TaDa! The Lifelong Journey!!

[NWLoser]

I think your plans for your talk sound great. Very similar to what I do "twinny". I am from Oregon, LOL! But that is fine, Washington is close. I have a talk tomorrow night and it will be mostly older people. So I will change it a bit but I always take my before clothes and that is always very impressive to them. I look at them and am in awe that I have come that far. I also take enlarged photos of my befores and tell my struggle of yo-yo dieting for most of my life. I have a handout of tips that I have found to help and they are not all necessarily lowcarb but just general tips that I have found. I show them the no-salt seasonings that I think are great. And of course, I wear my sash and crown!

I have got to go and clean up my disastrous kitchen! Have a great day!

[TaDa!]

Oregon!!!!!!!!!!

I am so "challenged" sometimes - I'm sorry, Dianne!!!

Thank you so much!! If I ever meet you in person, I'll have to insist on the sash and gown!!! One other q' Dianne -- do you show your before pix and the clothes at the beginning of your talk as you tell your story or towards the end?

[NWLoser]

I show them first. Then they are listening so intently wondering how this "miracle" happened. LOL!

Yes, if you are ever in Oregon, I insist we get together. I am not sure about the sash but definitely the crown! Last year when I came home with it, I teased our daughter that I was going to wear it all the time.

[crystalgriffon]

Wow Tada! That's so cool!! I know you will change someone's life with your story! =) Have fun presenting!

[TaDa!]

lol! Thanks Crystal!!!!! I hope it's received well ... should be ok!

April 27, 2010
OK bragging on my daughter time! We had to go to the doctor's -- she does not have chicken pox. It is a rare skin thing they believe is a response to a virus and is not contagious ... pityriasis rosea ... she is happy because she can freak her friends out with the weird rash all over her chest and back. the downside -- it could last a minimum of 6 weeks and it is narsty looking!

I am happy because when they weighed her, I asked would they measure her as well and then I went home and calculated her stats ... For anyone interested, you can find a calculator here for children ages 2-20: Weight Percentile and BMI Calculator

I knew she was doing well since she fit into the jeans I mentioned the other day and she had noticed herself and told me how happy she is with her "figure" lol!! So, anyhow, I went to her records and here's the story of her bmi percentile for height to weight ratio:

94% = overweight (by 4 pounds).......................September 2006
91% = overweight (by 2 pounds).......................May 2007
89% = overweight (by 2.5 pounds).......................March 2008
82% = healthy weight (top of the range).......................November 2008
87% = overweight (by 1 pound!).......................May 2009
86% = overweight (by .5 pound!).......................November 2009
77% = healthy weight (under by 3 pounds!!!!!!!! ).......................April 2010

This is a big deal to me, because not only is she under the healthy/overweight line by a better margin of 3 pounds, she suddenly became self-aware that she likes how that looks in her clothes and wants to make sure she stays there ...

We won't rest on our laurels ... she could stand to have a buffer of maybe another pound and since our method is not weightloss but growing into your weight, and allowing for overeating over the holidays and on vacations ... that could take another year, but wow! what a big difference -- happy day!

[NWLoser]

Pauline, that is awesome news about your daughter! You are such a great mom. I am never going to talk about weight with my granddaughter. I hope she never ever starts a diet.

When are you speaking to your group about your weight loss story? I did one last night and it went well. :blush:

[TaDa!]

Thanks Dianne!! I am so happy for her! I just remember all the terrible heartache I had over it when I was a child -- it kept me from sooooo much. It's really sad to think back on it. And next year they start to weight them at school too -- and I am worried about that. Especially as she will likely weigh more than a lot of the other girls anyhow being close to the top of the healthy weight range. and I know from my other (skinny) dd that the girlsall compare weights. I may just talk to little dd about it and send a note so that she is not measured -- tell her that the doctor already measured her -- either that or keep her out of school that day ... hmmmm ....

My talk is in two weeks and now I am starting to get nervous! lol! There are some other big losers in the group and some that never had more than 15-20 to lose .. And as I've probably said, people who meet me now can't even imagine I was big (being as we are petite shorties, probably! lol!) I am sure that would all be old hat to you though! I am great in the written word - it is my thing - but I sometimes get tongue-tied in person!!

I would love to hear about your talk yesterday!!! Did you get good questions? I assume the response was amazing!! I'd love to hear anything you'd be willing to share .... Teach me, Oh Swami!!!!!!!!!!

... And if it is ok with you, I'd like to end my talk mentioning my twin in Oregon who started at the same place and was Queen Runner up last year for her state ....



P

[NWLoser]

Originally Posted by TaDa!

Thanks Dianne!! I am so happy for her! I just remember all the terrible heartache I had over it when I was a child -- it kept me from sooooo much. It's really sad to think back on it. And next year they start to weight them at school too -- and I am worried about that. Especially as she will likely weigh more than a lot of the other girls anyhow being close to the top of the healthy weight range. and I know from my other (skinny) dd that the girlsall compare weights. I may just talk to little dd about it and send a note so that she is not measured -- tell her that the doctor already measured her -- either that or keep her out of school that day ... hmmmm ....

My talk is in two weeks and now I am starting to get nervous! lol! There are some other big losers in the group and some that never had more than 15-20 to lose .. And as I've probably said, people who meet me now can't even imagine I was big (being as we are petite shorties, probably! lol!) I am sure that would all be old hat to you though! I am great in the written word - it is my thing - but I sometimes get tongue-tied in person!!

I would love to hear about your talk yesterday!!! Did you get good questions? I assume the response was amazing!! I'd love to hear anything you'd be willing to share .... Teach me, Oh Swami!!!!!!!!!!

... And if it is ok with you, I'd like to end my talk mentioning my twin in Oregon who started at the same place and was Queen Runner up last year for her state ....



P

I would probably keep her home if there is any possibility of it being a problem. That is JMHO. I guess you will just have to play it by ear next year.

You are so eloquent in writing that I think it probably translates in spoken word too. I am not always great but I just act myself which is pretty silly at times. I can be a real dork! But I think people can relate as I don't go to a talk like I have all of the answers. Even though privately I feel I have "the secret", lowcarb.

Pauline, Of course you can mention me, twinnie.

I get all kinds of questions. One that is often asked is if I have loose skin. LOL! I wouldn't want anyone to see me in a bikini! My stomach is icky and my inner thighs are deflated balloons. But with clothes on, no one can tell. I also have a lot of people tell me that they have problems with sugar and it is like a light bulb comes on at times. I get a lot of questions about exercising.

I start my talk with my diet history over the last 30 years. I was a yo-yo dieter and tried just about everything. Then I show them my clothes and my before photos. That always startles people. After that I talk about joining TOPS and why this time of "dieting" is different. I don't diet any more. I tell them you have to make a lifestyle change. You have to find something that will work for you for the rest of your life. Then yada yada. I also tell them that I made up my mind that there would be no more excuses. I would not let my lupus (I take meds for this), depression (meds), thyroid (meds), age, etc. be an excuse. This usually elicits a lot of responses as these are all excuses I have heard from others as to why they cannot lose. I wind up the talk with a page of tips from me. It is about eating simply, no processed foods; exercise, using ******, etc., measuring foods and so on. After I am all done, I usually have questions about some of the tips. I also always offer any help to people that want it via phone or email. If you want to know more, let me know. I think I have bored you enough!!!

I know your story will be great and I wish I could be there!

[TaDa!]

Thank you for the run-down Dianne! I think I will do something similiar ...

history up to starting,
clothes and pix
why lowcarb "grabbed" me
"food plan" tips and weightloss patterns -- not specifically lc
exercise
behavioral detective work
Mention my TOPS twinnie!
Hand out sheet with books and websites listed

I wish you could be here too!!!!!

Thursday April 29, 2010

I think I have coined a new phrase "mind garbage" ... What I am experiencing now in the midst of my 3 monthly weeks of weight up and down before I get a weightloss. Anyone have a trashcan?

I made a visual for my TOPS talk that includes two weight charts that demonstrate how the ups and downs can translate into real progress. I posted the charts and posted about it here because I see so many people on these boards suffering from the same mind garbage I suffer from ...

Impatience Killed The Cat .. or Why To Stop Obsessing and Tweaking ...

I think it will be very interesting to the TOPS group. A week ago they were asking people to look in their books and find out how their weight compares to last April at the same time. One or two showed good progress, but many were around the same weight or even a pound higher. I think they see the few regular big losers at the meeting and think that those people are eating jello and chicken bouillon and "I can't do that" but it is not true. They are just not detouring at every eating opportunity. At the top of the visual, I put:

Patience + Perseverance = Results

[debbiedo]

Pauline that is all good news about your daughter. I understand the eczema ketatosis thing. Nothing worse then feeling itchy. I have learned to keep the nails short, to use all unscented products.

I am sure you talk will be amazing. You write beautifully. You are an inspiration and I am so glad you are back and writing here again.

[NWLoser]

Pauline, your talk sounds amazing! I wish I could be there. I think the weight chart will be very very inspiring! You go twinnie!!

[TaDa!]

Hey Debbie! Thank you Turns out it is not Chicken Pox but a more rare thing called Pityriasis Rosea. luckily it is mostly on her trunk and neck as the keratosis is on her arms and legs - poor thing. They had the entire staff of the dr's office (big office in Boston, docs with privileges at Children's Hospital) in to see it - no one had seen it except in texts in medical school ... yah lucky us! It is pretty awful looking at this point and apparently will last 6 weeks if it follows the usual course, but is not contagious in itself ... Poor kid showed up in a magenta top this morning and she looked like she was on fire -- I had to delicately suggest she eschew pink until after the rash goes away, lol! The kids have been giving her grief over the rash and there was no point going in looking like a lobster! lol!

Thanks Dianne I am actually annoyed right now being in one of those times when it's been 17 days and I am up 3/4 of a pound, lol! I imagine I will be down maybe 1.5 or 2 soon and it won't matter anymore but I certainly have a love/hate relationship with that chart!

[KSUmom]

TaDa I just wanted to tell you that your pictures are AMAZING!!!! Wow you have lost so much weight and look great! I am so jealous. Seeing pictures like that gives me a lot of inspiration to stick with my goals of getting healthy. BTW thanks for giving me that link to Linda's lo carb recipes. That site is awesome.

[TaDa!]

You are so welcome KSUMom! Thank you for the kind words! Looks like you are doing really well so far yourself! If you can just stick to this and disregard any weight fluctuations, etc ... you will have your own set of amazing pix in no time. Seriously -- I bet a year from now, you will be unrecognizeable -- you can do it too!!! Pauline

[TaDa!]

Friday April 30, 2010

I am considering trying to make a rhubarb crumble using parts of two recipes. One is CarolynF's crumble top from her Cherry Crumble recipe and one is the rhubarb filling from this recipe subbling splenda. My eldest dd is going to be away from dinner tonight so I can serve a dessert with nuts ...

We'll see if I actually get time to do this!

RHUBARB BROWN BETTY
from Cooks.com - Recipe - Rhubarb Brown Betty

4 c. rhubarb, diced
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 c. brown sugar (will sub liquid splenda)

Mix rhubarb and salt. Let stand a half hour; put in shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 5 minutes.

and then will cover it with:

Cherry-Almond Crumble

Originally Posted by CarolynF

This is the Swedish Apple Pie's cousin..delicious..

Cherry-Almond Crumble

one can of SF cherry pie filling

1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup of melted butter or coconut oil or combo
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup Carbquik
1/2 cup almond flour
1 beaten egg
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sweetener


Preheat oven to 325

In a 9 inch pie pan, spread out the SF cherry pie filling

In a bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients. This should resemble a wet crumble
topping..Then plop this on top of the pie filling so it is evenly dispersed.

Bake at 325 for 30 minutes..until the top is done and filling is bubbly..Mine
started to brown a bit,so I placed foil over the top for the last few minutes.

Best served with LC vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

[TaDa!]

Saturday May 1, 2010

OMG!!!! The Rhubarb Crumble was to die for!! and I very nearly binge-ate the leftovers, but managed to keep myself to one tiny portion and will give the rest to little dd and dh after lunch today. CarolynF's topping tasted so much like the traditional crumb topping I make on my famous (high carb) apple pie. It was killer! I am only sad I can't use it regularly due to my nut-allergic dd.

It ended up I only had 3 cups of the rhubarb and I needed 4 cups. I was going to sub apple in which would have totally worked, but I am trying to keep the carbs lower and get to my low low of 128 by the 4th of July when I have a stressful three weeks with relatives that always tests my resolve and I would just feel happier to be there ... anyhow, no apples, lol! So I subbed in a cup of blackberries I had in the fridge.

In the future, I think I would add in 6 cups of rhubarb to fill the pie shell up higher for not that much more in the way of calories. It was so good!! There is another rhubarb recipe I want to try that everyone in the family can eat here: rhubarb recipes??? I will sub something in for the cream as others have mentioned in the thread to bring down the calorie count (and likely use half eggs, half eggbeaters).

I didn't feel like going to the market (yet again!!!) for cream cheese and that's how I ended up making the other dessert, for which I had all the ingredients lol! (that and nut-allergic-dd was going out and wouldn't be around to eat it).

[TaDa!]

Sunday May 2, 2010

This is so annoying, lol! I just feel pms water weight coming on and today is already day 16 of "weight standstill / up three-quarters of a pound" ... The longest one since New years was 18 days but if I am just now getting tom water weight, this one will be longer - ugh it is just so annoying, even though I know I only have to wait it out. My mind starts playing tricks on me .. anyhow <blergh>

I am really wanting to try and make stuffed grape leaves with quinoa! I haven't been able to get a hold of grape leaves yet though -- the middle eastern sections here at the market do not carry the jars! So I am going to just stock up on everything else needed and when I come across the leaves.. mmmm

I did find some interesting recipes for Quinoa over at the whole foods website. I want to try this one at some point, unfortunately vegetarian dd will not eat mushrooms .. she's a pain in the neck! Anyhow, I am posting it here in case it disappears from their site. It is vegan and has tons of great reviews - the one thing to note, it probably will need extra spice from herbs and garlic as some found it a little bland. Apparently various people did substitutes for the veggies, kale for peas, etc and it worked well. Some found it crumbly - but egg could be added for vegetarians:

Quinoa Loaf with Mushrooms and Peas

Serves 8

Welcome spring--or vegetarian guests--to your table with this delicious main-course recipe that is destined to become a favorite for family and feasts alike. For killer veggie burgers, serve any leftover slices on toasted whole wheat buns with lettuce and spicy mustard.
Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing
8 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
3/4 cup rolled oats
2 cups cooked quinoa ( Learn to Cook: Quinoa)
1 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley and/or 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
10 sundried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and chopped
1 cup (about 1 onion) chopped red onion
Method

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8-inch loaf pan with oil; set aside. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, put beans, oats and 1/2 cup water into a food processor and pulse until almost smooth. In a large bowl, combine mushrooms, bean mixture, quinoa, peas, parsley, tomatoes, onion, salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to prepared loaf pan, gently pressing down and mounding it in the middle. Bake until firm and golden brown, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Set aside to let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition

Per serving (about 6oz/172g-wt.): 170 calories (35 from fat), 4g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 200mg sodium, 28g total carbohydrate (6g dietary fiber, 4g sugar), 8g protein

Quinoa Loaf | WholeFoodsMarket.com

[trishthedish]

Pauline - I'm lurking and happy to see you are doing well! ((hugs))

[TaDa!]

{{{{Trish}}}} Thanks for de-lurking to say hi! It is so nice to see you!!!! I think about you from time to time!!! You should come out and jump back in ... most are still here fighting the good (and long and arduous) fight!! Usual bs going on too ... I think it was best said in Ecclesiastes: Nothing new under the sun (they must have been lowcarbers back in biblical times) Pauline

[TaDa!]

Wednesday May 5, 2010

Lol! It seems to happen every year ... the first day I wear shorts to the gym after the winter ... I had two people walk up to me - one of them a trainer - telling me I looked really good The trainer also said my bum was tiny ... which it is not, lol! but I guess it looks better than it did with a few holiday pounds on it, lol!

It was a timely mood-lifter as I am just full of water right now - chest has been very sore - and my weight has been up and down within a 3/4 lb range (down at the moment) for 21 days now! However I also just tried on a dress I bought the beginning of March and what a difference in how it looks now! It is great on me .. yay! I am wondering if I have dropped some poundage just being masked by the water weight ... methinks so!

[NeGA]

Pauline, hope you don't mind if I hack your journal for a question.

I take a 2 hour dance class on Monday nights. I try to eat 2 hours before the class so that I'm good and 'settled' before the class begins. Last Monday night I got very light headed at the very end. It had been just over 4 hours since I had eaten. Now when I did very heavy foods, (animal proteins or dairy) this wasn't a problem as it all stayed with me longer.

Any suggestions has to what I should eat and how to time my workouts around lighter foods... such as fruits and veggies?

Thanks... your journal is now returned....

[TaDa!]

Hey NeGa, I don't think it is the food per se. I almost passed out yesterday morning after my workout and getting home to make lunch. I had eaten 6 hours before ... but this is what I do every single day for years and years with the same intensity of workout (intense!).

And I drink 48 oz of water while working out, same as always. I think with the increased heat and humidity our water balance is getting messed up .. so I had some salt -after I almost fainted - and it was amazing how much better I felt after a few minutes. I was actually able to blow up balloons for dd's science project and did not have any problem.

My advice, at your before-dance meal, eat something salty, drink a good 8 ounces of water before, a good amount of water during, and some after ....

I've just eaten breakfast and might try a little salt water before I go workout this morning .. Much easier to just eat salt with your dinner, lol!

[TaDa!]

Tuesday May 13, 2010

Yikes! I have been very journal-lax lately! I had a really really tough week last week - got through it, had one binge and am over that thankfully!! Between that and 2 dinners out at Indian (where I am pretty sure there is potato in some of the dishes I eat), I had a weight bump-up and some pretty convincing cravings that I got through and back to business!! The weight bump up went right back down so I turtled at TOPS -- and that is unusual, but I am very pleased with it -- bullet dodged and all that!!!

My presentation to my TOPS group on weightloss was on Tuesday .. Man, it is so much harder to talk in front of a group about private things like your weight, with horrible pictures - that you wouldn't let anyone in your life see - placed right next to you. I was so relieved when it was over! I think people were a little shocked. As I may have mentioned before, people who meet me since I lost the weight tell me they cannot even imagine me overweight .. and then if they see my pictures, they flip out.

It is and has been hard getting used to myself as obese was my normal always and those kind of reactions upset me somewhere inside. I hope someone got something from my talk other than the shocking "wasn't she disgusting" factor .. It'll be 2 weeks til I know as I have jury duty next week and will miss my meeting!

Something nice happened last week too. I was working out and thought I recognized an old friend and it was her! She has put on a few pounds and joined a training class to take it off again. Knowing her, she'll have it right off again!! She's a tough go-getting nurse and mom of four! But we arranged to have lunch which we did today and she commented on how well I'd done to keep the weight off, and I thanked her, told her that, like everyone I have been going up and down a little, but she made a point of saying that was nothing compared to where I had been and that I look great right now ..

and she is right! We get so fixated on what our bodies and the scale are and are not doing, we lose sight of the fact that this **is** success ... to struggle some like everyone else, but to be constantly winning the battle. If we were losing, we'd be back up to our high weight (and beyond - in my case, I am sure) ...

Anyhow, pat on the back to everyone here working to fight the good fight ...

[NWLoser]

Originally Posted by TaDa!

Tuesday May 13, 2010
We get so fixated on what our bodies and the scale are and are not doing, we lose sight of the fact that this **is** success ... to struggle some like everyone else, but to be constantly winning the battle. If we were losing, we'd be back up to our high weight (and beyond - in my case, I am sure) ...

Anyhow, pat on the back to everyone here working to fight the good fight ...

I totally agree with this! I get fixated at times with why can't I stay at 109 - huh? Like 1 or 2 lbs. makes a difference. But I agree if I was losing this battle that I would be at a higher weight most likely than when I started as that was my previous pattern. We do need to pat ourselves on the backs for maintaining!

You go girl!!

[TaDa!]

you too Dianne!!!!! I gotta keep reminding myself "Big Picture Big Picture Big Picture!"

[TaDa!]

Saturday May 15, 2010

I went for a run yesterday because I didn't want to go to the gym and knew I'd blow it off even though my gym bag was packed, etc .... hah ha! The joke's on me!!! Same thing happened last time I decided to just go for a nice run instead ... I ran a good time and I am very sore now! lol!!!!

So I finished up the day yesterday and realized I was still hungry ... looked at my stats and realized since I ate a few different things from the norm, my fat level was only at 75 gm!!! So, I ate an oz of macadamias to bring it up to 95 gm and felt perfect. I think fat level is going to be a key for me in maintenance. Currently I eat around 100 gm fat a day (trying to lose a couple of slow-going pounds), but will try to consistently hit 120 gm or higher for maintenance levels and keep carbs in a similar range to where they've been to ensure hunger never comes into the equation when I am eating at home anyhow ..

[TaDa!]

-continued-

So I tried coconut bark for the first time! Made a single serving portion, since I do not like the lack of portionability of making it the way people have been posting it 500+ calories per recipe ... and ... I loved it!!!!!!!!! So I am writing it in here as a keeper!

Coconut Bark

1T Coconut oil
.5 oz macadamia nuts
.5 t cocoa powder
6 drops liquid splenda

melt the oil add splenda, mix well. add cocoa and nuts and mix well. Place in freezer for 10 minutes .. et voila!

225 calories, <2 net carbs, 25 gm fat

[Joycelyn]

Pauline, I LOVE your coconut bark recipe. Thank you. I chopped up my macademias but am wondering if it's even necessary. Do you keep yours whole? (Lazy me...)

Thanks for the recipe.

[TaDa!]

Hey Joycelyn .. it's not my recipe really, I just cut it down to single portion size! I have left the nuts whole out of laziness and like it that way ... but omg! did it with pecans (which I did cut in half) and like it even better, lol!

Such a nice option for me - like having sf chocolate without the sugar alcohols!

[TaDa!]

Saturday May 22, 2010

I have had a very good weekend woe-wise ... went to a local annual town fair last night and was with friends who were eating - fried dough, caramel apples, cotton candy, french fries, etc ... there was a mixup and they bought like 6 fried doughs .. one meant for me .. and sooooooo awkward, but I made excuses and did not eat it despite feeling like a real s*** -- and these were the same folks from the (small) barbeque where I did not touch a morsel of food last week Pleased with my behavior ... sorry I am coming off as a real weirdo ..

Today we drove into Boston to Earthfest at the hatch shell ... had a great time! great bands! and I made a really nice picnic and we did not buy or eat any junk at all ... so it has been a good weekend so far.

The scale will not budge right now ... but I guess I am at healthy bmi anyhow so I am not going to stress it - just keep on doing what I do. Ran out of bars on Thursday and so I started eating other fatty vlc items at breakfast the past few days ... bringing me to about 50 net carbs. There has been no scale action as a result of this, but I am feeling happier hunger-wise, so I think I will keep it up!

I bought some full-fat greek yogurt and have decided I don;t really like it too much, but will eat it the next two days just to finish it up ... I *do* however need to find a replacement breakfast that is fatty and sweet. I did coconut bark one morning but weirdly it made me hungry and made my stomach gurgle, so I guess it is no good for me on an empty stomach! lol! Anyhow, gonna see what else I can find that will work for me ... I like to do 200 calories at breakfast (while losing weight ... when maintaining it is more like 400) ...

*note: already eat a flax muffin a day, nuts, and coconut bark lately so would want something different ... Fussy Gussy!