THE BARRY MONTH OF MAY CHALLENGE

[CarolynF]

I know about the bedding..I'm sure Brett will bring everything home..Of course, he is going back to his apartment for a class and some research. How about a big garbage plastic bag? Put some dryer sheets in it and it will smell very nice come fall..

I wish you could meet us too.. And all our dear friends..

[TuscanGirl]

Good idea.

I tried the big Ziploc bags last year and things smelled moldy.

*I'm sure there are some garbage bags around here somewhere . . . . *

[sjl330]

Hey MK, go to Wally world and get those big storage bags that you suck the air out of with the vacuum. That should keep them very nice and not take up a lot of room either.

[TuscanGirl]

I always wondered about those. Does everything get really wrinkled in them?

[sjl330]

I don't think so. Especially if you fold them flat. I think the lack of air keeps the wrinkles out? You might look up reviews of them online.

[Buffy45]

Morning everyone!
MK, I used those bags when I went to France for DD#2's wedding and I "thought" I had to take so much stuff. They really are amazing. I folded things flat or rolled them and then into the bag, sucked the air out and everything came out fine. Really are space savers and keep things nice and sealed for cleanliness, bug free, etc. And, you can reuse them. '
Went out for dinner club last night to Tex-mex, did not eat right :-( but it was great fun with my gal pals. Then on to Dillards to get Exer-fit flip flops that Dillards had a full page ad in the paper on yesterday. They are made by Earth company and say? that they help you burn more calories and fat per step. I asked the clerk if I could return them if I was not skinny in 30 days but he just laughed at me? Does that mean they don't work? Anyway, that is all I wear around the house 12 months out of the year so I figure I might as well try these.
Off to see the Dr. at 11 this morning. When I fell off the ladder 2 1/2 weeks ago I hit one hip really hard on the old dresser that was in the shed. Well, I still have a swollen bump on it about the size of a baseball and it is not going down. So, must see about the bump on my bum
Then have to pick up DGS 9 at 3:00 and stay with him until his Mom gets home from work so I doubt I accomplish a thing at home today or in the office.
Seems we are all strugging with WOE and weight

[CindyCRNA]

Carolyn, that's a good idea about the pics. I still need to go over to my friends house and learn how to download pics and change my Avitar. I am SO behind the times!

Up till about 2am last night for work. But only ate a part skim string cheese stick, 1 oz. That's good for me as it is hard being up 20 hours but watching what you eat. You eat dinner at 6pm and your hungry 8 hours later.

More rain last night and 3 tornado's that caused damage and 2 deaths up North of here. It has been a turbulent spring!

Going to Costco today and also to Suburban Lawn and Garden for a gazing ball and some iris. I don't have any iris and I miss them. There are easy to grow, multiply easily and are reliable every spring. I have a tomato the size of my thumb nail on my yellow tomato plant. I have netting to keep the squirrels off.

Took something that turned out pretty well to work yesterday.
1.4 pounds ground buffalo
1 pkg cole slaw mix
1 pkg french green beans
1t onion powder
1/2 t garlic powder
Jane's Crazy Mixed Up Salt/Pepper
Beef bullion
Fry up the meat, microwave the green beans, stir in cole slaw mix and cook for 5 min. Stir in green beans and seasoning and cook another 5 minutes. It was a little bland so when I got to work, I put Tabasco on it and that did it! It would be better with a can of stewed tomatoes and and onion but that added 50 carbs so I didn't add it. Got the idea from a thread on 3 ingredient meals but I added a few extra ingredients.

Hope everyone has a great day!!

[ebheffernan]

148.8 talk about depressing-after 3 weeks I've gained almost 2 pounds from eating a regular americanized carb diet! (ok, that's not completely true, I haven't done wheat/gluten in a year since I"m sensitive to it-but still!) I think I might cry-seriously, massively discouraging. Looking at cutting back calories to 1300 per day (been keeping them at 1400-1500 for a week with no results) and not happy with that assessment of things. Maybe I should go vlc but I start feeling nauseated without roughage in the form of dark green things at least once a day. hmmmm....nausea........maybe that's why VLC works, you're too nauseated from all the unadulterated fat and protein to eat! think Im approaching delirium from being up 24 plus hours-I'm off to bed now perhaps the outlook will look different when I wake up
Becky

[CindyCRNA]

Becky, wait, you weren't doing LC? You were on a "balanced" diet? I tried VLC and had my first binge in 4 months 3 days into it. Very restrictive. I wasn't necessarily hungry, just not satisfied. When you say 1400-1500 calories, was that per Fitday? Did you you weigh, measure? I know that's anal but it really is the only way to assess what you are REALLY eating. I'm not sure if cutting down to 1300 calories is the answer.

As for a "balanced" diet, I lost all of my weight (30 pounds) on it. I only counted calories and nothing else. Ate 1300 to 1500 calories a day. So it isn't really carbs. It is how your particular WOE makes you feel. I mean, can you go through the day peacefully or is it a blood sugar rollar coaster ride? That is where LC comes in. With a stable blood sugar, cravings aren't as bad and you can stick to a plan. You can eat 3 Snickers bars a day and lose weight but you'll be screaming the whole time!

[CarolynF]

Hi gang...

Brett is through with his finals (5 Engineering classes). I asked him how it went..(silly mom) and he only said it was over..Silly mom, huh? His dad will call him tonight for a man to man...

Well, went to my doctor..I told her I wasn't taking my hormones very well cuz they taste "funny".., so she prescribed the tablet at night. My thyroid panel was "perfect" on my 2 grains of Armour. I asked about the weight gain and she said hormones and thyroid work together. So, if your thyroid levels are okay, then you should focus on your hormones..(which I wasn't taking regularly)..So, I will do that from now on..

Becky: When I was eating regular carbs/lowfat I weighed 190 pounds..And, I was eating 1200 calories a day..Go figure..You could certainly do a 72 Atkins plan which is only green veggies in limited quantities.

Buffy: I have those sneakers that are supposed to be exercise ones..Cost $250..eek..Honestly, they give your legs a work out..I should wear them more..

Mary Kay..I think you need to get that bedding really, really dry before you bag it up...Of course, it depends where you store the bedding..can't be a damp or hot area..

Cindy: You mean there is a Snickers Diet??????????? LOLOL..

Hugs all around.........Still ironing for Gary.

[sjl330]

Now the Snickers diet is the only one I haven't tried. Maybe I should give it a whirl?? Naw. JK!

[CindyCRNA]

The Snickers diet will work but talk about miserable. You would only be happy about 30 min, 3 times a day! I remember the low fat craze of the 90's? Remember' the Enteman's (sp) fat free danish? All sugar, no fat, no protein, blood sugar swings like you wouldn't believe!

[CarolynF]

Cindy: I loved those Entemann's pastries........alot.

My doctor was telling me about bad carbs, etc..I told her I very seldom eat sugar, etc..
I think she was shocked how much I knew about LCing..I asked her about fat..and she said to eat the good fats..nuts/olive oil/coconut oil...She really isn't in favor of fried food..She said "too many calories and they count, too"..Darn it all!!!

You won't believe this one....An old friend from my high school in New Hampshire is going to be at the same hotel my gfriends are going to be at..Gosh...I would love to play a trick on those girls..Art's wife is coming with him, too..Maybe I could have him
"flirt" with them at the pool..and try to pick one up..LOL..Aren't I bad? They I could explain who he was..LOLOOL..Bad Carolyn..

[sjl330]

Go for it Carolyn, that would be a hoot! And be sure to have your camera ready too.

And tell your Dr. you could write a book on good and bad carbs! Maybe she could just write the introduction for you to make it look all "official" for you. And you can mention all of us as your case studies and we could all become famous and go to NY and be on GMA! Wow, my fantasies really get out of hand fast don't they, lol. But really, you could write a book.

[CarolynF]

LOOL..I mentioned my little "idea" to dh and he didn't think it was very funny..But, I did..
I think it would be a real hoot..Art is kinda funky looking with long hair, even though he is
59!!!!! I'll just have to see what happens and let it play out naturally..I won't tell them that he is coming to the hotel until I figure out my plan...

Yes, we could all be famous..Dr. Blex asked me what I ate for meals..(cuz she wants me to lose weight, too)..I told her that sometimes I make things with almond flour..She didn't hear the "almond" part and thought I said regular flour..and said, Atkins doesn't allow that..No, I said "almond flour" and sometimes "coconut flour"..I think she thought I was some hippie or something..

[CindyCRNA]

Carolyn, I'm amazed she said coconut oil! I had really never heard of coconut oil till 5 months ago! A doctor that advocates coconut oil! Go figure!

[ebheffernan]

Well, part of the time I did paleolithic WOE, and part of the time I did weight watchers( this was last year when I lost weight-with you for this month I've been doing this WOE-before this WOE I was eating whatever for the last few months). They both worked, at the time. Got down to my lowest with weight watchers. I ate a lot of lean protein, veggies, and a small amt of complex carbs that were non wheat (think brown rice, quinoa, millet, flax, oats). So I never did eat a lot of sugary or starchy stuff (never ate potatoes/corn, rarely peas) During paleo, ate a bunch of lean meats, eggs, veggies, fruits, nuts and that's about it. No dairy. Hmmm...maybe I've got a problem with dairy. It's a though! I never ate a lot of it on weight watchers either. I've been eating a fair amount of cheese. I've been pretty accurate with fitday and have stayed within the 1500 calorie range except for one day a week that tops at 2000 for the last 2 weeks. Been measuring and everything.
I had a carb binge this evening on (get this) granola and olive oil popped popcorn with nutritional yeast on it- even my binges are pretty lame LOL also ate the dark chocolate m&m's sitting in my freezer-I feel pretty awful and sugar wired right now. Made me appreciate not feeling like this, which is a good lesson for me! LC is good even if I stay at 150 I have decided. I am just going to eat this way and if I lose weight so be it, if not well then I don't think I'll be gaining much if at all. There, pity party over.
Carolyn-wow, a doc that recommends LC is rare, but co is even rarer! Good for you to find one that will support your wol. I have yet to find one that I work with that thinks LC is good. Even the type 1 diabetic I work with doesn't think it's much to be excited about.
the snickers diet I would die slowly and painfully, with much blood, sweat and tears
perhaps I will try limiting dairy this week with LC and see how my body likes that (more like my paleo days but without fruit)
Becky

[TuscanGirl]

Morning!!

So much to talk about!

Buffy - you aren't allowed to get on anything higher than 2 inches!!
What did the doc say?

Cindy - your recipe sounded a little like Crack Slaw - have you tried that?
And tell me more about the Snickers diet!!!!! *drool*

Carolyn - I always get on line to check out DS20's grades - it's the only way I find out! And

*drum roll*

He got all B's!!!!!

You are such a wicked lady! I love it!
I vote you do it too - but I want pictures!

Well, part of the time I did paleolithic WOE, and part of the time I did weight watchers

I used to be able to lose on WW and now any carbs make me gain. So it's protein, veggies and fruit for me (for the most part)

Today DH is home and we'll be cleaning bathrooms, dusting, vacuuming, and working in the yard. I know it doesn't have to be perfect for my MIL (she's a sweetie) but it's a good excuse to get it done!

[sjl330]

Good morning all,
My kitchen is DONE!!! And it looks wonderful!! The plumber has to come back this a.m. to fix a tiny little leak though. I don't think he's happy but hey, I didn't do it! I'll upload the pics sometime later today, hopefully.

My back is a little better today too. I think. I did my morning interval workout with my dog. I don't think she likes them, lol. She's totally pooped out when we get home. I hope I have some progress soon from them. I'm stuck at 149 this week!! Which is NOT a good number to head into this weekend with. I have graduation parties Sat. and a wedding shower Sunday and dinner out with friends tonight. And with my past recent history it doesn't look good for me.

Becky,
I'm a lifetime member of WW and have been for something like 37 years! I do not think it's a bad plan if a person does it sensibly. I also used to work for WW and lots of people would use their points for junk and then they'd be hungry all the time and end up not losing or not losing like they'd like to lose. I think WW can be done in a lower carb, more South Beach type of way and have it be successful. But everybody's body is different. I've been low carbing since 2003 on a pretty regular basis, but during that time I've also done WW when I just couldn't get my portions on LC reined in and was either not losing or gaining. It makes me use portion control which is a big deal for me. I also didn't use my points on junk food and found I could even eat about 5-10 more points a day and still lose. I still kept my carbs for veggies and maybe berries. I think WW would be a whole lot better WOE if they'd go back to the way it used to be in the beginning. Without the fish 5x a week and the liver of course, lol. Although I love liver!! And so do my kids!!
But I think it's a good idea for you to give up dairy for awhile and see if that helps. If it doesn't don't feel bad if you need to be on a plan like WW. You can definitely make it work for you.

[Buffy45]

Morning dear friends!
Wait up Carolyn, don't write your book too fast and become famous b/c I have to get the bump on me bum taken care of before I can even think of appearing on GMA!!!

The Dr. said it is a hematoma and he left the room to call a surgeon whom he is referring me to. I heard him talking to him on the phone and he told him it is a "very large" hematoma on her hip. Anyway, I didn't even know what that was although when I fell in Nov. I had a small one on my forehead, I now recall him telling me that then. He told me that they always used to drain them but not always anymore as it is a risk for infection and they sometimes do therapy??? So, next Tues. I see the surgeon who will assess me bum bump and decide what to do. Getting on the internet I also find out that boxers get these and that is what turns into cauliflower ears if not treated, so my DIL says I don't want to have a cauliflower bum so I had best get it treated. I told her it might go well with my cottage cheese thighs though

Still very tired from trip, picked DGS up from school at 3 yesterday and fell asleep on their couch while he did his homework. Eating still not back on track yet but at least last night was cheese and LC crackers.

Congrats to the students who got good grades, college studies are so hard and much work.

Carolyn, taking more thyroid meds does not automatically result in more weight loss, in fact, at times it can do the opposite. I think the only time it would make you lose weight is if you took dangerous amounts of extra thyroid. Under a docs supervision, the amounts you will be on which would be over or under optimum amounts won't really help that much with weight loss for the majority of us. Once in awhile I hear of someone who went from not treating hypothyroid to getting on meds and losing a lot of weight but it doesn't usually work that way, you lose some and feel much better but like your Dr. says, it all has to work together.

I got all the laundry done from the trip the first day but still have "stuff" laying around that needs to be packed away, put away, disposed of, etc.

[sjl330]

Wow Buffy, that's too bad. And I agree, you do not want cauliflower bum! And why oh why do we always bring home stuff to throw away? I do it every time. I don't know why I don't throw that stuff away at my vacation spot. Trip brochures, maps, etc. Like I'm going to keep it, lol.

[Buffy45]

It is hard to get things done, Tinker has velcroed himself to me since we returned, LOL.

[CarolynF]

Hi everyone..

All B's is great.. MKay..Brett won't hear until probably next week or so..He did get an "A" in measurements, but don't think the others will be A's..unless there was a huge grading scale thing going on.

Yup..Sandy, call those plumber guys back..I'm calling my bathroom floor guy back for the
2nd time because the threshold thing from the bedroom to the bathroom isn't holding the
bathroom flooring down..Methinks he cut the flooring a bit too short..But, we can have a bigger threshold thing.

On the thyroid thing...My doctor said yesterday that if your thyroid is optimized and you still can't lose weight, then you need your hormones regulated. So, I'm getting the capsule in the mail tomorrow from the compounding guy...

Buffy: Gosh..hematoma sounds pretty serious..Honestly, you had better wear flats this summer..and keep safe.

I totally agree on the "old fashioned" version of WWers..when you could only have 2 breads a day..Then you would go up to 3..So, it was basically lowcarb and kinda lowfat at the same time..I never did the liver..eww..

We are having some rock wall stuff done around the house..Of course, Gary is in Germany, so I will be in charge of the workers..LOLOL..

Yes, I am still thinking of how I can work out my Art thing..I haven't told Art yet..We'll just see how it goes..

Hi to Cindy..can't wait to see ya..and Jem..and where is our Zilla???????????

[TuscanGirl]

Originally Posted by Buffy45

I told her it might go well with my cottage cheese thighs though

Originally Posted by sjl330

And why oh why do we always bring home stuff to throw away? I do it every time. I don't know why I don't throw that stuff away at my vacation spot. Trip brochures, maps, etc. Like I'm going to keep it, lol.

I do that too - just in case I want to go again . . ..
I never use it!

Carolyn - can we go on Oprah too?

[sjl330]

Oh yes, let's go on Oprah. I've been on her show before!!! OK, not really ON her show but she held my hand and asked me a question and I got to ask the guest a question. Does that count??? When it was all over my friends and I all wanted to have lunch with her but of course we didn't invite her fearing she already had other plans, lol. I do have to say she's a very impressive figure and she does have a really big head!!

[CarolynF]

LOLOL..Oprah has a very big head.. Years ago when I lived in Sycamore, IL, a bunch of us went to Phil Donahue..It was Gloria Steinem..(not terribly exciting). I remember it being very cold in the studio..

DD's garage sale tomorrow..I hope KC doesn't get rain..She would have to put all that stuff back.

Okay..need advice..I'm having a going away neighborhood party for June..There might be around 40 peeps here..Everyone is going to bring a dish to pass..One neighbor is smoking ribs..I wanted to do something "chicken"..Could I barbecue pieces the day before, refrigerate, baste with sauce, and heat up in the oven the party day? I don't want to be barbecuing at the last minute? Any other chicken thoughts?

[ebheffernan]

ok well I have decided to do both WW and fitday to get an idea of the amount of calories I was consuming doing WW and see it in fitday-then I can decide which way I like better (I'm doing it all within this WOE) I've used half my points allotment for today and am sitting at 400 calories (and that's adding back in my activity points for jogging with the dog) wow, I think 1200 IS going to be the right calorie line-with the extra calories alotted weekly of course. Which cuts out some of the fat I was eating. My ratio's are actually all good right now, it's just going to be portions mostly. I also switched over to chocoperfection for my chocolate to see if the extra fiber in the chocolate could 1. satisfy me more with smaller amounts and 2. not have an impact on blood sugar. It's actually decent tasting dark chocolate, and the oligofructose and erythritol don't make me as nervous as splenda and aspartame. Anyways, here's hoping for some weight loss finally!
Wow Buffy, that sounds like some hematoma-be careful with yourself!
thanks to all of you for the great support and advice!
Becky

[ebheffernan]

I'm so excited, I just found out about or local farm CSA and I'm going to join with the produce lover's option, the raw organic goat milk (for the kiddo's), and the organic meat CSA-I picked up a pint of the goat milk today and my kids went wild for it-I sipped it out of curiosity and I have to say it tastes better than the whole organic milk I buy them at the supermarket. so I'll get a box of veggies and fruits every week, a half gallon of goat milk every week and organic meat every week from June through october. I figure any of the veggies/fruits that don't fit on my plan can be fed to my family I just had to share!
Becky

[ebheffernan]

well, I found out why I wasn't losing-I ate 21 weight watchers points today (my daily allowance is 20, and I earned 2-3 in exercise today but ate one)
to the tune of an overwhelming calorie load of 738. I actually do feel like I ate enough, I'll post my food list as well as calorie readout here from fitday and you can let me know what you think. I'm wondering if the calorie readout is smaller because I'm not including carbs (??) I don't know. anyways, got in several veggies, good protein and enough fat. I'll keep on recording to weight watchers points and seeing where that takes me at least for a week.
4 eggs (2 in the AM scrambled in 1/2 tsp butter and 2 in the PM in an omelet with another 1/2 tsp butter)
1/3 of a spinach and cheese chicken sausage in the omelet
salad greens, 1 cup with 1 tbsp homemade bleu cheese dressing
3 oz chicken sliced
1 chocoperfection bar spread out over the day
red bell pepper, green onion, and fresh spinach in the omelet
1/2 oz cheddar cheese and 1 tbsp full fat sour cream with omelet
here is the readout
Grams Calories %-Cals
Calories 738
Fat 52.2 467 62 %
Saturated 22.5 200 27 %
Polyunsaturated 5.9 53 7 %
Monounsaturated 12.2 109 15 %
Carbohydrate 24.0 93 12 %
Dietary Fiber 11.4
Protein 47.9 190 25 %
Alcohol 0.0 0 0 %

Fat (62%) Carbs (12%)
Protein (25%) Alcohol (0%)

the calories seem awful low but again, it's just for the week and I do have the 35 extra points so I'll see how they play in in fitday for extra LC stuff.

sidenote-I plugged in goat milk into fitday and it's pretty balanced stuff-
1 cup has 10g fat, 11g carbs and 9g protein-I'm playing with the idea of getting a yogurt maker and making my own goat milk yogurt out of our new wonderful supply of raw organic goat milk

[sjl330]

Becky, what you listed as your cals, fat and fiber only comes to 17 pts. for the day and WW allows more than that. Did you eat other stuff not listed that you're counting? If you eat too little you'll lose slowly too.