The Real Housewives Firecracker Challenge..:)

[CarolynF]

Hi gals..and Gord..

Let's blast off some fat this month..

[CindyCRNA]

Let's light some fire under this a.....wait, this is a family show! Happy July all!! And I'll weigh in the morning.

[sjl330]

Official weigh in: 151.6
So I'm up from last month by 1.6. My lowest weight this month was 148 but as you can tell I blew that.
So here we go again. Ugh!

[CindyCRNA]

I'm down 2 pounds!! I'm calorie counting with emphasis on eating 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight and low fat (<25%). Also carbs are kept in check.

[sjl330]

I need more info Cindy. Please.

[nill4me]

Just finished NHWL...really enjoyed it. Now reading Power of 10, and next Trick and Treat.

I did a version of a PSMF (super low cal, low fat, sufficient protein) some time ago, and lost 40lbs...and my gall bladder as a result. Now that I've gotten my head wrapped around eating more fat, I think my body needs to wrap itself around it as well.

The first 2 weeks, I dropped from 101.9kg to 98.3kg. Today I've weighed in at 100.6kg. It is a bit disheartening, as the only thing that has really changed is the fact that i've forgotten my lunch most of this week, and i've not had opportunity for breakfast.

I'm starting to wonder if i'm fighting a "set point" right now...and my body is pushing back? I'm still ok with everything, because when i look at big picture, overall i feel better. my blood sugar has been a bit high this week in the AM, but i'm not bloated and exhausted...which is great.

Have a great month, and a safe holiday everyone!!

[CarolynF]

Hi everyone..

Hey, Sandy..you are down from your vacation weight, so that is good.. We all know about up and down..believe me..

Cindy: Good for you.. 2 pounds is amazing. How many calories are you taking in???

Welcome, Jenn..We are always happy to have new peeps.. For me, eating regular meals is really helpful..If I skip a meal I am starving the next one and I think our bodies do better when we eat regularly..But it is hard sometimes.. Make some hardboiled eggs or even devilled eggs for breakie..Easy to grab and go. You know that many peeps have higher blood sugar in the a.m...The Dawn Effect..

MK: Is your ds done looking at schools?

[sjl330]

Not down enough Carolyn and I have vacation again in 3 weeks! Heaven help me!! Lol.

I want to hear more about Cindy's new plan. Hellooooo, Cindy????

[TuscanGirl]

Cindy - WTG!!

Sandy - I'm sure it's just water weight!!

Jenn - welcome!! But you're going to have to translate the kg for me!!

I'm down 1.4lbs for the month.

New starting weight is 121.2.

[TuscanGirl]

Carolyn - we still have to look at Loyola in Chicago and St Louis University.
Loyola for him and SLU for me!

Then he can start applying.

[CindyCRNA]

Mine is easy. Use Fitaday like a religion and I weigh everything. If it isn't prepackaged with a calorie count, it gets weighed. My calorie intake is about 1400 a day. I eat about 120 grams a day of protein, roughly 25% fat which would be about 38 grams of fat and about 120 grams of carbs. If I eat more fat, which is rarely, I eat less carbs but not less protein. Fat never filled me up. Food fills me up. My fav lunch right now is a big roasted chicken breast (I do bunch at a time) a bug helping of steamed asparagus and a new Caesar salad dressing that Netrition sells that is lemony and garlicky and boy is that good to dip chicken and it's 14 calories to boot per tablespoon.

My last Thyroid labs were right in the middle so I changed my dose to 2 grains one day and 3 the next. Those Armour pills dont cut easily and they crumble so this was easier. I'm sure this is helping also. Another person on this board started on these and she dropped about 30 pounds and feels so much better.

[sjl330]

Thank you. You're doing great but I sure hope you don't plan on losing 30 pounds girl!! Just kidding, I'm sure you don't. I wish I could find that dedication like you have again. I put it somewhere and I can't seem to remember where, lol.

[TuscanGirl]

Wow Cindy - that's great!
I wish I could eat that much.
If I eat 1200 calories I gain!

[CarolynF]

Cindy is very, very active and young.. and tall..So, she can get away with 1400 calories and still lose.. She is lucky.. Glad your labs were in the middle and you can rotate meds, Cindy.

Loyola is very nice..We had a friend who went there and loved it.. Is it all about scholarships, too??

[CindyCRNA]

Originally Posted by CarolynF

Cindy is very young..

(Noticed how I cropped that to say what I wanted!)

[susique333]

Holy Cow I dont remember anything anymore. Ya'll moved to a new month and here I am jabbering to nobody over on the JUNE page! Will copy what I wroteover there to save my poor fingers. Need coffee badly! TY Tuscan! Im officially down 2#s since joining this challenge 2 weeks ago.

Hello to everyone! Almost the weekend! We had a full day. Son and DIL stopped by just as hubby and I were heading out for coffee and said "Let's go to breakfast!" Then they took us to a large Asian food market so I could get my no calorie no carb shiritaki noodles and kimchee. DIL is from the Philippines so she gets lots of neat, unidentifiable things there. Then we rounded up the kids for lunch at Famous Dave's, home for a nap before everyone showed up to go swimming. Having left overs for dinner. Im pooped! Have a good friday gals!

[TuscanGirl]

Originally Posted by CindyCRNA

(Noticed how I cropped that to say what I wanted!)

OK I feel better - if you're young and tall you can get away with anything!

Carolyn - yep, he's only looking at private schools, so scholarships are everything!

Susie - yay! you found us!
Now you don't have to think about it again for a whole month!

I just found the shiritaki noodles yesterday at a health food store.
I haven't made them yet - how do you fix them?

[susique333]

Originally Posted by TuscanGirl

Susie - yay! you found us!
Now you don't have to think about it again for a whole month!

I just found the shiritaki noodles yesterday at a health food store.
I haven't made them yet - how do you fix them?

I absolutely LOVE those noodles, some say theyre too rubbery but I like asian bean threads, etc so am used to that 1st, RINSE the heck out of them with really hot water. I use my fingers to seperate the noodles as I rinse. Being an Asian product, they have a slightly fishy smell (which i do not mind) but needs to be rinsed off. They do NOT need to be cooked but some people do cook them a little. Then use them like any other pasta. Alfrado with chicken, thai peanut sauce with shrimp, my personal favorite is heated up hot in a pan with kimchee chopped up in it. Calories vary from brand to brand but mine are 40 calories and 4 net carbs per 8oz bag so my Kimchee recipe is 8oz of yummy goodness for 40 calories! Beings they are made of soluable fiber they really do make you ooooober full. Excellent for cholesterol control. Mine are $1.59 a bag.

[nill4me]

Originally Posted by susique333

I absolutely LOVE those noodles, some say theyre too rubbery but I like asian bean threads, etc so am used to that 1st, RINSE the heck out of them with really hot water. I use my fingers to seperate the noodles as I rinse. Being an Asian product, they have a slightly fishy smell (which i do not mind) but needs to be rinsed off. They do NOT need to be cooked but some people do cook them a little. Then use them like any other pasta. Alfrado with chicken, thai peanut sauce with shrimp, my personal favorite is heated up hot in a pan with kimchee chopped up in it. Calories vary from brand to brand but mine are 40 calories and 4 net carbs per 8oz bag so my Kimchee recipe is 8oz of yummy goodness for 40 calories! Beings they are made of soluable fiber they really do make you ooooober full. Excellent for cholesterol control. Mine are $1.59 a bag.

I love these too! I don't usually cook them...just rinse well in hot water. I ordered a boatload of them online...all different types & sizes. Have not yet figured out what i'm going to do with the tortilla shaped ones!

I am thinking that i may need to cut my cals some more, that the increase in fat may be pushing me over a bit.

Do you all have plans for the holiday? My sister is coming down, so i'm really looking forward to that! Haven't seen her or my BIL since their wedding last october.

[sjl330]

I tried those noodles a few times but really didn't care for them. Maybe the tortilla shaped ones you could use for lasagna? Now that sounds good!

We're going to our DS's house for the 4th. I really hope it doesn't rain. He's smoking briskets, pork butts, and who knows what else. And you can see the town fireworks from his yard!

Have a great holiday weekend everybody!

[TuscanGirl]

Great!
I'll try to use one package this weekend and see what i think!

Susie - is Thai peanut sauce in the Asian aisle?

Totally off-plan night tonight - I'm going to see Eclipse and have popcorn for dinner!

Jenn - have a great time with your sister!

Sandy - sounds fun too!

[susique333]

I will post the thai peanut recipe and also a site that has 101 recipes. NOM NOM!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Pkg Shirataki Noodles, rinsed & patted dry
Sauce:
2-3T Creamy Peanut Butter
2-3T Low Sodium Soy Sauce
1-2t Ground Ginger
I like a pinch of hot pepper powder/flakes
cooked shrimp (optional)

Rinse the noodles & pat dry with paper towel. Microwave the noodles for 1 minute. In a separate bowl mix the sauce ingredients together. Don't worry if it doesn't mix well. Microwave the sauce for 15-30 seconds, stir well. Add noodles to the bowl with the sauce & mix well. It makes a huge bowlful.

Shirataki Noodle Recipes

[CarolynF]

Hi everyone..

Glad you found us, Susie..I love Famous Dave's..Did you get the ones made out of Tofu?
House brand??? I do think those taste better..even though Tofu for hypothyroid peeps isn't the best thing. I think peeps have found that if you let the sauce/noodles marinate overnight, the noodles pick up more of the flavor of the sauce.

Ohh...don't be scared at Eclipse, MK..I love movie popcorn alot. Yup, sometimes private schools will give a good scholarship so it will be like going to a state school..

LOL..Cindy..I think you are our youngest here..

Well, we are heading for Wichita (where Brett is helping set up the fireworks with his college friends). He assured me that they wouldn't accidentally go off when he was setting them up. The big guys (pyrotechnics) set them off by computer, electronically.

Sandy: Are you going to Mexico again???

[nill4me]

Originally Posted by susique333

I will post the thai peanut recipe and also a site that has 101 recipes. NOM NOM!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Pkg Shirataki Noodles, rinsed & patted dry
Sauce:
2-3T Creamy Peanut Butter
2-3T Low Sodium Soy Sauce
1-2t Ground Ginger
I like a pinch of hot pepper powder/flakes
cooked shrimp (optional)

Rinse the noodles & pat dry with paper towel. Microwave the noodles for 1 minute. In a separate bowl mix the sauce ingredients together. Don't worry if it doesn't mix well. Microwave the sauce for 15-30 seconds, stir well. Add noodles to the bowl with the sauce & mix well. It makes a huge bowlful.

Shirataki Noodle Recipes

This sounds wonderful!!

[CarolynF]

Little Friday night humor:

[TuscanGirl]

I went to Eclipse tonight - OMG - so funny! Anyone want to join me - I'm setting up a fund to by Jacob a shirt!

Susie - Thanks so much for the recipe!! i can't wait to try it!
Yum!

[CarolynF]

Hmm..I didn't know the vampire movies were supposed to be funny..are they??

Well, the pool deck is getting done and I am the little helper this morning.. How fun is that?? LOLOL..

I hope it doesn't rain on our fireworks wherever we are..

[CindyCRNA]

I hate aerobics! There, I said but I do like to lift weights. Here is an article that says what I had always hoped to be true. Keep your muscle mass up and your metabolism will stay up also. American Chronicle | Does Your Metabolism Slow Down As You Age?


And here's another: http://healthmad.com/weight-loss/doe...slow-with-age/

[CarolynF]

Thanks, Cindy..Great information on the importance of strength training and eating right..

Just called ds..He and his buddy are unloading fireworks from a depot in Wichita to trucks to be delivered around the city. They had to get up at 5:15 to get to work on time. I hope they are having fun..We will see them late Sunday night.

[susique333]

Good afternoon pretty ladies (and gents if your lurkin!) Hotter than blue blazes in Omaha today. So muggy, I keep trying to sit on the porch but the humidity drives me back inside. DD and I weeded in the garden a bit and the skeeters were bad. Hubby filled both propane tanks so we are ready for the BBQ party tomorrow. Making brats, burgers, salads etc. I cheated and bought paper plates and plastic cups. Clean up will be a snap! HAPPY 4TH OF JULY to everyone!