New and would like a buddy

[MI CHICK]

Well as you can see dh helped me put my pic in my avatar. The hardest thing was finding a pic--first off I am
the taker of most of our pic's, and second I am like most over weight people & stay out of as many pic's as possible...LOL!!! We tried to put in the whole pic like you did Teresa but it was too many pixels or some such thing.
But it is at least a fairly recent pic--we were at the nature center taking a walk. How do you like that silver hair???
I started graying in my early 30's & of course colored it til I was 50. My hair was so dry so I just swallowed my pride & quit. Was happy when it all grew out & I saw that it was a nice silver, not a yellowish white. But it's still hard on your pride in the beginning. Don't like being 53 as it is & I know that my hair color ages me. But it beats being bald from coloring it non stop LOL!! Would be even easier to take if I wasn't fat too. But I am working on that

I ended up eating about 6 oz of sausage & about 2 oz of sage cheddar with bread & butter pickles made with Splenda. And I went ahead & had my carb smart bar. That seems to have pretty much filled the gap. Feel a bit hungry still but it's 11 & I don't want to go to bed on a bunch of extra calories.
IWILLDOIT how did your menu work out today?? Was that enough food for you?
nite all--
corrisann

[Teresa3]

Oh, Corrisann, that is such a beautiful picture! And your hair is gorgeous! Mine is so thin and wispy You are so lucky, and I love silver hair, too, and I don't think it ages you. It's so great to see you! Kathleen, now you've got to get one posted!

I love the woodsy background; makes a great backdrop for your picture. sounds like you really like nature a lot, too. Do you go to the nature preserve often? I really love to spend time at our UCSC arboretum. We have an outstanding collections of Australian and New Zealand trees and bushes, especially the colorful protea.

The jazz show was great--piano, tenor sax, bass, and drums. Played some of the mello classics and some upbeat stuff. Dinner was chicken thighs cooked with red wine, black olives, tomatoes, onions, and capers. Green beans and mashed potatoes (gave those to dh). So it was fine, but I did end up sharing a delicious piece of carrot cake with dh. Just can't stay away from the sweets lately! Did Ok on everything else today, tho.

Hope you all had a great Monday! Nite, Teresa

[rican3]

Hi Ladies,
I know, I know I have been absent a lot….Well I am back and boy do I need an **# whipping! I went to San Antonio over the weekend and I was bad, bad, bad. They have the best Mexican food there and I could not resist it. Ate it all plus chicken fried steak and hamburgers with the bun, I’ll bet I gained 5 lbs and it took Corrisann a 2 week vacation to do that! We went to see my girlfriend (since the 6th grade) my oldest friend. She is moving to San Antonio from Florida and had come for a week to help set up her husband before she can come out. So we had a blast. Went down to the River Walk and showed them a little about getting around town. I used to live there before I divorced my first h. The last time we saw them was 2000 in Jacksonville, FL. Well we had a wonderful time and the DH’s get along so well it was great fun had by all. I really needed a break Thank goodness I was only there for the weekend or I would be a blimp! I just can’t believe how much I ate after being so disciplined for this long. Then I could not even get on track today and had real pasta for lunch……….I am starting back on the right track tomorrow. I must not blow this 20 lb loss.


Hello, Hello, Iwilldoit. Welcome to our little group. We really do support and help each other a lot. We are here for you too!

Corrisann I love your picture! It looks like fall behind you! Our weather has not cooled down yet either. We are so warm and muggy still. The weather man said fall is here but I don’t believe him!!

Till tomorrow,
Kathleen

[MI CHICK]

So glad to hear that you had such a good time!! You needed that after all the children hassles. And such a longtime friend--very rare & very wonderful!! Plus the miracle of both dh's getting along!!!
You can just get back on girl--I did & you can too--you cannot do a binge thing after losing 20lbs. Actually, after the first food choices of the first day back on track it was same ole same ole & not a problem. Just remember you & your life are so much more than a plate of food!

IWILLDOIT how did your lighter menu work out for you today? Did you do it today too??

Yeah it was a great fall or winter scene with all the leaves on the ground & all the bare trees behind me. That's why dh took the pic was how great the trail looked, not because he needed a pic of me LOL!!! Wish it would have fit in. Don't know why it wouldn't since Teresa, her dog & her flowers all fit in.....I don't get all this 'puter stuff

Yes Teresa there are a lot of really nice nature centers and arboretums. We try & enjoy them all since most of them are free and we can't afford to live out in the country. Boy you did so good with your meal.....if you just could have let the piece of cake go....you sound like me when someone waves homemade yeast breads under my nose... I just crumble

Today's menu:
B=coffee w/cream ham & cheese salad
L=protein bar
D=mexican meat loaf
S=wonderful crisp apple from the orchard 1sl ham & 1 sl cheese
tomorrow's menu:
B=coffee w/cream ham & eggs
L=cauliflower & meat loaf
D=shrimp & ?
S=?

[Teresa3]

Good Evening, Gals--

Good to hear about your great weekend, Kathleen! I was in San Antonio once several years ago, when dh and I came for the NCAA basketball tournament and Stanford was in it. DH is an alum and we're basketball fans. We went to the River Walk, too--it's fun and glamourous. But the place I enjoyed the most was a cute little German town outside of SA we drove out to, had lunch in a German restaurant (love German food!), and drove around the deserty countryside. I've always wanted to go back there.

Anyway, glad you had such a great time, and don't blame you for eating all the goodies. I'm sure you'll get any of the effects of that off soon--you know most of it is probably water retention from all the salt in those foods! I'm afraid I've been really off lately, too. I keep making plans but breaking them when I see sweets. I blew it again today, and had mango cream pie at lunch. I just can't stop myself, and I really wanted to get to my 20 lb. mark, too! Oh well--I know if we just keep hanging in here we will eventually get going again!

Corrisann, you've been posting some great menus--Mexican meatloaf sounds yummy! How do you make that? Have you been able to stick to your plan since you got back? I've been reading that it's been unseasonably hot up your way--hope you get some fall weather before winter hits!

See you all for weigh-in tomorrow (not looking forward to it ). T.

[MI CHICK]

Ok gal's I'm living proof that miracles do happen LOL!!!
I went on vacation & enjoyed many bread type treats & 2 grand sweet treats, came home & got right back to it & at my first weigh in I am 237, which is what I was the Wed before we left!!! So Kathleen thank you so my much for the plan of eating clean all day & having a chosen special something at 1 meal a day. Worked great!! And I so enjoyed the things I did eat--instead of them getting lost in a glut of foods. So Kathleen just get back to it today & your own words will make you be ok next week too

all time high 249 (243)
start date 6/18/07
today's wgt 237
last week's wgt 237
goal 160
5'6" 53yrs old

Got to watching 2 goofy shows on either Sat or Sun that were all weight related for women--they so showed why we are screwed up LOL!!! One was girls trying out for training camp for the Dallas Cheer Leaders. One girl was let go cause she was too heavy (10lbs) for their uniform, and she had the most fantastic shape....most of us would die for her shape!!! The other was I Want To Look Like A High School Cheer Leader again. First off how realistic is it for grown women to look like they did at 18??? Plus they all weighed 140-160's....the weight most of us would love to see!! I got so sucked in & dh keep saying each time he walked thru the livingroom what on earth are you watching??? But I just kept thinking how I'd thought we'd gotten a little bit beyond that kind of thinking....dh said as long as male/female/sex exists there will be this kind of thinking.

Gramama & IWILLDOIT we would like you to join us with a weigh in today. You can do this & we can sure support each other along the road to that success!!
corrisann

[rican3]

Well here is the big weigh in for the week and I am not so bad. Not good, but not horrible.Corrisann I am so glad the way you ate on your trip worked!! I should have stuck to my own words……..You did great!! I am so proud for you! As for me I am hoping to be on track from now until Thanksgiving. We are all learning lots about ourselves and you are right, we are not just a plate of food! Teresa you will get a grip. Maybe try some low carb ice cream or fruit instead of the desserts, if you can’t get them while eating out, promise yourself when you get home that will be your “treat”. It is all how we think about things, the mind games we play. I know after this weekend there is no way I could eat out as much as you do and not give in to all the temptation. I don’t know how you have done so well this far!! Iwilldoit and gramma we need to hear from you please! We hope you’re doing well and if not we will still support you. We all come with faults!

Today I will be dinning on:
B-coffee w/cream, (4) sausage patties (small) (2 c)
L-Hamburger Pattie w/provolone cheese lettuce and tomato salad w/dressing (7c)
D-Grilled Steak and mashed potato (cauliflower, butter & sour cream) green beans (12c)
S-Almonds (2c)

Today’ stats
All time high (2007) - 273
Start date June 18, '07 - 273
Last Monday - 252
Today – 255.06
Goal - 175 to start
Height - 5'7
Age – 51

PS: The gal I work with and I are going to walk the track at least 3 days a week starting today! It is right across the street from where we work and it could not be more convenient. We can change here at the office and go. Will wonders never cease………………..

[Teresa3]

congrats Corrisann for not gaining any real weight on your vacation--that is AMAZing!! I wish I could pick up your dedication to get back to it!

Kathleen, you have done well, considering your weekend, and now you're rededicating to the program. Fantastic that you and a friend are going to walk together; that's always so much more fun, and definitely helps you stay on track (pun intended)

I shouldn't be too unhappy; I'm up a lb. and a half, but I should have been down two by now, so in effect it feels like I am up over three I have to get back in line. My eating has been good except for one dessert each day. Yes, Kathleen, thanks for the advice; maybe I should get some lc ice cream, cause I'm getting tired of the lc choc bars and maybe that's why I'm craving other desserts. Or maybe I could try only a couple of bites...

I got a kick out of you sitting and watching those silly shows, Corrisann-- How many times have we all fallen prey to that insanity! My dh would have a fit if he caught me watching that, too! I can't imagine you doing that--you must have had a moment of weakness! (Yeah, if I'd been at your house I would have been glued to the set, too--we could've sat there and polished off a whole bag of chips while we were hypnotized by it--those producers should be made to starve until they get down to some anorexic weight! ) Gawd, please keep those shows off the air!

All time high - 175
Start - 170
Today's weight - 154 1/2
Last week - 153
Age - 58, height 5'2"

[MI CHICK]

Good morning gal's!! So it wasn't a terrible week---damage that can be corrected right quick with a little attention. How fantastic that you now have a walking partner Kathleen!!! That helps so much! Teresa I agree with Kathleen you need to go to the store & buy legal dessert items. Get some Rheddi Whip & lc ice cream & jello & different lc choc then what you've been having, & some lc jam made w/Splenda. Come home & use the ice cream to shave some choc on top, sprinkle on some nuts
& give it a large shot of Rheddi Whip. Or the ice cream with a strawberry jam & Rheddi Whip. Make jello & layer it into a pretty glass with the Whip between layers. Be creative & satisfy that sweet tooth!! I need to take the time to do some of the faux bread items to satisfy my weakness. Can you pretend you're diabetic & that you'll end up real sick if you cheat??? LOL anything that will get you thru!
When I got in from work last nite dh told me he'd gotten laid off. So I spent the evening trying to cheer him up. Guess the dieting maybe easier as I won't be going to the grocery store all that much You know from my struggles this summer around extra college expenses right at tax time that I'd cleaned out the cupboards & the bank account. Never replenished either cause we went on vacation. Job market is so crappy in MI so we'll see what happens.
Speaking of jobs I need to get off here & get ready to go to mine. You 2 be careful & make this a day to cheer about tomorrow!!
corrisann

[Teresa3]

Hi, All--

I'm so sorry to hear your dh got laid off, Corrisann I hope he finds something quick so you don't have to go through your cupboards and have those challenges of eating off program again. Although, you handled it really well last time. However, if you didn't replenish them, now maybe you can get some stuff that's better for you.

You've given me some great ideas for legal desserts--think I should go hit the diabetic aisle and see what kinds of no sugar sweet treats they have. I did go look for the lc ice cream, but dh didn't want me to get it because they only had a large size and he didn't want it taking up room in the freezer! I can't believe I let him pull that on me, especially since he just ate up 4 pints of his favorites he was keeping in there!

Well I'm trying to keep motivating myself to get back on induction, just until I go on my little jaunt a week from Sunday. My biggest motivator should be my feet, but somehow when I see cases of pies and pastries I become amnesiac.

Kathleen, have you gone around the track with your friend yet? You and I need to get our 3 lbs. off this week, after putting it back on. How's your eating going this week?

I'm going to try to lose 1/2 lb. a day for 8 days, either on induction or fat fast. Well, it's worth a try! I'm telling myself it's all I have to do for the day--lose 1/2 lb. just for today, whatever it takes! Wish me luck!

Today's weight - 154 1/2 Tomorrow's goal - 154
B - egg yolk, sausage, spinach
L - salad w/roast beef slices (no more than 4 oz.) NO DESSERT!
D - chicken, greens
S - almonds, w/cr ch or butter
Exercise - 30 min. gym, 10 min. bike

[Suji]

Hullo there,
I popped over from our "house" in Penpals (Turned 50 and...) to visit ya'll. You are right, Teresa. This sounds like a really nice bunch of ladies. Isn't it great to lose weight with friends?? You're welcome to come visit us too. :-p We've been posting since beginning of the year over there, I think.

On the sweets stuff, I guess most everything that I have in the house requires me to put in effort to make the dessert, so, um, it doesn't get made. The only other place that I go with dessert items is to the coffee shop where it is a combo bakery and I look at those yummy things, but purposefully don't bring in enough money to buy one. Heheheheh. Just enough for a large regular coffee that I put extra cream in. I just play to my natural laziness and penny pinching. :-D (I do put store-bought cookies in my kid's lunch, but they aren't nearly as good as homemade, so are easy to resist.)

Sue

[Teresa3]

Good morning, Everyone--

Greetings, Sue! How nice to have you pop over for morning "coffee" I feel a little like Mr. Rogers here..."it's a wonderful day in the neighborhood..." (As you can see, Corrisann and Kathleen, I surfed over to Sue's site and said hello and proffered an invite.) The more support we can offer each other on this difficult road the better, right?

I'm sitting here with my healthy cup of green tea this drizzly a.m. trying to warm myself with a fuzzy blanket and a hot computer in my lap. Looks like the rainy winter is starting early this year! I know we need it, but I feel blue in the gray! Makes it harder to want to stay on the program, when what I want is hot creamy comfort food.

I'm so easily seduced by anything with pumpkin in it; yesterday it was pumpkin cheesecake! OUT OF CONTROL AGAIN! When will this ever stop? Do you think I may have been inhabited by aliens? I seem to be taken over by some sort of zombie when I see sweets. And I can't stay home for lunch--I'd absolutely fall apart! Have to come up with some new battle stategy, cuz I'm losin' this one!

Looks like it finally cooled off up your way, Corrisann, so I hope you'll be able to get out and enjoy some beautiful autumn walks.

How's the walking going for you, Kathleen? Has it cooled off down there at all?

B - egg yolk, sausage, spinach
L- chicken caeser salad
D - roast chicken, zucchini
S - almonds, cr ch, lc choc
Exercise - 2 10 min. bike rides

[MI CHICK]

Well it's been a screwy week & I sure am glad it's over!! I did bad last nite & tonight...just stress eating but really dumb after I did so good all thru vacation & then got right back on track immediately when we got home...

Thanks for the greeting Sue & you sure are right that we need all the support we can get LOL!! At the rate we are going Kathleen, Teresa & I are going to be filing for our SS pensions before we get to goal.....

Yeah it's cooling off nicely finally Teresa. Hot & creamy is easy to do on lc--requires some cooking though & I know you are not big on cooking. I agree with Kathleen, I couldn't eat out as often as you do & get anywhere.

I'm pooped--too much stress & too much starch hitting my blood stream--so I'm off to bed. Here's to all of us having a good Sat!
corrisann

[Teresa3]

So sorry to hear you were stressed out yesterday, Corrisann. I hope you have a better day today! I imagine some of that is due to dh's being laid off? Whatever the reason, I hope you can keep from getting on a downward spiral...

Kathleen, how're you doin' ? We've all been a bit off track now, so let's all get back on the wagon!

I actually had a pretty good day yesterday, even tho I had a lunch out with the girls. I only had a salad with a striped bass filet on it, and chicken and green beans for dinner. Did my 10 min. on the bike before and after dinner, and this morning I was down 1/2 lb. Yeah! Now I just need to do that every day!

Hope you both are having nice weather this weekend so you can get some walking in. DH and I are going to the gym, our usual Saturday routine. He goes to the farmer's market on Sat. morning, then we go have a buffet lunch at the hotel where our gym is located, and we do a little workout afterwards. Come home, I go to the arboretum and walk and do a little communing with nature. Leftovers for dinner, then watch TV. It's a little ho-hum, but also nice. Comforting.

What are y'all doing this weekend? T.

B - egg yolk, sausage, spinach
L - salad w/cold cuts, beef brisket
D - roast chicken, green beans, zucchini
S - almonds, cr ch, lc choc
Exercise - 30 min. gym 15 min walk?

[MI CHICK]

Good morning all!! Sorry to have left you all alone all weekend Teresa--hope you didn't feel all deserted! Just was busy 1 thing after another. Good stuff so no complaints. Kathleen are the kids sucking up all your time still?? LOL!! We are picking up ds this weekend & bringing him home so he can visit us & both sets of grand parents. So that will wrap up our Oct nicely. Boy can you even believe that--the end of Oct will be on us that soon???

My eating has been struggling....kind of stupid after all the good eating before the trip & during the trip & after the trip.....it's all just emotional I know. Just want that comfort food so bad!! Decided instead of losing days eating all kinds of stupid stuff to fill that gap I would just make myself some homemade bread & see if I could get myself over it. Made 2 loaves of Oatmeal Bread with wheat germ in it yesterday. Had 1 slice hot out of the oven & then toasted 2 & had them w/my sausage & eggs for dinner. Did the trick (for last nite anyways...LOL) as I was finally satisfied & ate no more the rest of the evening. Today I am taking my ham & cheese to work on 2 slices of the bread. Then my 1oz almonds & diet pop. Tonight is
going to be a stirfry & I'm always fine to not eat it on rice so that will be ok. Just am going to keep plugging along cause we all know that life just keeps happening & we have to live around it. Had to do that with the smoking--admit that there would always be stress times & fun times & I couldn't wait for them to clear out of my path to then quit smoking.

Congrats on the 1/2lb Teresa. Your next days menu sounded good & you were going to get some more exercise in so I'm sure you have gotten another 1/2 off by now! Your Sat routine sounds great! We all need those quiet easy days! Dh & I like to do that with going out to one of the nature centers & walking around. He wanted to do that this Sat but we decided that we shouldn't spend the gas money since we don't have a clue how things are going to go with the job searching. He was so antsy...drove me nuts! Am glad ds is going to be home to occupy him this next weekend LOL!!!

Did you find any good creamy legal desserts yet Teresa? The bakeries here had some for a spell when the Atkins was doing such a booming business a couple years ago. I should check thru my lc cookbooks & see if I find something that I found yummy. A baked pumpkin custard w/Rheddi Whip seems like it should fill that spot for you.

Well must get ready for work. Ya'll have a good day
corrisann

[Teresa3]

Evenin, All--

Glad you had a nice weekend, Corrisann. I think it was a great idea you had to go ahead and make the bread for yourself. You made a very healthy recipe, satisfied your craving, and didn't over eat! That's the point, isn't it?

I also think our bodies always go thru this thing of attempting to put the pounds back on, especially when the weather gets cooler. So we are always fighting and uphill battle.

Re your advice to try to find acceptible treats--I did try just eatint the filling out of a pumpkin tart with a little whipped cream, and that seemed to do the trick without putting weight on. And I do think I'd better order some other lc bars that aren't chocolate, cause I'm growing weary of them.

Well, let's keep hangin in there and think about how great we'll feel in a few months when our dedication will show some rewards!

See you tomorrow, Teresa

[MI CHICK]

Hey Teresa! Seems we are the last ones knocking around in here.... hope your day went well. Got in your 10mn bike rides & maybe a walk at the arboretum?? It is that fall nesting thing that makes us want to eat the comfort food! Warm homemade soup w/a nice chunk of warm homemade bread, yum!!! Are you looking forward to your trip into wine country?? Almost here. Always good to get away for a spell.
Eating was under control today. Made myself wait until my tummy actually growled a bit to eat so that I knew my body had used up the 2 sl of bread I'd had. We'll see when we weigh tomorrow. Have your smaller pair of jeans arrived yet? The pair I put on today were quite a bit looser in the calf....odd, but they were fresh out of the dryer so I knew they were not stretched at all. Our bodies most certainly don't work like machines LOL!!!
How's your menu looking? Trying anything new or getting back to some real favorites to hold your interest? I have some nice tomatoes from my moms garden to enjoy over the next few days. But it will be the last of them for the year, actually only had them this long into the season due to the warmth lasting longer.
Enjoy your evening Teresa! And Kathleen tell those kids you love 'em but need 20 minutes a day to hang with your on line friends cause we sure miss you!!!
corrisann

[Teresa3]

Mmmmm...homemade soup and homemade bread! That would hit the spot! Congrats for keeping your eating under control with that yummy comfort food! Maybe we are learning to actually eat like thin people after all! You are doing really well managing the things you really like, Corrisann, and not going overboard. The permanent goal is to achieve that, so you won't be likely to gain the weight back. Good going, Girl!

I did have another good day. Kind of a boring menu, but at least I stuck to the plan. I took your advice, thank you very much, and ordered some no sugar fruit spreads and some different kinds of lc bars (raspberry and white chocolate). So hopefully I can turn to those instead of bakery desserts! And I did go to the gym today, and made two 10 min. bike rides.

How about you--have you gotten a chance to do any walking or get on your gizelle? Haven't heard much about that lately!

It rained and rained today. I can't believe how wet it's been, so early. I guess it's good because we had a near drought winter last year, but this is unusually early for this frequency of rainy days. I so want sun for our trip to Napa on Sunday!

Kathleen, hope you have been able to stay on program with all your family and job challenges! Miss you, Girl!

See y'all for weigh-in tomorrow! T.

[MI CHICK]

all time high 249 (243)
start date 6/18/07
today's wgt 238
last week's wgt 237
goal 160
5'6" 53yrs old

I am up 1lb BUT I tell you what, I have been thinking about what you said Teresa---how many years has it been since I could have had weeks of stress/vacation/more stress & have hung on like I have????? That is actually more phonomal (sp?) than if I'd lost 10lbs, cause I know I can do that--over & over & over.....LOL!! So maybe we are learning & implementing some new ways into our lives!!
I actually did feel much better when I just sat down with my cup of tea & ate my lovely piece of toast. Whether emotional or physical chemical release into my system I do know that I would have done much worse if I'd just kept doing that pick & bite cheat eating we do. Plus I would have only felt guilty not satisfied & able to move on.
Dh is off to a job interview at Toyota & he has 1 tomorrow morning at 8 at another company. So we shall see--in MI so many very qualified people are available for every single opening a test & interview mean nothing.
Not sure about today's menu. Have to look thru the kitchen. Now that dh is out the door I can do so.
Let me know about the white choc & raspberry--I love both of them!!! I like to make SF raspberry jello. Put in pretty bowls, lay some nice raspberries on top & then spray with Rhedi Whip. Yum! Course it's not the "creamy" you were looking for. For awhile you could get the Rhedi Whip in Choc & it was great on top. It was just a lite cocoa flavor.
Well the dryer is buzzing so I need to get the laundry switched over & shower & get ready for work
corrisann

[Teresa3]

You are quite right, Corrisann--it is a tremendous amount of progress to be able to hang on and not fall right back into the old patterns of completely giving up and going on an all-out binge because we weren't perfect, or were under stress! So congratulations for hanging on and staying in control. Moderation is the true goal!

I am so happy for you that you are having the thing you enjoy the most, in moderation. And we will lose weight if we just eat in moderation, compared to the way we were used to eating--it will just take more patience.

I did pretty well the last couple of days, and got back to where I was and lost a little more. I won't make my 20 lb. loss by this weekend, but I'm hoping to get there by the end of the month. Anything at this point is appreciated!