuring this morning, and I'm back to where I was before hospital. Plan for today is stay at home, let our parakeets have some fun outside of their cage while I clean and redecorate it, hope and pray the will find their way back in there and call the doctor somewhere between this for test results.

Leo - My doctor had told me that caffeine might cause a thyroid response that might cause the hashimoto's to get worse. So might some kinds of food (especially those with lots of iodine in them). But he also said that thatmight be the case, but it doesn't have to. There is also a German book that suggested leaving caffeine out. As I said I drink caffeinated drinks a lot ( tea, coke, sometimes coffee) and it has never caused me troubles and might have helped with weight loss as it did with you.


Cindylou - Yeah , seems like men are learning how to avoid those traps I'm glad that I have my BF. He's also pretty smart when it comes to those traps, plus he tells me that he loves me no matter what. He is also to heavy for his height so, weight was never a real issue with him. When I told him I was about to change my way of eating to lose weight he was somewhat afraid I might not like him anymore once I lost, but since he realised that he still gets nice foods (blessed be Dr. Atkins) he became really supportive and he is losing weight, too, so that fear seems to have vanished.

[TaDa!]

Busy busy here! Today is a holiday in Massachusetts (first battles of the American Revolution fought here) so dh is off and the kids are on Spring break. My teen is driving me mad with her social life, but what is new?! I need to fit in some real exercise this week but not sure how that's going to happen!

Dh was playing soccer yesterday morning, and big dd was in a regatta (rowing), so little dd and I got in the car, went to a different nature preserve near Boston (we live in one here and know the place inside out even though it is thousands of acres, lol). We found a crazy trail called the Skyline trail and we ran up and down rock cliffs - it was fun and beautiful, but not quite the level of exercise I usually get, lol! I wish we could do more of that as a family, but my teenager is always refusing to go with us, lol!

Welcome Kyliesmom!

Chris "This is the best day of my life now--and I will keep going forward, on program to a slimmer me." I love that! The rest doesn't matter .. now matters!

Soren The tea sounds wonderful! Thanks for all the detailed description. I need to check that out!!!

Ohmigosh Cindy You are doing so great!!!! Congratulations on the event and keeping on track. That is AMAZING!!!!

Compelled The two pounds will come right off. I too am just trying to stick to the straight and narrow through my stress. We can do this! I also had so much negative self-talk I did not even realize until I started to "listen" to myself. I am convinced that changing that has helped me immensely

Cindylou and CindyYour dhs sound like keepers!!!! Lucky girls!!!!!! My dh and I would not have lasted five minutes if he had ever commented on my weight, lol! so I guess I get to join the club!!!

Arborea Congratulations on getting back to pre-hospital weight!!!! My dh lost about 30 pounds over the course of maybe five years just due to me changing how the family eats and going out to restaurants, etc. He never went on a diet or anything like that! But he did start to get into physical fitness (I think he felt he needed to compete with me, lol! or at least keep up with me, even though we never exercise together and do not do the same things for exercise). I think all this can rub off on the ones we love .. and the amazing things you do for yourself, you do for the others in your household too .. by osmosis, lol!

[Chris 232]

I've been steadly losing a little bit every day. But yesterday I went to Red Robin. I had their new special burger of bacon, 2 cheese, mushrooms, and meat patty. I ordered no sauces, and had the bun served on the side. I substituted the fries (I love them) for broccoli. For an extra $1.50 they would have made it as a lettuce wrap-not worth the extra $. So with all those extra calories, I did not lose this morning, but I did NOT gain either. I was relieved to see that. Eating in restaurants is possible. I should have taken home 1/2 of the meal, and I would probably have had a loss--I need to remember that.

[Crazy Mimi]

Red robin - YUM!
sorry couldn't resist...
Glad you did not gain.

[Crazy Mimi]

Yes - my DH is very supportive. Now - my oldest DD is about to get the wrath of her DM..... She is bringing donuts and unhealthy foods into my home, she sleep watches her children and does not take care of them properly. Deep breathing going on here.........

I jsut wish she could find her own home. I don't like sharing mine all the time...

[Leo41]

You're all doing so well! Congratulations

I, however, created a problem for myself last week, and I thought I'd share my "lesson learned' (telling it here might help me learn it:-)

Having survived my cruise, I think I got too complacent and did more 'snacking' than I normally do. It was all low-carb eating, and my calorie level wasn't that high, but higher than I can tolerate obviously. So my scale was up 4 lbs this week

I'm not claiming that it's all 'fat' because I also managed to get myself constipated (a chronic problem with me), but this week serves as a reminder of 1) how easily I gain; 2) the fact that I cannot be 'casual' about my eating but must plan and stick to the plan.

I seem to have lost sight of my motto: "Eternal vigilance is the price of effective weight management," but I'm reviving it, and my goal this week is to get back in control of my eating.

[Crazy Mimi]

4/16 - 276 following easiest LC WOE for me right now; back on Atkins Induction.

Arguing with my oldest DD aka the mother of my grandbabies all weekend led to eating too many carbs.... trying to hold it all together right now, feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
I am NOT implying that Atkins Induction is EASY. For me, it is easier to follow a guideline of you can eat these items but can't eat the other stuff.

My Darling Grand-daughters have cleaned out the Easter candy department and for right now I will give a grocery list to someone else and let them enter it and with the instructions that they can only buy what is on the list and I won't give them extra money.

While I am frustrated right now, I am determined to not let it de-rail me any more than it already has.
That being said - I will let all know how tonight goes...

[Crazy Mimi]

I seem to have lost sight of my motto: "Eternal vigilance is the price of effective weight management," but I'm reviving it, and my goal this week is to get back in control of my eating.

[sorenkkg]

Hey gang

Lots of good stuff going on here! Sticking to the plan, busy days, events going well! WOO HOO!

Not much to report-- had brunch at a friend's yesterday, and food choices etc were on plan for me.

Today is going well, and I'm looking forward to and planning my trip to CA for work next week (and again 2 weeks after, but I'll deal with that later).

I know I have some dinner meal commitments, so I'm working on where I can go, what i can eat, etc, and work within my plan. Sort of fun to do, knowing that if I stay with it (not really "if" b/c I don't see an alternative! ETERNAL VIGILIENCE, love it Leo!) I can eat out and have fun and still lose weight!

I've not seen these colleagues since the end of February-- wonder if they'll commemt on my losses?

That's it for me for now-- keep up the positive self-talk ya'll-- YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!
(and you make healthy choices... I love that one).


Soren

[cindym]

Happy Tuesday ~ Had another success last night. It was our "UnBirthday" Meeting at Toastmasters and consequently there were cupcakes and I did not cave. I had salt & pepper dry wings during the Executive Meeting and a large bottle of water and did not even lick my fingers when passing out cupcakes and YES I am feeling very proud of myself. Actually looking forward to weigh day tomorrow but also not trying not to put too much emphasis on the scale. Rings are very tight today which has me a little concerned.

Still struggling with water ....

Arborea ~ Redecorating while cleaning sounds fun and hope your parakeets enjoyed their freedom day ....

Pauline ~ Wow .... busy Teenagers really are in their own world. LOL

Chris ~ Red Robin did sound YUMMY and congrats on not gaining.

CindyLou ~ Thinking about you and also thinking it is about time I went back to "induction" .... need to find Atkins book.

Leo ~ Thanks for sharing and love the motto.

Soren ~ Woo Hoo ...

[Crazy Mimi]

Yesterday went well just knowing what I could eat. Drank a lot of water and ran back and forth to the restroom all day. So bad stuff must be leaving my body.

So out of my desire to know what is going on, I weighed today and I sort of do daily - unless i am not doing so well and then I avoid the scale like it has a disease Anyways - 271 again - so I weighed 3 more times and got the same weight each time. So maybe yesterdays weight was wrong. When I see a number that scares me I will sometimes NOT step back on out of fear that it will be higher the 2nd time So it was possibly wrong but either way, I was more bloated yesterday, so I know things are better today. So it may have been 1 or 2 pounds lost.

cindym - yep. I dusted mine off as well. I am following it to the letter this time. I need to focus more on de-stressing so just going to stick with what I know the mostest...

Arborea - did they find their way back to their home? When I was younger I had one. I would let him out frequently. He did not prefer to fly around, he would get on my shoulder and then get underneath my hair. He would stay there, and hide for a while... We had to clip one wing though. He seemed to sense when it was time to go back to his cage and he would fly up to the top of the curtains and stay. My parents have 9ft + ceilings, so reaching up there was not an option. So, clipping the one wing he would still fly, but he couldn't get up that high... We also used to put him outside. Although, it was funny. My dad taught him to do the whistle that my dad used to call the cattle up. Well, he learned it well enough to call the cattle up the last time we put him outside in his cage. My dad wouldn't let us do that again. He didn't want the cattle to ever come up and not get fed. They would then learn to not come to the whistle then....
Thanks for sharing which led to my trip down memory lane....

[Leo41]

Cindym- Good job resisting those cupcakes. I have a world-class sweet tooth and nothing but total abstinence works for me--one bite of a cupcake, and I'd need a dozen

If your rings are tight, don't trust that scale number because I find that 'pudgy fingers' are a sure sign that I'm retaining water. In women, it's a hormonal thing not really under our control, and I can easily retain 5 lbs of water within a few hours.

Cindylou- See my comment above about the water. That's why it sometimes can be so upsetting to see a higher-than-expected number on the scale. I always freak out when that happens, and I can easily get into a "Screw it" mentality that leads to a binge. I'm trying to continually remind myself that if my eating is on plan and under control, I should not 'react' to the scale number. But it's hard.

Good for you in not 'reacting' to yesterday's number. I have to keep your experience in mind.

[sorenkkg]

Originally Posted by cindym

Rings are very tight today which has me a little concerned.

Originally Posted by Leo41

Cindym- If your rings are tight, don't trust that scale number because I find that 'pudgy fingers' are a sure sign that I'm retaining water. In women, it's a hormonal thing not really under our control, and I can easily retain 5 lbs of water within a few hours.

Cindylou- See my comment above about the water. That's why it sometimes can be so upsetting to see a higher-than-expected number on the scale. I always freak out when that happens, and I can easily get into a "Screw it" mentality that leads to a binge. I'm trying to continually remind myself that if my eating is on plan and under control, I should not 'react' to the scale number. But it's hard.

Good for you in not 'reacting' to yesterday's number. I have to keep your experience in mind.

ditto! Fingers definitely show water, and I find it takes a long time for actual weight loss to show in my rings... Also, WINGS, even if I make them myself, baked in the oven (or deep fried but no batter), with just some garlic powder-- always cause me some bloat. Not sure why, but it's been that way for years and years on Atkins.

So don't sweat the water (well, sweat it out! drink more water and your body should let go of the bloat), and just stick to the program. it works as long as you stick to it!

I'm having a nice, quiet day. Gotta clean the house before the cleaners come tomorrow... tidy up so they can get to the dirt, I mean

I actually have to go to the office all the rest of the days of the week this week! VERY unusual for me, so I need some advance food planning, which I will definitely do.

Soren

[Crazy Mimi]

Gotta clean the house before the cleaners come tomorrow... tidy up so they can get to the dirt, I mean

I give my sister and sister-in-law a very hard time about this. I still to this day laugh at them when they say that....

B/C it is usually stated "I have to clean the house before the cleaning lady comes!"


Thanks Leo for the info about the water retention. Experience - I learn something new everyday. I do enjoy your words of wisdom. You have been there and done that - and I should not over-react. Remembering a lot of my Daddys words of wisdom and life lessons right now. They are actually comforting me right now.

[ness2616]

Hi everyone, Im still here. I havent been posting for the last couple of weeks. We have had massive amounts of family drama around here and I am all over the place with my food. I know I have gained so I am staying off the scales until I can get myself back in control. I know not to beat myself up over this but it is very difficult not to. I also know that I cannot place any blame on anyone else(but I really really want to lol). Ive missed all you!!!

Welcome to our new friends! Glad you are with us.

[Leo41]

ness- Good for you for recognizing that we'd love to blame someone else for our weight problems! It's a natural impulse, IMO, but don't 'blame' yourself either.

Life happens, and all we can do is our best--and keep on trying. The only failure is giving up.

You CAN do this.

[MaryMary]

Hi everyone, I am just getting over a bug - vomiting Sunday night and the runs Minday and Tuesday. I caught it from mu husband. He had it Friday, Saturday and Sunday. But he went to the doctor today and was put into the hospital for dehydration. His problem is that before he got sick, be had been losing weight without trying. He is 6'1" and was down to 169 lbs. The last time he was that low, he was bed ridden for 3 weeks. I am staying away from the hospital because I don't want to spread what I have or catch what others might have. He will be there for at least two days. I went looking for something to make sure I don't get dehydrated but all I could find was Pedialyte and it was all sugar. So I am sticking to tea and s/f ginger ale.

[Leo41]

In your situation, I'd take the Pedialyte, as my primary doctor recommends it highly for dehydration. He says it's the best choice.

I've taken it, and I recall that the sugar content is not high. I know it didn't cause any problems for me in terms of carbs--and I'm highly sensitive to carbs.

There's also sports drinks that have artificial sweeteners--one I've used is Powerade Zero--if you really don't want the Pedialyte.

I hope you feel better soon. Those bugs can certainly make us feel awful.

[sorenkkg]

MaryMary-- there is low sugar G2 gatorade you should be able to find in stores, or vitaminwater is pretty low (most flavors, maybe not all) as well.

hope you feel better soon!

[Arborea]

Hey everyone!
The birds have just returned to their cage about 10 minutes ago. I was really getting worried because they hadn't eaten anything since Monday nor did they have a drink, but whatever transporting or catching I tried they outsmarted me every time. Sly little beasties. Right now they are nibbling their seeds. They must be starving! They seem a little sad that I closed the door once they were in though.

Food for me was well since monday. Tuesday measuring showed another centimeter gone so now I'm officially back on the loser track, which in this case is good
I'll try to catch up reading later right now I have some cleaning to do before the BF gets home from work.

[Chris 232]

Crazy MIMI- stay strong with your daughter. Don't take over and let her fall into a deep depression and depend totally on you.

Ness-glad your back-it is so easy to stop dieting, and stop being responsible for your eating. our encouragement can help you stay on track, but YOU still have to want the weight loss rather than the few minutes of eating pleasure.

CindyM wow resisitng desserts, good news. cupcakes are not as tempting for me as donuts.
I know on our vacation at the hotel stays that there will be donuts and muffins available for our free breakfast along with cold cereal, and waffles--all carby food. there is usually juice, and bagels-more carbs. So I will bring some hardboiled eggs in a cooler and if I chose to eat, it will be that. Thanks everyone for helping me to realize that just because the food is free or even if I paid for it, I don't have to eat it.

This week I lost 4.2 lbs, only through the strength of Christ. I have lots of mini goals coming up--- I'm 4 lbs from ONEderland, 10 lbs from a 50 lbs loss(& a size 18 pants), and 15 lbs from my 1/2 way point. If I exercise more and eat a little less I might make ONEderland in 2 weeks by the end of the month.

One thing I've learned is that I can't cross my legs while I sit at the comuter, because now my hip and back hurt. I've done this before and acturally dislocated one long bone in my lower leg which gave me horrible knee pain for months until the chiropractor reset it.

[Leo41]

Chris-
Great work with that weight loss--congratulations
(I'm jealous because 4 lbs was the usual loss for me--for a month

THIS is a great realization: "just because the food is free or even if I paid for it, I don't have to eat it."

That's how I manage on cruises. My thought is that if the food isn't good for me, I'm only hurting myself by eating it--paid for or not.

Those Continental (carby!) breakfasts are a killer for me because muffins and sweet rolls really tempt me. The hard-boiled eggs are a good idea. Whenever I know that I'm going to be in a place that offers a breakfast like that, I always have my own food 'just in case.' A couple of times, there actually were hard-boiled eggs available, but it's not that common.

[Crazy Mimi]

Way to go on the losses!!!!

And Arborea - yes - I want to be a "loser" too!

A loaf of banana bread appeared in the office yesterday. No one knew where it came from though... I had three slices. I am upset with myself for not having better will power.
So now this morning the small chunk of banana bread that was left MULTIPLIED? I have my will power shield up and am seriously dead set against eating any - but WTH?

I am being tested today and I am going to be strong.

[cindym]

Good Morning ~ Trying to shed an overwhelming sense of disappointment. No movement on the scale. Because of my tight rings, as most of you mention, it must be water retention but still discouraged. Had another fabulous "on plan" eating day yesterday and thought I had drank more water ..... I have also planned today, however, going to be a real test. First luncheon, which usually has pasta (I will eat salad during the lunch and my chicken when I get back to the car) and then appreciation party (I am bringing meat, cheese & fruit), however, it is potluck and I know there will be amazing snacks. I can and will do this !!!!

CindyLou ~

Thanks Leo ~ appreciate the info about water weight. It is really helpful today.

Soren ~ Chuckling about you cleaning before the cleaners come.

Ness ~

Mary ~ Hope that you and your DH are feeling better soon.

Arborea ~ Glad that the birds came back and on being a loser.

Chris ~ so happy for your weight loss and LOVE your comment that you don't have to eat it just because you paid for it.

[Crazy Mimi]

CindyM - We can get through our "test" today. We can do this....

So far the banana bread is staying in the break room and out of mouth! baby steps.

[Leo41]

Cindym-
Even when I know it's water weight, I get demoralized by the number on the scale, so know that your 'feelings' are natural. Just don't let them affect your eating today. I know that I've always regretted it when I 'react' to the scale number with a 'screw it' attitude that always leads me to overeating.

The water will go eventually, and if you stay strong and on plan, you'll then be rewarded with a 'whoosh' because that water weighs more than fat.

Mimi-
Just remind yourself that you already know what that banana bread tastes like, so there's no need to put any more of it in your mouth. Try to think of it as 'pure bad carbs.' Personally, what works for me is to keep all foods like this in an separate 'off limits' category in my head so that I never get as far as "Should I have some just this one time?" I know if I ever get to that point, I'm lost