Valentine's "40"

[MissMerize]

Ugh, it hurt to just type that number. This is a challenge for now to Valentine's day.

There are 40 more days, and I'll be 40.

I've started this thread as I was on another Valentine challenge which was starting a new thread daily and I was getting a little sea sick

Everyone and anyone welcome. Set your goals, and let us know how you're doing!

Share any special tips you have, and let's hear what your plans are for VD if you have any.

I will personally tell you it is the most depressing day of the year for me, as my friends are all out with their honeys, and I'm left all alone for my birthday. On top of that I've been really over weight the last 5 years of it, so if nothing else I will feel better physically.

I started last week at 170, and today I am down to 165. My goal is 150 by VD.

I'm a bit of a firecracker, so if you're just a wall flower this may not be the thread for you.

[Magicsmom]

Hi Miss M! You may want to post on the Main Lobby about your new challenge. That way, you can pick up some newbies who are hanging out there. I think I had been here for about 6 months before I ever looked at the challenge board, but IMHO, it's the way to go. There's nothing like the accountability of being in a small group to keep you on track. Good luck on your weight loss!

[Zbunny]

Hey Miss M, I'm in. I'm sneaking up on my goal, and I'd love to be there by Valentine's Day.

Share any special tips you have, and let's hear what your plans are for VD if you have any.

That just sounds soooo wrong Um, no I don't have any special tips or plans for a VD.

But, the VD aside, I'm definitely in for the challenge! I'm close to you, weightwise, I'm at 168 today (I WAS at 166, and it friggin went up again ) and I'd love to lose those last ten pounds by Valentines Day (and then I will reassess -- I may go lower, but I'm pretty happy when I'm at 158, so we'll see!)

[Zbunny]

Okay, so I guess I'll go first.

My big push lately has been to increase my fat intake, which has REALLY been working well for me. I've stopped my carb creep and my cravings for non-lc foods has virtually been eliminated. I love it.

So here's what I've eaten today:

Breakfast: 2 cups coffee w/FiberFit, 1/2 & 1/2, and a drizzle of coconut oil
2 slices bacon + 2 eggs fried in a bit of bacon grease -- all organic, hormone-free, nitrate-free, etc. (from Trader Joe's)

Lunch: Egg Drop Soup: chicken broth, soy sauce, 1 egg, drizzle of sesame oil, lime juice + a mix of veggies (today it was some spinach and green onion)

Dinner: I want to make BBQ chicken, but I'm afraid it's gonna rain, so I'm not sure what we're having yet.

No snacks yet; just not hungry. I need to drink more water though -- think I'll go get some right now. How's it going with you MissMerize?

[MomToEli]

Well, HI Miss M and ZBunny! Not sure if Magicsmom is with us or if she was just helping launch the thread - so if you're here , and if you're lurking

I like the idea of one thread. That way I can jump to it much easier!

Well, I'm the big girl here, I guess. I'm at 215.5. I am going to do a lower carb version of WW (does that disqualify me from your challenge? ) because I need practice controlling my portions, plus the idea of never eating something as simple as popcorn with my little guy, curled on watching a movie, was really bothering me. Back in my skinny days I ate whatever I wanted. I just didn't eat ALL of it I could get my hands on at the moment, if you know what I mean

So, girls. What do you want to talk about. Ya'll know I'm not shy or short on words ...

[MomToEli]

Oh, and MissM, I'm sorry that you are sad about VD ... and I agree ... there is something VERY wrong with that

Anyway, my dh isn't "into" that sort of stuff. I'll be lucky to get a card. He's one of those guys that figures he doesn't need to date me -- he's already married me, so what the hey?

Is your birthday Feb 14?

[MJR]

Hello you guys,
I've been waiting to join a challenge (waiting for what? I don't know!) But I was really thrilled to see MissM start this. I have been away from low carb dieting for a while and need to get back to it. I've tried the whole grains, whole foods approach and just don't get the results like I do from LCing. And MissM, don't feel bad, I hit 40 last May. It's a tough one, but you'll be fine. 40 is the new 20 they say.

Anyway, I hope it's OK that I join in here. I am definitely what you would call a newbie at LCF and challenges but, I have done my fair share of lowcarbing in the past and I think I can hang, if you all will have me.

I am going on vacation (skiing) next week for 5 days and won't be able to post much - but hopefully this challenge will keep me "in line" and "on track" while I'm away.

I'll weigh and post tomorrow but I think I am starting out around 174. I'd like to get to 150 real soon.

[Zbunny]

Hi Momma! Yeah, my DH is spotty with Valentine's stuff too. Sometimes he'll swing by the store on the way home and pick up flowers and/or a card (which he signs as he's walking into the house ) but he's not big on planning anything. He did when we were dating, but you know how that goes. So, if I wanna do something on Valentines, or on our anniversary, it's up to me to plan it. Ah, it's a good thing we love 'em.

I think this is an any plan goes thing (umm, well, that probably does NOT include starvation diets involving lying liars who lie or mystical poultry) so you get on with your bad self plan. Mine is basically Atkins, but I have read so many excellent plans and books that it's really just a mishmash of several.

Oh, and I finished my food for the day:

Snack: string cheese stick + handful of almonds
Dinner: Chipoltle chicken skewers (2) + mushroom/onion sautee + garden salad (lettuce, cucumber, celery, orange pepper, tom) w/ asiago dressing. Yum!

Tonight it's off to bed early; I have to get used to getting up at 4:15 in the morning again. That was a nice 2 week break, but it's back on now!

Let me know how your day went, and hopefully more will join us!

[Zbunny]

Originally Posted by MJR

Hello you guys,
I've been waiting to join a challenge (waiting for what? I don't know!) But I was really thrilled to see MissM start this.
<snip for space>

I am going on vacation (skiing) next week for 5 days and won't be able to post much - but hopefully this challenge will keep me "in line" and "on track" while I'm away.

I'll weigh and post tomorrow but I think I am starting out around 174. I'd like to get to 150 real soon.

Yay! MJR's in da house too! Have fun skiing chiquita. I'm jealous and I just might have to fly out there to join ya. Now, where is it we (oops, I mean you) are going?

[MJR]

Whoo Hooo

Vail, Colorado!!!!

Never been! Can't Wait!

Not much room in my suitcase.....this Florida girl don't know how to pack!
But, you sure are welcome - the more the merrier!

It's been 2 years since I've skied so I hope I don't break anything.

[wackytobeme]

Hey everyone! I'm getting a late start here, but glad to be along. Can my goal be to actually get started by Feb 14? I find when I start getting serious about making changes it's takes me some time to mentally commit. I start and fall over and over and then finally something will kick into gear and I can get going. However, in the past the few years I've been trying to do on my own with no support group. Maybe this time it won't take me so long.
My biggest problem will be actually eating. Once I get off the carbs (esp. the bad ones) I really am not hungry and don't want to eat. I don't want to end up like some people we know if you know what I mean.

[wackytobeme]

I also am starting to wonder about that MissMerize, she SAYs she's going to be 40 and weighs 165, but hey I've seen the video...I woulda put her at maybe 30 and and oh 145-150 tops.
Maybeez she's a pulling our leg (and they ain't chicken either)

(((((((((((Weez luvs you Miss)))))))))))))

[MJR]

OK guys
I got on the dreaded scales this am and am at 173.4
I guess that's not so bad since I was at 175 before the holidays and I've only been watching my carbs for the past couple of days.

175 is my all time high (except for pregnancy) and at 5'7" 140 is where I feel most comfortable but I'm shooting for 150 by VD.

Valentines day isn't a very big day here either anymore. Except with the kids. I have 9 (just turned) year old twins and they love the idea of "Be My Valentine" and CANDY! Especially my daughter, who LOVES her sweets!!! I really have to watch what goes in her mouth. But, I don't want to start to instill eating issues with her at this young age. We just talk about choices and what would be the best choice for her when we pack her lunch and when we go out to eat and she has to pick something off the menu. She really watches everything I do and my hope is that I can be a good example for her. My son, on the other hand, is a very good/healthy eater. Always has been and is VERY athletic so he always burns off more than he puts in. Go figure! Boys/Men seem to have it so easy compared to us women. Sure doesn't seem fair.

DH is and always has been into a "low fat" style of eating. Maybe this time around I can change his views on that. LOL That's why KK was SO scary to me. I thought at the time that he had a point when preaching the low fat way of eating and when I ran into KK it seemed to make sense to me to go low carb and low fat. I am surrounded by low fat eaters. My mom is even taking Alli (sp?) and has tried to get me to try it. The whole idea of that stuff just doesn't appeal to me. No Thanks!

And Wacky, I understand fully your problem with not eating enough. I, too had the same problem. I just wasn't hungry while in ketosis and was also trying to cut out the fat. There were many days that I just got busy and forgot to eat. NOT GOOD! I started losing hair and suffered from major dizzy spells and leg cramps. Once I was driving down the road, with the kids, and had to pull over because I was so dizzy. I called my husband to tell him what was going on and he had to come get me. I went to the doctor and had all kinds of tests run and nothing but very low potassium levels showed up. I still didn't consider my diet because I had eaten before this episode so I thought it couldn't be from that. Of course I never really went into the details of my diet with the doc so he really didn't have the whole story. (And remember, I THOUGHT I was doing low carb the HEALTHY way.) They thought maybe it was a middle ear thing and sent me to a specialist to have that checked. Nothing there. I never did put 2 and 2 together back then because I started eating bananas and taking potassium and eventually back to lots more carbs. Things started getting better and until I found out about the KK controversy, I never saw the link. Maybe I should be thankful for that dizzy spell.

Anyway, I've written a book here (sorry). I just thought it might be a good idea to let you guys know where I'm coming from. And I hope if any of you see me skipping meals and cutting fat you'll BEAT ME. OK?

[Zbunny]

Hi guys. Back to school today after 2 weeks off, so I'm all discombobulated right now -- I'm not used to the rigid structure after 2 weeks of relaxation.

I managed to eat brekkie before I left home at 5:30 this morning (I cooked extra bacon on Sunday so I could just heat it up quickly with a couple of eggs) and I had a salad with tuna for lunch. So far so good! I'm planning to try Linda's Cauliflower Bisque for dinner, which sounds bizarre, but I've heard good reviews so I gotta try it.

Wacky, we're here for whatever ya need sister. I understand the need to "ramp up." Heck I've been on this site since 2002 -- that's a pretty big ramp up! J/K -- I got close to goal/gained/lost/got close to goal/gained/lost.......I just want to get to goal this time and learn how to maintain it once and for all!

MJR -- I LOVE Vail! You're going to have so much fun! Enjoy yourself. I used to live in Colorado, and we had a condo in Dillon, so we skiied all around that area. I love love love it.

Where is that Miss M?

[Magicsmom]

Hi gang! I'm on the wagon and losing. I wouldn't mind joining you, but I don't want to post my weight publicly. SWSNBN ridiculed me on her blog for having re-gained some weight. Real supportive person, isn't she? The salt of the earth. NOT! Her board members need to know that if they gain some weight, this is what they're in for.

At any rate, because of her, I can't join.

[Zbunny]

Originally Posted by Magicsmom

Hi gang! I'm on the wagon and losing. I wouldn't mind joining you, but I don't want to post my weight publicly. SWSNBN ridiculed me on her blog for having re-gained some weight. Real supportive person, isn't she? The salt of the earth. NOT! Her board members need to know that if they gain some weight, this is what they're in for.

At any rate, because of her, I can't join.

SWSNBN can NOT see this site though! Woot! and besides, there is no reason you have to publicly state your weight to join this challenge. This is a pretty low key group and we all have our own personal goals. Just set your own challenge goals, like losing x pounds by Valentine's Day, or fitting into one size smaller jeans, or something like that.

We'd love to have you MagicsMom! I hope you'll join -- we'll cheer you on no matter what your goal is (um, unless it involves starvation ).

[Magicsmom]

Originally Posted by Zbunny

SWSNBN can NOT see this site though! Woot! and besides, there is no reason you have to publicly state your weight to join this challenge. This is a pretty low key group and we all have our own personal goals. Just set your own challenge goals, like losing x pounds by Valentine's Day, or fitting into one size smaller jeans, or something like that.

We'd love to have you MagicsMom! I hope you'll join -- we'll cheer you on no matter what your goal is (um, unless it involves starvation ).

I thought that banned members could see all the forums except the Playground.

So o.k., I'll join. I need to think about my goal. Valentine's Day is a little more than a month away. I'm going to think about that and get back to you on it.

Tonight I had a yummy chicken breast sauteed in butter and a romaine salad with blue cheese on it and this wonderful Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing that I used to buy in California. I brought about 6 bottles up here with me and have milked them for all they're worth. I have only 1 1/2 bottles left but the silver lining in it is that I found the recipe for it online! I was so jazzed!

[Magicsmom]

Originally Posted by MJR

OK guys
I got on the dreaded scales this am and am at 173.4
I guess that's not so bad since I was at 175 before the holidays and I've only been watching my carbs for the past couple of days.

175 is my all time high (except for pregnancy) and at 5'7" 140 is where I feel most comfortable but I'm shooting for 150 by VD.

Valentines day isn't a very big day here either anymore. Except with the kids. I have 9 (just turned) year old twins and they love the idea of "Be My Valentine" and CANDY! Especially my daughter, who LOVES her sweets!!! I really have to watch what goes in her mouth. But, I don't want to start to instill eating issues with her at this young age. We just talk about choices and what would be the best choice for her when we pack her lunch and when we go out to eat and she has to pick something off the menu. She really watches everything I do and my hope is that I can be a good example for her. My son, on the other hand, is a very good/healthy eater. Always has been and is VERY athletic so he always burns off more than he puts in. Go figure! Boys/Men seem to have it so easy compared to us women. Sure doesn't seem fair.

DH is and always has been into a "low fat" style of eating. Maybe this time around I can change his views on that. LOL That's why KK was SO scary to me. I thought at the time that he had a point when preaching the low fat way of eating and when I ran into KK it seemed to make sense to me to go low carb and low fat. I am surrounded by low fat eaters. My mom is even taking Alli (sp?) and has tried to get me to try it. The whole idea of that stuff just doesn't appeal to me. No Thanks!

And Wacky, I understand fully your problem with not eating enough. I, too had the same problem. I just wasn't hungry while in ketosis and was also trying to cut out the fat. There were many days that I just got busy and forgot to eat. NOT GOOD! I started losing hair and suffered from major dizzy spells and leg cramps. Once I was driving down the road, with the kids, and had to pull over because I was so dizzy. I called my husband to tell him what was going on and he had to come get me. I went to the doctor and had all kinds of tests run and nothing but very low potassium levels showed up. I still didn't consider my diet because I had eaten before this episode so I thought it couldn't be from that. Of course I never really went into the details of my diet with the doc so he really didn't have the whole story. (And remember, I THOUGHT I was doing low carb the HEALTHY way.) They thought maybe it was a middle ear thing and sent me to a specialist to have that checked. Nothing there. I never did put 2 and 2 together back then because I started eating bananas and taking potassium and eventually back to lots more carbs. Things started getting better and until I found out about the KK controversy, I never saw the link. Maybe I should be thankful for that dizzy spell.

Anyway, I've written a book here (sorry). I just thought it might be a good idea to let you guys know where I'm coming from. And I hope if any of you see me skipping meals and cutting fat you'll BEAT ME. OK?

OMG, we must be long lost sisters or something! VD is no biggie here either. In fact for VD last year, we were living apart. We were relocating from California to Washington. DH had to come up here and start his job, and I was left behind in CA to sell the house. He left in November '06 and I got up here in April '07, so we were apart on VD. He didn't even acknowledge it. No card, and I may not have even gotten a call. Oh well, I do love him! We just had our 20 year anniversary on the 2nd.

My DH is one of those low fat freaks too. He weighs about 165 soaking wet and runs for pleasure. Now my Mom, on the other hand, is a see-food eater. Yikes, if I ate like she does, I'd weigh 400. Complete sugar addict. No wonder I ended up being one.

DH has lately gotten on this kick where he wants organic cereal and such. It's hard to get him to eat meat. He's a pasta freak. My Mom lives with us, and like many older people, she likes to eat much earlier than I do. With so much of a difference in our habits and WOEs, we have to just do our own thing. My Mom usually eats at the same time as DH, but often eat different things. Then a couple of hours later, I have my dinner. All I can say is, thank God for dishwashers!

I also struggle with eating enough. My Fitday used to be public, but I didn't want SWSNBN to be able to view it, so I changed that. But I'll post here what I eat. So here was today:

Breakfast: 1/2 cup cottage cheese
Lunch: 1/4 cup pecans
Dinner: 6 oz. chicken breast sauteed in butter
2 cups romaine w/ 2 T blue cheese sprinkles, Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing (no, I don't measure it, so there, Heidi!)

Yes, I know I didn't eat enough today. I'm a bad girl.

ETA: hey, it wasn't too bad after all. I plugged it all into Fitday, and it ended up being 998 calories, 13g of carbs, and the fat ratio was just where it should have been.

[MissMerize]

Originally Posted by MJR

. 40 is the new 20 they say.

Oh, I hope you're right! I still party like I'm 20 at least.

I made it! I was doing the silly web ring thing and someone pointed out is is a little broken, and I had to go back in and hit everyones blog.

I got some new lady wanting to send me some stuff that looks interesting. It might be something I can add to my portfolio of stuff to promote, so we will see.

I had a pickled egg, a bunch of nuts, tuna salad on romain, hamsteak and broccoli today.

I don't know what the hell I am doing at this point. I'm stuck in the boonies, with no car, and grandpa (my fiance's dad) keeps buying but loads of bread and offers me potato for dinner every night. Not to mention he starts talking today about all kinds of fruit at the store, and I have to keep explaining to him I can't be eating the sugars right now. There is diddly for me to eat and I'm almost out of cheese too.

Just take me to a bread factory and be done with it!

I really am 165, and thats nekked. I hide it well. That doesn't mean it isn't there.

Size 8 will make me happy. I have a feeling that will be 135.

I need to get out and walk, but it ain't happening in the snow. It finally warmed up today so maybe tomorrow.

I have not had a drink, a sweet, a bread, a pasta, a potato, etc since Dec 29.

I would like to have a cocktail for my bd. I would like to get ripped out of my gourd actually. I will be good, and I will get the 15 more off.

I did not get on the scale today, but I will tomorrow and let you know if the veggies are starting to mess me up or possibly too many nuts. It's a giant mixed nut thing and I keep grabbing a handful every time I walk by it.

[wackytobeme]

Hi all and good morning to you! MJR and ZBunnie, thanks for the encouragement. Magic...glad you decided to come along also. As for SWSNBN I'm sure she wouldn't have time to come over here anyway, since she has that website of hers and from what I understand it is being flooded with so many new members. (NOT)
I did fairly well yesterday, during the day. It's the after dinner I have trouble with. So that's where I really need to focus, not eating past 7 or something, because what I end up eating is all sugar and carbs.
I really don't keep 'junk' in the house because I eat it, but every now and then it sneaks in. I have to say I have made some positive changes over the years, that has probably kept me from being heavier than I am now.
I use to, when I went for groceries, buy candy, you know the chewy chocolaty kind (caramels are my biggest weakness) I wouldn't buy a bar, but a BAG and eat the whole thing.
Now I just pick up some chicken strips if I want to have a snack. I have learned that if I am going to be driving or have to get something done, I stay away from the simple sugars, they wipe me out. I think that's one of the reasons I go nuts in the evening. I'm not going anywhere or doing anything else except going to bed so my guard is down.
It's grocery day and I still don't have my menus planned out. So I better get to it. I've come across some doable recipes from the Atkins book and need to get my list made up. If I just take it one week at a time, I think I will have better control. When I tell myself, never again, I start to rebel.

[MJR]

Good Morning Everyone.

I'm so glad you decided to join Magicmom!! You know who, wouldn't stand a chance in here. We'd run her off so fast her head would SPIN

And you're right we do have lots in common. It's hard sometimes having family members who believe they have all the answers in regards to weight loss and healthy eating. I just know their ways don't seem to work for me. I can usually maintain for a long time but, eventually I'm right back where I started, when I go low fat. Somehow the BAD Carbs just sneak back in and I blow up.

Speaking of food - I didn't post what I ate yesterday - so here goes.

Breakfast - 2 eggs scrambled and 2 Jimmy Dean Turkey sausage.
Coffee w/stevia
Lunch - (I tried a recipe for no bread french toast)-
2 eggs, cream cheese, splenda, Cinnamon,
cooked in coconut oil. (Not Bad!)
Dinner - Roasted chicken and Organic salad w/almonds green onions,
avocados, tomatoes, ranch dressing.

As you can see I ate pretty good yesterday. I was home all day getting ready for my trip. When I'm home it's easier to eat the right foods. Today, I have to work - so eating right might be a bit more challenging.
I leave for my trip tomorrow (have to be at the airport at 6:00am)
Today is going to be a crazy day trying to get everything and everyone organized and set for me to be gone. My kids are not going this time because they have school. Grandma and Grandpa are coming to stay with them and I have to write down everything that needs to get done around here while I'm away. Ya know, homework, chores, after school activities, morning rituals, etc.....
Sometimes I need a vacation from just getting ready for one.

Today - so far I've only had coffee
but, will fix something for breakfast before I go off to work.

Gotta run now, the kids need to get going or they are going to miss the bus.

Talk to you guys soon.