New and would like a buddy

[MI CHICK]

Dawned on me when I was going to bed last nite that the 3 raspberry ice teas I sucked down at Applbee's were probably full of sugar....why didn't I think of it at the time So my careful day was not near as good as I thought...pooh!!! My calorie level for the day was way off between the sugar,bacon,cheese.

Have some shrimp thawed to eat in the car on the way to work for breakfast. Have 1oz nuts & a Atkins bar for lunch. Have fish out for dinner. So here's to having a good day ladies to start off our weekend
Corrisann

[Teresa3]

Good evening, gals--

Corrisann, does an Atkins bar and some almonds do it for lunch? Or are you really trying to cut back? Hope you had a good work day.

I had dreamgroup today and 4 of us gals tried a Cambodian restaurant. It seemed like Thai food to me, er..maybe that is in Thailand? I'm not a brain with geography! Anyway, we had a real good time. I had spicy chicken w/vegetables, no rice, and iced tea. Yeah, Corrisann, you have to ask sometimes to make sure they don't put sugar in those teas.

My problem is still this weird bitter or metallic/sour aftertaste of food, except sweet things! So I've been off diet again, eating sweets because other food doesn't taste great. Although I've been eating it as well! I don't know what is going on! I do have an appt. w/my rheumatologist next week; maybe it's some reaction to being on Humira and prednisone for a long time. Very bizarre.

So you have your card club on Sunday, Corrisann? That sounds like fun again!

Kathleen, are you going to the lodge this weekend? What's up for your weekend? Hope you will have some fun after your work week! Of course you have your grandchild to entertain you! I sure miss mine, and wish I could see them more often. My older granddaughter is turning 8 the end of this month, and it seems like she was just a baby yesterday.

I hope you all have a fun weekend, and I hope I can get back on track!

[MI CHICK]

Sorry to hear that you are still experiencing that strange after taste Teresa!!! Too bad things like that don't drive us completely away from food ..... instead we usually eat more as we're looking for something that will work & nibble our way thru everything trying to find it...LOL!!!

Thai food is pretty safe if you leave the rice alone. None of their sauces have added sugars either. My dh loves Thai, hot. I get it mild as I don't care for hot. I like spicey but not hot & there is a difference--which lots of folks don't know.

I'd not had an Atkins bar before & thought I'd eat one & see if they were good enough to buy some to take on our vacation. Never got to it yesterday as my client treated me to lunch. I have a couple cans of nuts for in the car snack box. Can also get the tuna w/mayo packs. Not sure what we'll actually need going east this year. When we go west into the mountains we are away from resturants etc alot during the day hours & so we eat out of the car. But I'm thinking out east won't be that empty.I can take regular granola bars but they are basically a candy bar in disguise.

Kathleen how are you doing?? Hope your week wrapped up well at work and that things are looking good for your weekend at home with all the kids!!! Are you maybe going to cook ahead like you did last week?

Well ladies here's to a good Sat.for all of us!! I made up a crab dip from my low carb book to take my card club tonight. Still have to go buy veggies to go with it. Talked to one other gal & she's making blue cheese stuffed mushrooms & that recipe sounded like it would work for me too. Course I'm not big on blue cheese....but I'll try one. Another gal is actually making the dessert....that's not a good thing....LOL!!! When folks bring all the store bought stuff (which happens 90% of the time anymore) I can usually resist it without trouble but homemade stuff is much harder to say no to.....but I'll try. After spending the afternoon trying on my fall clothes that don't fit & trying to pack around that maybe I will be too tired & disgusted with myself to over eat!!! Course I've been known to let those experiences swing me over to eating everything in sight mode too.....so let's see if I haven't at least learned some good coping skills to go with my little 5lb weight loss

[rican3]

Hello Everyone!

I have been trying to write since the cyberspace incident! I am getting more and more to do at work which is great since the time goes by fast. Seems like we all started with great gusto this week and then for various reasons we all gave in to some kind of temptations!! Mine was also ethnic cuisine! Vietnamese Bun. That’s ramen (the good kind) with lettuce and cucumber, grilled beef, shrimp and a fish sauce with the best egg roll thingy. It like egg rolls but meatier and a much flakier crust. Anyway I got up that morning and could not decide what to bring for lunch so I ended up eating out and not caring…………………but of course now I do…………..Oh well we can only go on. We are not losing fast but we are at least trying. Could you all imagine where we would be if we continued to eat the old way? I would probably not be able to walk on my poor ankles!!LOL! So we can at least pat ourselves on the back to realize we do have a problem and just keep on being careful and choosy.

My DH did get a new job and he will not be going off shore anytime soon. He starts on Monday. This job is at one of the refinery’s doing safety work. He will be the supervisor. Hopefully he will like it and it will work out. I am so happy for him. He was really getting too old to be doing construction on the rigs, which is a job for a younger man. It takes a toll on the body. Believe me he is in good shape but one does wear out faster as you get up in the years. Not that he is old or anything, just the labor intensity of that job.

I am so glad you both got to do fun stuff with your friends. Seems like you both enjoyed your days with the girls. We went to the lodge last night for a while and stayed too long, but ended up having so much fun! We were all singing old songs that one of our members had gathered together on a CD from the late 70’s and 80’s. We were just being silly! One of the guys decided he would do a “mock” Chippendales thing to raise a few bucks for the kids and was hilarious!

Today all the kids are coming for BBQ. I guess I will make some deviled eggs and a cheese ball so I can enjoy the food too. We are grilling Ribs, Sausage and Chicken. I took out extra so I can have protein in the fridge for lunches next week. I am doing some eggplant also. The weather is going to be nice so the kids can all be outside wearing themselves out instead of wearing me out!

I hope you guys have a pleasant weekend and remember try not to cheat!!

Till later,
Kathleen

[rican3]

I know your vacation is comming soon Corrisann, is it this week??

[Teresa3]

Oh, I wish I could stop cheating and get back on track! I'm so tired and not feeling great again and I'm just eating anything! I've worked so hard to get my weight down and now this weird thing happens! Only Chinese or similar spicy highly flavored food tastes good to me now, and sweets. I blew it at lunch again today and had some chocolate cake, and now I'm upset. I've got to go back on induction, somehow. Maybe tomorrow.

Corrisann, 5 lbs. down to start your vacation is better than not! I know I have often not felt very motivated to diet before a trip because I know I'll probably eat good stuff, and I want to enjoy the food. And then when I get back I feel more like renewing the effort, so maybe that's what's going on for you? When do you leave?

Crab dip and stuffed mushrooms sound yummy to me! I imagine you're having a great time right now!

Kathleen, it sounds like you had a really hilarious time at the lodge this weekend. And your BBQ menu sounds scrumptious! I just love grilled eggplant, and ribs, and deviled eggs, and...oh well! It's so great your dh got a land job! You guys both got new jobs about the same time--that's great luck! I hope it works out well for him. You'll be so happy to have him home every night now. My dh has always had a home office, but he used to travel quite a bit, and I really hated it when he was gone. But now he rarely wants to go anywhere, ha ha!

Well, tomorrow is Greek lunch day. Then I don't know what for dinner. Tonight we had the leftover Chinese food we brought home from the restaurant we ate at this week. It was still so good! I wonder if I can do induction with Chinese food! Got to try something!

Have a lovely Sunday!

[rican3]

Yummy Greek lunch sounds so good to me!! We don't have much Greek food here. There are a couple of Greeks that own diners but the only thing on the menu Greek is Baklava pastry and the gyro's (which are delish)! Teresa
I know the weather is still hot, but you could have that southwestern taco soup on induction and it is spicy! I wonder what it is in the medicine that makes everything taste that way? The soup really is easy to make. I have been so bad this week too. Yesterday I had a piece of chocolate meringue pie. I bought it for dessert for the BBQ and for some reason I had to have some. Then I found myself drinking apple juice and did not even realize it until it was gone. It seemed like I just ate all day!

We all have to get back to induction so we can get on track for the holidays. They are right around the corner. If we don't get a handle on it now, we will all be commiserating with each other for the beginning of next year! I want to be celebrating the New Year thinner!! I absolutely don’t want to be any heavier than I am now! I know we can do this. Why when we want it so bad does it have to seem so hard?? I hope I can get through today without eating any chips. I am craving them also!! I have all the right stuff so I am going to really try to do induction the next few days to see if it will help also.

I will check in after a while. Sorry I don’t write as much during the week, I am still trying to get into a routine! Today I have to do some laundry and house cleaning. My daughter is really helping a lot since she has been back. She mopped the kitchen floor and vacuums almost everyday (2 year old and crumbs ) so that has been nice. I just need to do my bathroom (she does the other) and my bedroom. Now if I could get her to incorporate those rooms in her routine I would have it made (or should I say have a maid!!)Ha Ha!!
Today’s Menu

B-Bacon and eggs
L-egg salad on Rev. Roll
D-BBQ leftovers
S-celery sticks w/ cheese ball



Till later, Kathleen

[MI CHICK]

Well gal's once again I have my food all set for tomorrow & have a good idea what I can do for the remainder of the week---now I just have to stick with it....you are right Teresa it's hard to get real motivated just before vacation and yet I really would like to start off on a good foot. So maybe I will do ok this week. We're leaving the 21st. Got lots of stuff taken care of this weekend while dh was laying on the sofa sick with a nasty cold. Hope I don't get it just in time to start our vacation, that would be a real pooh!!!

Good news about your dh's job Kathleen!! Here in MI right now it would be a miracle for 2 people in the same household to laid jobs within a couple weeks of each other. Hope he likes it & can make the needed changes. I'm sure he will enjoy being around home more too. My dh never had to be gone w/his job---most years I would have missed him--but during our middle years I could have stood not to have him around sometimes.....LOL!!! We've been married 31yrs & there's no one person on planet earth that you are going to like non-stop for 31yrs.....hahahaha!!! Now I would miss him alot if he was gone. Will be enough of an adjustment when he goes to afternoon hours when we get back from our vacation.

You are so right that the holidays will be here before we know it & we will be mad at ourselves if we have put all of our weight back on!!! And how are we going to deal with the holidays if we can't get on track & stay on track in just our normal lives....LOL!!! And I also just cannot understand how I can keep messing up when it really is something that I want to do????? But it's like the American Lung Assc's motto: never quit quitting!! It seems to have finally worked for smoking now I just need to see it thru re: the food. I keep telling myself I will feel much better than the food tastes if I'll just let myself get far enough along to get the sense of that....

Hope you withstood the craving for the chips Kathleen!! It's a hard thing to replace with something else. Things like the Carb Smart bars & the lc choc will get you over the sugar humps but the faux starches are usually pretty nasty. When I get myself where I need to be I am going to figure out the popcorn thing & use that cause I love popcorn & it would help me thru lots of cravings I'm sure.

Well it's almost 11 so I need to get the coffee pot set up & the dishes from putting our lunches together into the dish washer. Here's to a great Mon for all of us!!!!
corrisann

[MI CHICK]

Mon's menu:
B=4 hard boiled eggs
L=Atkins bar & 1 oz nuts
D=fish & cucumber slices & green beans
S=carb smart bar
this is all decent food so I shouldn't have trouble. very busy day so I should be able to stay out of the kitchen & away from food too

[rican3]

Corrisan sounds like you are right on track for Monday. Are the Atkins bars enough for lunch? That doesn’t sound like a lot of food for lunch. I noticed it is not the first time you have had that so you must like it! I didn’t do too badly yesterday. I tasted some sausage gravy and had 1 /4 of a small potato. My whole menu changed. We went out for breakfast with the kids. Then I went shopping and had hot wings. My DH asked for roast beef for dinner so I made that with potatoes and carrots. I had roast, that smidgen of a potato, gravy (small amount )and spinach salad. I was not too bad; these tastes’ have got to stop and today I plan on being good all day!! I guess the worst was the small peice of cake on Sat. The rest was pretty small but it all does add up. I hope you did well on your Sunday Greek lunch Teresa We all need to make a pack to stay on plan and only eat what is allowed even if we eat more than the portion to get us back on the road to recovery!!
Today’s Menu
B_Sausage and coffee w/ cream
L-Dreamfields macaroni salad andBBQ chicken
D-Ribs and salad or Eggplant
S- almonds and SF Jello
Till later,
Kathleen

[MI CHICK]

I had to stop at CVS on my way home to replace some vitamins etc that we were out of. Got that done & then had to approach the snack isle They were having some good sales on the fun size candy bars that I wanted to get for dh's car snack. I was hungry. I kept pacing up & down the isle looking at all the stuff & trying to talk my self thru the temptations. Then it hit me how I was pacing like a caged animal up & down that isle....felt like an idiot. My feet were hurting. And I got a grip on myself & said are you no more in life than a can of Pringles or a Dove bar for goodness sake!!! So I breathed deeply and then calmly made the 2 choices for my dh. I checked out the sugar free hard candies & got myself some to suck on in the car. They helped me a lot when I was quitting smoking. When I walked in the door I went straight to the fridg & ate the 8 shrimp that I had in there for my lunch tomorrow. Then I sat down with my diet pop & came here.....it's sad that food can become such a huge issue for us sometimes! I feel good that I got a grip on myself. I have 2 cans of nuts for the car but I have to find something else that is legal. Most protein items have to be kept cool. That's why I was trying the Atkins bar. And I've just had the one---carried it to work with me twice for lunch & ended up never having it. It was ok. The actual flavor while chewing it was pretty decent but it has that slight aftertaste that so much diet stuff does. But I had a cup of coffee with it, so I had a bite & then sipped my coffee. So I might actually get a couple of them for the car. Did like that it had so much protein & fiber in it. That & the nuts would have held me ok if I'd come straight home, but I stopped & had the tires rotated & an alignment done. Then stopped at CVS.

I just cannot come back from vacation with additional weight on. Keep running the mantra thru my head that vacation does not equal food. It's always embarrassing to me when I get in these spots & have to face up to how much food means to me. When I found myself thinking how my feet were so tired while I was trying to choose something else to keep them tired was when it really slapped me between the eyes........ go home girl & get a grip is what I thought.

It's cooler here today Kathleen & a nice roast sounds sooo good! Don't feel like fish but that's what is thawed & I haven't restocked the kitchen to have any other quick choices.

Well I'm calmed down now & dh is home from work so I can go & put my stuff away and start dinner. It helps me so much to have you gals here to blurt it all out too!! Wish I'd had this when I was quitting smoking! So please don't give up & go away like Polly did!!
corrisann

[Teresa3]

Hi, Gals--

I'm still here; freaked out today because the dog peed on two of my brand new sofa cushions and I couldn't get it out. Took them to the cleaners and he's not sure, so I won't know til Friday. I'm still not able to get back to induction, had a piece of strawberry cream cheese pie for lunch, which actually wasn't too bad, but not good either, and I'm back up 2 1/2 lbs. this a.m. Bummed out, but still trying. Still have the metallic bitter taste which also has me bummed. If it doesn't go away in a couple more days, I'll go to the doctor. Have a good night; I'll check in tomorrow. Teresa

[MI CHICK]

Tues menu
B=coffee w/cream bacon & eggs
L=chicken salad & 1 oz nuts
D=roast & veggies
S=carb smart bar

[rican3]

Oh Teresa, I can’t believe that sweet dog of yours peed on not one, but two pillows!! Why would she do that?? I am sure she is house trained; do you think it was that they are new and she wanted to mark them?? One never knows……………….I am so sorry your still getting that metallic taste. Maybe you can take something else that will do the same job but not be so disagreeable for you.

Corrisann , it sounds like you had a huge breakthrough!! I am so happy for you! So what if you ate today’s lunch, you stayed with something legal!! When you are traveling don’t you take a cooler for drinks and such? We always have one. If you got a small one you could do a freeze pouch instead of ice and you could bring cheese, boiled shrimp, lunch meat, boiled eggs, cut up veggies and those individual ranch dressing dipping packages. I know that doesn’t sound scrumptious BUT when you ate your evening or that meal for the day out, you could splurge on rich, buttery and creamy type foods or a dessert favorite and you would only be off for that one meal instead of the whole day, for seven days. Something to think about! I know we all look forward to those special treats that we don’t usually have when we go on vacation, but that could also mean crab or lobster w/ drawn butter or French Onion Soup or Prime Rib, should I go on?? I won’t because now I’m drooling!!

Today’s Menu

B-sausage, coffee w/cream
L-Roast beef w/gravy and spinach salad
D-leftovers (My choices are-Macaroni salad, roast beef, spaghetti, ribs)
We need to clean out the fridge!
S-almonds (these are a life saver)

I hope everyone gets through the day without cheating!!

Teresa you probably have water retention from all that Chinese food. It will fall off……...........
till later,
Kathleen

[Teresa3]

Hi, All--

Well, I'm recovering from the sofa trauma. I still love my poodie, but I wonder how! I think she probably was doing some sort of marking thing, the little #%*@!!!

You guys are doing great; Corrisann, you are really buckling down! I'm impressed with your menu! Kathleen, you seem to stay on track still eating delicious things! I did better last night, had salmon and veggies, and I feel like I will do better today. Dh wants to get going to the gym, so I'll check in w/ you later! T.

[rican3]

I SEEM TO STAY ON THE RIGHT FOODS, BUT I THINK I STILL EAT TOO MUCH OF THEM. I DON'T THINK I HAVE LOST A THING THIS WEEK. I WORE SOME PANTS TODAY AND THEY ARE GREAT EVERYWHERE BUT THE BELLY. SITTING DOWN ALL DAY I FEEL LIKE I AM BLOATED! LOL!!! YOU ARE DOING WELL GOING TO THE GYM A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK WITH YOUR DH, I THINK THAT'S GREAT! YOUR SALMON SOUNDS GREAT. I WISH IT WAS FRESH HERE. THEY SAY IT IS FRESH BUT I KNOW IT HAS BEEN FROZEN! I'M AT WORK AND HAVE TO RUN.......KATHLEEN

[MI CHICK]

Had my annual exam at the new doc's office (new insurance/new doc) after work today. It's a teaching office so the whole experience was different but on the whole good I think. Got an adjustment in both med's. Ok so that's all fine & dandy--what I wanted to tell you was how off their scale was from mine. Ever since I got the digital scale a few years back it always matched up with the doc's each year. Theirs today said 238.9 so when I walked in the door I went straight to the bathroom & stepped on mine while everything about me was the same
& it said 245. Which makes sense with shoes on etc. I had the nurse weigh me on the regular scale with the weights on it & it also said 238. So maybe the last 4-5lbs I thought I gained in the spring were really the scale going off.....so I'm going to check if there is some way to reset my scale.

Well Kathleen you were starving me to death with all the food on the trip talk LOL!!! Our cooler is small but I guess you're right, maybe I can squeeze in some food. The freezer packs don't work as there is no place to refreeze them at nite. I like that mind set--plan for my main meal to be something really really yummy so that the rest of the day being sensible doesn't seem to be a hardship. Yup the more I think about that the better it seems to fit.

Pets are like kids--some days you could just kill 'em even tho you really love 'em!!! I bet there was a smell that she didn't like & as Kathleen said felt she needed to mark her spot. What did the cleaners say?? Are they toss pillows for decoration or the actual cushions that you sit on? Good job on going to the gym!!!!!!!!

Kathleen I'm going to try & make up some gravy tonight with guar gum. My roast cooked so nicely all day in the crock pot that it will be falling apart. Yum! Stopped by someone's house & bought some beautiful tomatoes & cuke's to slice up to eat with my roast. I've stayed on track today with my planned menu. Will have my snack now & then have dinner when dh gets home in a couple hours. He had to go by his folks place after work to check out the new septic field that was put in.
Later--corrisann

[MI CHICK]

Well I'm going to bed with a 2nd good day under my belt!!!
Here's to day 3!!!!!

[Teresa3]

Good evening, ladies--

Well, Corrisann, that's great news from the doctor's office--you weigh less than you thought! Brilliant! I hope your health is good, too.

A roast sounds so yummy--haven't had one in years, I think. That will make some great leftovers. I had my leftover salmon this evening, and it was still good. Blew it again at lunch and had a small piece of cake again. It's this taste problem. Everything tastes bitter except sweets. My dh insisted I go see the doc about it so I'm going tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm putting hard-lost pounds back on!

Glad you've had two great days on program, Corrisann, it will pay off for you! Kathleen, I bet you'll have a drop this week, too. I'm struggling, but I haven't given up! See you tomorrow. T.

[MI CHICK]

all time high 249 (243)
start date 6/18/07
today's wgt 238
last week's wgt 243
goal 160
5'6" 53yrs old

So these last 2 days confirmed what I already knew but didn't want to accept, my body does not tolerate carbs at all.
2 days with no tastes/bites at all & normal size servings and I went right back to what I was about 4 weeks back. Don't like to hear that as I love carbs & would like to be the person who can have a "taste" here & there & be ok.....pooh!!!!!! So now I know I really have to figure out some legal snacks for our trip.
I didn't try to adjust my scale #'s. Just made note of the fact with my original high #. The point is that I have a lot of weight to loose & I can't let myself have a false sense of success over 6lbs.
A roast is so easy to do Teresa--I always put it in the crockpot or in the oven at 250 & leave it for the day and they come out so tender. I did make the gravy last nite with the guar gum & made my dh a hot roast beef sandwich for him. He was happy as I haven't made that for him in a couple years. I had my slices with some sharp cheddar slices & some dill pickle slices. It was yummy.
I agree w/dh that you should have things checked out. Not just for the taste bud issue but for whatever other side effects might be happening with your body that aren't as obvious as taste. Does the sweet taste from Splenda not work with your taste buds? If it did you could switch over to Splenda goodies.
Kathleen that Dreamfields pasta may be slowing you down. I know you don't want to hear that...LOL!!! I remember lots of folks commenting on that when it first came out.
Todays menu:
B=coffee w/cream bacon & eggs
L=cuke & tomato slices tuna
D=roast slices cheddar slices veggies of some sort
S=1oz nuts carb smart bar

[Teresa3]

Morning, Gals--

All time high - 175
Start - 6/6/07 - 165
Last Monday - 154.5
Today - 156
Goal - 125
Height 5'2" Age - 58

Well, up 1 1/2 lbs. isn't too horrible considering how many sweets I ate this week, but it has set me back a ways. I think one of the problems is that the weather has turned cooler and is gray as well, and I always want to start eating more in the fall. My appetite really goes up in colder weather. So I have to really fight now!

Corrisann, you're an inspiration! Congrats on your success this week You are so right about the little carb cheats--they can really hold us back! I'm sure I'm also one of those who can't get away with that!

So did the gravy taste fine using the guar gum? Does it have starch or calories?

Hope you had a successful weigh-in, too, Kathleen !

B - egg yolk, 2 bacon, spinach
L - shrimp enchiladas, no tortillas, salad
D - roast chicken, green beans, squash
S - almonds, cr ch

[rican3]

Hi Ladies,
I am also not happy this week. I am up 1 lb. It might have been those Tostitos and queso last night!! I really think I haven’t been as good as I should and have had a lot of the Dreamfields also. I had to get the chips out of my system. They were driving me crazy!! How can life be so tough over FOOD!!!!! Well here are the stats. I want a change next week in the right direction. So I am promising to be good over the next week! I hate to break promises!

All time high (2007) - 273
Start date June 18, '07 - 273
Last Monday - 259
Today – 256.00
Goal - 175 to start
Height - 5'7
Age – 51

Corrisann you are doing very well this week and I am proud of you! Teresa and I have got to get our act together and put our mind in this. We can do it, we can do it, we can do it!!!! Can you tell my grandson has been around HA HA !

I can’t seem to reach that 20 lb mark. It has been 3 weeks now and that does not make me happy……….

Tomorrow is another day, and I have been doing great today. I also had roast with gravy and salad for lunch. That gravy is so good and it really doesn't have much to add to the carbs. I had sausage for breakfast with my coffee and cream. Tonight we are having Chicken and vegetables. (They can make their own starch!) I may do the eggplant, Love that stuff!

Have a great evening and let’s all try to stick to plan or they will kick us off this site and tell us to go to regular chat room BOO HOO…………………(just kidding)
Till later
Kathleen

[MI CHICK]

I'm tired & my tooties are not happy!!! I'm whining big time so that I remember how important it is to get this weight off!!!! Would love to come home at the end of the day & not even give my feet a thought!!

Kathleen you are so close to that 20lb mark!! Isn't it maddening that you can't get there!!! Is it in the budget to treat yourself to something special when you hit the 20lb mark?? I treated myself to a nice pair of gold earrings & a nice sterling silver necklace & a nice white gold ring along the way on the quit smoking path. And each purchase sealed that goal in my mind. They all came from QVC so I didn't bankrupt the budget doing it. And each time I wear 1 of the pieces I have a few seconds thrill over the fact that I am no longer smoking. I love jewlery, your reward might be something else.

One & a half lbs isn't too bad Teresa. Course I know your med's make it so much harder to achieve any loss. The gravy was just the broth that cooked out of the roast mixed w/the guar gum so it shouldn't have any real count to it. And yes it was yummy, even better tonight. DH ate all the green beans so I sliced up a cuke & a tomato to go with mine. I see that you are just 1lb away from being 20lbs off from your high. That's good--take some credit for that!!

I tried a different protein carb bar today & it was pretty good. No after taste & it held me from 4 until I ate dinner just now at 8. It's a EAS AdvantEdge Carb Control. 4net carbs & 17g protein. Was the choc peanut butter crisp.
Have a cookie & cream one to try tomorrow.

Teresa I not only want to eat more in the cooler weather I want to cook more. Made the roast which we finished tonight. Tomorrow I'm making smothered pork chops--was a recipe I used a lot when I first did the lc. Served it for company several times & everyone loved it. Course I made them baked potatoes for the gravy that it cooks up. Now I will be ready to try some of Kathleen's recipes like the taco soup. I'm going to do a grocery shopping before we leave so that when we get home I can have all legal stuff in the house to get cooking with. No excuses to eat off track & order pizza! I LOVE pizza & it doesn't take much for me to order some. Will buy the ingredients to make the one I told you about before that was so good--then that's the end of that.

Well it's almost 9 so I best get off here. Ya'll have a good nite! Make your snack tonight legal

[MI CHICK]

Thurs Menu:
B=coffee w/cream bacon & cheddar
L=Carb bar & 1 oz nuts
D=smothered pork chops & veggies
S=carb smart bar

[Teresa3]

Hi, Gals--

Sorry you're up a lb., Kathleen--lt's probably just water retention, because it doesn't seem like you've been off track very much this week. Yes, we do have to get ourselves remotivated--I've been having a very hard time since the weather turned cooler and I've had the taste problem. But my doctor did say that she had another patient who had the same reaction to Humira, one of my arthritis meds. So we're stopping that to see if the problem goes away; so I feel hopeful.

I've been trying to get myself to get back to induction, which I'm sure would do a world of good, but for the life of me I can't get myself to want to do it! You're right, Corrisann, I am down almost 20 lbs. from my high, and I am happy about that--I'm wearing a size smaller pants, and that makes me happy. I'm sure we're all glad we weigh less than we did a few months ago, so what can we do but hang in there and keep trying until we feel a spurt of energy to make another drive! Yes, yes, yes, Kathleen, we can do it--it will happen!!

Corrisann, I'm glad you're sticking to legal snacks, ala the low carb bars. How was this other one you tried? Your pork chops sound super-yum!

B - spinach, egg, sausage
L - salad, enchiladas
D - tripe w/tomatoes, peppers, celery; green beans
S - jalapeno almonds, cr ch

[MI CHICK]

Good evening ladies!
Well another cheat free day. I was massaging my feet this evening thinking I just have to get this weight off & get some relief to my tooties!
The carb bar I had today wasn't all that good. Not so nasty that I couldn't eat it but I won't buy it again. But I have to tell you that I went from 1 until 7 when we had dinner on it. The staying power of the protein in it really did the trick. Worked even better than the EAS bar that had the decent taste. So I can see a point in them now. To get the protein in your system at a time when eating some actual food isn't possible. I bought 10 of the EAS bars today for the trip.
So much food product is portable anymore that I was able to get salmon/tuna cans/packets, some with flavors and I got the individual Ranch cups to mix in the plain tuna. Some stuff is not strictly Atkins but it will do the trick & get me thru safely I hope. Have peaches with splenda instead of the regular syrup. And cans of V8 which I love & no one ever got fat off of. Bought no snacks that would trigger me, which isn't that hard as dh doesn't care that there isn't a bag of Snyder Pretzel Sandwiches or Cheese-It's. Bought some Russell Stovers lc choc that I can have when dh has a Kit Kat/Snickers bar. So I'm all set if my mental resolve holds.
Glad your doc knew what the problem was Teresa & adjusted your med's accordingly. If you could just get 2-3clean days in a row I think you could get back on track. That's why the "bites" don't work for us---they keep our systems sending out those craving singles. After a few days on track the cravings go away & I always think "why"
do I get off & start the whole mess going again???? When I did Atkins the first time I was so shocked when the cravings left because that had never happened before. And I was eating such wonderful foods(non sugar) that I never missed the things I wasn't having. When I started all the little cheats the urges came back & sucked me in. So I know my glucose levels are sensitive!! Which probably means I'll end up a diabetic if I don't get a grip.

todays menu was:
B=coffee w/cream bacon & cheddar
L= carb bar & cup coffee
D=smothered pork chops & tomato slices & raspberries
S=1 oz nuts

[Gramma]

Ladies! Ladies! Ladies! Where are you today? Your stories are so encouraging, I can hardly wait to log into to see what's going on with each one of you.
As you can see from my profile, I'm at the point where I know I must follow the Atkins plan and that's THAT! Actually, I followed Dr. A's plan in the late 70's when it was being marketed as The Drinking Man's Diet (I was the only woman in a national sales organization at the time). Over a 6-month period, I lost 20+ pounds and the change in food patterns stayed with me and I kept the weight off until 1988 ... when those pesky carbs (I prefer salt to sweet, if you get my drift) in the form of tortilla chips, etc., they have here in Texas, got in the way. Anyway, I'm off my highest-ever weight of 163 and still need to drop 30+ to meet my own expectations as well as those of my doctors.

It's hard to go straight to induction, isn't it? Hubby is not terribly supportive, because he thrives on carbs and now weighs only five pounds more than at high school graduation. But I still have my original notes about the "Diet" as well as a copy of DANDR I picked up @ 1/2 Price Books a year or so ago.

Anyway, I'm going to ease into this tonight. Instead of dinner, we're having Friday Snick-Snacks. Here at our house that means crudites, cheese cubes and whatever meat I have in the fridge that can be cut and presented on toothpicks. Hub and I generally spend Friday quietly after we close the office and with finger foods instead of a meal we can sit in the den and catch up on the week in relative peace. And because it's in the den, that means the veggies are the non-dripping type (celery, cauliflower, radishes, cucumbers, zucchini) as opposed to tomatoes, etc. Fortunately, hub likes Ceasar dressing for this. So the carb level will be low(er) than what has become the usual. Wish me luck! Tomorrow will be the test --- here's to bacon and eggs! And perhaps I can get hubby to grill us/me a steak to get the ball rolling on a positive note.

How often do you all weigh? Weekly? Do any of you go to Curves? Hubby's Medicare supplement provides discounts to family members on various "healthy lifestyle" things and Curves is one of them. I've thought about joining ... I belonged to a ladies-only gym years ago and really enjoyed going. I only quit when a bigger outfit bought them out and turned it co-ed. 'Talk to you soon. Gramma.

[Teresa3]

Welcome back, Gramma--

It's good to hear that you're returning with new resolve! If you've been off the plan and been eating carbs, I'm sure you will drop weight by cutting down on them significantly, without going on strict induction if you don't feel you can do it. I've been cheating a bit lately, so I've really got to get back to it!

Your evening snacks are right on, and bacon and eggs for breakfast is great if you like them, plus easy to fix. Don't forget to take some fiber and potassium.

Nobody's dh is very supportive, so we all have to support each other!

I go to the gym 3 days a week and walk about minutes a day, sometimes ride a stationary bike a little bit. I have a friend who goes to curves and she likes it. Any exercise you can get in is a help as long as you don't overdo it and get too tired, sore and hungry, then binge!

We weigh in here on Wednesdays, to give us a chance to recover from the weekends. So join on in!

Corrisann, I'm so impressed with your organizing all those good things to keep you on track during your trip! Good goin'! And you've been really sticking to your plan this week--I bet you're going to be real happy at next weigh-in! It's amazing those protein bars keep you going all afternoon--it's got to be helping burn up lbs.! How do you get yourself to give up lunch, though? That's so major! I so look forward to lunch, even more than dinner. It's my respite; I don't think I could handle just a protein bar. Are you on the run during lunch? That would help.

I did better today; stayed pretty much on plan--only had a few bites of cheesecake and no crust. And I have been exercising. And my weight hasn't gone up any more, so maybe I'm making my way back to losing again.

How are you doing, Kathleen? What's up for your weekend--going to the lodge? I know you must be busy with all your family about, and your new job, to boot!

Have a great weekend, everyone! Teresa

P.S. Gramma--we find it helpful to list our food for the day, both to help us try to stay on program, and to get ideas about what to eat.

B - egg yolk, sausage, spinach
L - seafood burritos, no tortillas, salad, few bites cheesecake (uh-oh)
D - chicken thigh and wing, green beans, sauteed eggplant w/tomatoes
S - jalapeno almonds, cream cheese

[MI CHICK]

Good morning ladies! In 6 short days I will be on the road, Yea!!!

Welcome back Gramma! Lurking & reading isn't enough support--ya got to get on & blurt it all out--LOL!!! It really helps! We're taking ds's old laptop with us so I'm hoping to be able to check in w/you girls along the way and that would help me so much!!! Here's hoping it works!

Teresa my lunch is always on the run either around a client or in the car between clients. So having the bar & 1oz of nuts w/a drink works wonderful. I myself have been surprised how that large amount of protein from one has such holding power.

Yesterday my lunch got lost around my client & somethings going on with her as she'd had an asthma attack the nite before. So I had 1oz of cheese & 2 oz of nuts from breakfast till 5pm. Was really hungry when I walked in the door--so hungry I was afraid of what I'd do in the kitchen fixing dinner. Had 1 more errand on my "to do" list so I sliced myself a cucumber while saying hello to dh & then headed back out the door with cucumber in hand. Had the cuke while driving to errand, whole trip coming & going took about 45 minutes, so when I got home I had something in my tummy & was back in control until I could fix dinner. Made the lc pizza I told you guys about before so it was a big protein hit to my system. Had 3 slices instead of 2 but I actually needed it at that point. And when it hit my system that was it, I was full & satisfied. Didn't have anything else the rest of the nite. These days I just keep thinking of my tired sore feet when I want to eat or cheat! More so than anything I want my feet back---I'm on them all day & they just hate me carrying so many lbs!!

I didn't say anything to anyone, including dh, about me doing lc again. No one would pay any attention cause I've done it all before over the last 10yrs. So I just make up dh's plate & hand it to him & then make mine & he really doesn't pay too much attention to the differences . Gramma my dh was one that always ate anything he wanted & stayed skinny--until he hit 45, then he put on 20lbs, which he needed. From 45-55 he has put on another 20 which he didn't need & has ended up with a little bit of a belly. He was so shocked initially & at one point ask me to adjust his diet to help him loose weigh. Well after a few weeks of that he was done dieting....LOL!!! He finally found out it wasn't an easy or tasty thing to do, so he isn't so judgemental about my struggles anymore.

Also Gramma Teresa is so right about the fiber & potassium pills--they are a must! They've really helped me this time around. She's also right about the exercise...which I am real bad at. At the end of the day I just want to get off my feet....2 of my friends have belonged to Curves for the last couple years & really like it. They find it easy to stop in on their way home from work, do it, be done, & head on home. I have a couple pieces of equipment & dvd's at home that work really well when I actually use them.....when my feet get better I will get back to it. Am hoping at around 225 I should be able to. I love that Fri nite snack idea & it's one idea that would work great on lc. All those great veggies w/a wonderful dressing (that's one thing I hated about lf dieting was the nasty dressings we had to eat) with cheese & meat cubes. Yummy!! Think I may try & incorporate that into our menu when we get back. LC works great for me cause I like having an friittia or eggs & bacon or sausage to start my day. And there are 900 ways to fix them not just eggs morning after morning. The frittias & omelets are great cause they can be reheated gently in the microwave the next a.m.

Kathleen where are you??? Lost between dh being home now & dd & dgs I suppose. Are you getting any Kathleen time to help you stay focused?? We miss you!

After 5 clean days & being so hungry yesterday I knew my body had been in fat burning mode, so I weighed this a.m. to keep me encouraged. Was at 236. I just need to keep myself focused this weekend. We're taking grandma & grandpa to EMU campus tomorrow to see our sons apartment & visit with him. So that will be 1 meal eaten out.

Well gal's this turned into a book....comes from not reporting in yesterday. Have a great Sat. & keep yourself busy with non-food fun---there's alot of that out there, just ask any of your skinny friends
corrisann

[Teresa3]

Hi, Gals--

Corrisann, I had such a laugh at your last comment about there being a lot of fun non-food things to do out there, just ask your skinny friends! I imagine that's true, but for us it's hard to do! Lunch on the run seems to be working for you--congratulations on almost a whole week of non-cheat, lc days ! And what a fantastic result--Girl, you rule !

So, I am definitely going on induction starting today! Will post carb totals and weight every day this week to help keep me on track. Corrisann, I hope your ds's laptop works so you can check in with us from time to time and stay at least more or less on track--you've accomplished so much this week, it'd be a shame to pop back up. But of course, we want you to enjoy your vacation!

Gramma, I hope you're getting a good lc start to the day today. Did you eat your bacon and eggs this morning?

Kathleen, hope you're doing well--miss you, know you're busy.

Today's wt - 156
B - lox, cr ch, spinach, egg yolk 2 carbs
L - salad. ranch dressing, 4 oz. turkey & pastrami 5 carbs
D - 3 oz. chicken breast, mayo, 1/2 c. zucchini, 1/2 c. green beans 5 carbs
S - 8 almonds, cr ch, 1/4 lc choc bar 2 carbs

Total carbs for the day - 14