Mandy's 2008 journey

[Debralynn]

On the bright side, after going off plan, sometimes you see a nice big loss if you do induction!

Sorry you didn't enjoy yourself too much. They were probably all just jealous of what a knockout you were in that dress!

Hugs!

[PalmTreeGal]

161.0

Deb, that did happen last week - after eating poorly over the weekend I dropped a couple pounds. But I doubt I'll be that lucky twice!

[PalmTreeGal]

161.0

My sticks are dark purple but I didn't have the whoosh of water weight that usually follows a cheat. Maybe my body is getting sick of switching in and out of ketosis. Anyone know where I can find one of those "no cheats" tickers?

Going to try and be faithful about recording food here. Yesterday:

B: Egg cream (almond breeze, cocoa, PB, cream, eggs)
L: Boston lettuce with shrimp, avocado, bacon and Caesar
S: Big Train iced mocha mix with cream and Almond Breeze
D: Roast beef, cheese and pickle rollups dipped in mayo, green beans with butter
Exercise: none
Water: 2+ L

[NewYorkGiants32]

What is a "no cheat ticker?"

You had the peanut butter egg cream! Yum-O!!

I had to let mine go for a little bit, you should somehow market those,,,,so good!!

[Livywilltim-mom]

Mandy,

Praying you wake up and find the Whoosh fairy has visited!!

Hugs

[PalmTreeGal]

Yesterday: 161.0
Today: 159.8

Yesterday:

B: Egg cream (coffee, flax borage oil, CO, cocoa, cream, eggs)
L: 1/2 Atkins bar, 0.5 oz macadamias, 2 roast beef/cheese/pickle rollups with SWEET PICKLES dipped in mayo
D: Fage with flaxseed
Water: 1.5L
Exercise: None

Today:

B: Egg cream (coffee, flax borage oil, CO, cocoa, cream, eggs)
L: Alliecat's Cheesy Chicken Bacon Cabbage Casserole
S: Big Train Iced Mocha mix with Almond Breeze
D: Crab cocktail with basil mayo, veal saltiimbocca with spinach (it was BREADED and I only ate about 1/3, long story)
Water: 2+ L
Exercise: 1/2 hr dog walk

I gotta watch the carb creep! Tomorrow will be CLEAN, no off-plan foods like sweetened pickles creeping in.

Jen, I want a ticker in my sig that keeps track of days without cheats, kind of like the pregnancy tickers that count off the days. I don't know where to find one though. As far as the PB egg cream, I am limiting it to a couple days a week, and keeping all nuts to 1 oz daily. I hope I still lose doing that because I love my nuts!

Thanks for the encouragement, Jaimie!

Tomorrow we are going to the local farmer's market for the first time! It opened last weekend but we were away. I really miss CA's variety of organic and local foods, so hopefully tomorrow I can stock up on eggs and veggies, and maybe meat. I wish I was on the berry rung with berries in season! The strawberries at the farmstand (which may or may not be local but look a lot better than the supermarket) looked and smelled like heaven.

[NewYorkGiants32]

What about....ticke factory.com?

[PalmTreeGal]

159.2

B: Fage with ground flax
L: Flax crackers with two dips I found at Whole Foods: Bacon Clam and Crab Artichoke
D: Salad (farmer's market lettuce!) with shrimp, avocado, bacon and Caesar
S: Big Train iced mocha mix with Almond Breeze

Water: 2+ L
Exercise: Staying cool

Wow, I ate a TON of flax! A total of 6 tb. I hope it doesn't, um, block things up. I didn't do very well with veggies. This super hot weather (high 90s today!) makes me grumpy and I don't want to cook.

Jen, thanks for the link, I will check out that site!

Today we went to our first dog obedience class. The dogs were not present for the first class. Hailey is almost 2 and did a puppy obedience class, but she was very young and was petrified of everything, including the instructor and the garbage can. So we went to class today. The teacher used the words "correction" and "pop on the leash" a bunch of times. The assistant used her Lab for a demo and we saw a lot of pulling on the dog's collar to get her to do things. DH and I have done a fair amount of dog classes and neither of us are comfortable with correction-based training. We feel a lot more can be accomplished with positive methods, and we just are not comfortable "forcing" her into behaviors or yanking on her collar. She only weighs 25 pounds and is built like a ballerina! So we told the trainer we were not comfortable and would look for another class. She tried to talk us into staying and told us more about her methods and philosophy, and the more she said the less we liked it.

Then, as we were turning to leave, I went to pet a Saint Bernard who was in a small pen and probably belonged to one of the assistants. The dog lunged at me, barking, and the assistant told me that the dog was human-aggressive and said "One of the things we teach is not to approach strange dogs." As if I was four years old! And why would a trainer bring a human-aggressive dog to a training class? So they can chastise people who touch him? The assistant's tone was SO condescending. I assume that when an experienced dog person beings a dog to class, and doesn't warn that the dog has aggression issues ahead of time, that the dog is okay to pet and interact with! I don't think I was out of line trying to pet the damn dog. Anyway, that was the last straw. I wouldn't be able to work with that assistant's personality anyway, even if I liked their methods.

I probably sound like a crazy dog owner, but you know how it is, your dogs are like your kids. I'm afraid to have kids because it wouldn't be fair to the dogs! (There are other reasons too of course). Anyway, it was disappointing and now I have to find another class. I hope the teacher doesn't give us a hard time about refunding our money.

[PalmTreeGal]

159.0

B: Big Train Iced Mocha mix with Almond Breeze (I am getting addicted to these things, they are sooo nice in the hot weather)
L: Steamed artichoke with semi-homemade aioli
S: Flax crackers with a little of both dips (so addictive!)
Fage with toasted almonds
D: Grilled tilapia, yellow squash with garlic and onions

Water: 2.5 L
Exercise: None

I keep thinking I should start lifting weights and forget about cardio for now. I can't focus on both and from what I hear strength training makes the biggest difference in shaping your body. I don't know what I need to do to actually get doing it though!

[realityjunkee]

Mandy, I went to my local YMCA and hired a personal trainer for a couple of sessions. It was $45 for the first session and $30 each additional. The first session she weighed, measured and talked to me about what my goals were both for weight and fitness. She then developed a personalized weight lifting plan with some spot exercises for abs and glutes. She showed me how to use all the machines. Now I see her once a month to re-measure and look at what I've accomplished. Makes it easy.

[Debralynn]

Hi Mandy! WTG for trusting your instincts and getting out of that class! How dare anyone take an agressive dog of that size out in public. If that wasn't a warning sign, I don't know what is! What kind of trainer can't train their own dog? Hmmph!

Our pets are definitely our babies, and will only learn through kindness, gentleness and mutual respect. You will find the right place for them, and you will know when you do!

Have a great week!

[PalmTreeGal]

159.0

B: Egg cream (almond breeze, almond butter, flax borage oil, eggs, cocoa)
S: 1/2 Atkins bar
L: Leftover tilapia and yellow squash
S: Artichoke with aiolo
D: Pork chops with mustard-dijon sauce, asparagus

Water: 2.5L
Exercise: None

[Livywilltim-mom]

Sweet Mandy!

Love to see that 159 stick

About the dog training...
We have a HUGE chocolate lab. Maggie will be 3 years old this summer. My DH did a wonderful job training her. She follows EVERY command given by ANY of our family...including my youngest who is only 6. We don't need to put her on a leash, she always does what is asked. She goes outside to play with the kids, even all the neighborhood kids, and she is a delight. DH NEVER used any negative means to train her. It was all positive reinforcement with tiny treats and love.

You did a GREAT thing by bailing out. That "trainer" needs a different job IMHO !!

Peace my friend

[PalmTreeGal]

158.8

I ate a LOT today, all LC. I was really hungry, maybe TOM? But I don't usually get any symptoms at all besides really mild cramps, I've been on the pill so long my body's forgotten what a real period is. Anyway, I ate a ton. I'm too tired to write it out now, will do it tomorrow.

[PalmTreeGal]

157.8

Yesterday's food:

B: Egg cream (coffee, cream, eggs, flax borage oil, coconut oil, cocoa)
L: Lettuce, avocado, bacon, shrimp, Caesar dressing
S: Cucumber slices with crab dip, Fage yogurt with almonds, 2 handfuls pumpkin seeds
D: Pork chop with mustard cream sauce, asparagus, spaghetti squash

Water: 2/5 L
Exercise: None

[PalmTreeGal]

158.8

[Debralynn]

Look at you! Between 157-8! Whatever you are doing, it works!

Your menus look simply delish. I need to make some crab dip!

[PalmTreeGal]

I have been SO HUNGRY this week. I was blaming it on TOM but now I think it's because I cut my Cymbalta in half. I meet my new doc this week and I am going to talk to her about getting off it altogether. It makes me have to pee 3 times a night and I suspect it's hindering my weight loss. Never mind the libido issue. However, I have been really sleepy and hungry this week despite getting enough food and rest, and I think it's because my neurotransmitters are confused. Wait till you see what I ate today!

Yesterday:

B: Egg cream (coffee, cocoa, cream, eggs, flax borage oil, coconut oil)
L: Pork chop with mustard cream sauce, spaghetti squash (a LOT, 1.5-2 cups), Atkins bar
D: Omelet with avocado, mozzarella, sour cream
S: Coffee with cream

Today:

B: Egg cream (almond breeze, PB, flax borage oil, cocoa, eggs)
L: Lettuce with shrimp, avocado, bacon, Caesar dressing
S: Big Train iced mocha with almond breeze, pumpkin seeds (at least 1/3-1/2 cup), flax crackers with Boursin, 2 small containers Fage with almonds and blackberries

Now I'm stuffed after eating all that since I got home from work! But part of me still wants to eat. On LC I rarely get binge-y so this is odd.

[PalmTreeGal]

Hi Deb! Yep, the numbers are going down, but so darn slow! I feel like I'll never get there.

The crab dip was good, it was a crab artichoke dip from Whole Foods. Ridiculously expensive. I need to learn to make it myself especially now that I live in MD! Let me know if you find a good recipe.

[PalmTreeGal]

After I posted my menu I ate ANOTHER bowl of Fage with almonds and blackberries. Maybe I should stop keeping frozen berries in the freezer? I keep buying them thinking any day now I'll be able to move to the berry rung. Then I binge on them. I don't seem to binge on Fage without them.

Why am I so hungry/binge-y this week? I can't think of anything but the Cymbalta dosing. I'm not especially stressed, nothing new is happening in my life, I don't usually have this issue from hormonal fluctuations.

I was really, really hungry at work, and my usual filling lunch didn't do it for me. Maybe I should bring more for lunch, so that I don't have to fight hunger all day and then overeat when I get home?

The funny thing is I bet my weight will be down tomorrow, because last time I overdid the blackberries I peed all night and was down the next day! Nothing like a little natural diuretic!

Jaimie, I meant to tell you, I went to watch a different obedience class on Monday and liked it, so signed Hailey up. This trainer is much more positive and I just liked his personality better.

[NewYorkGiants32]

Hi Mandy.....the good thing is at least your "binge food" is healthy!! I still think you are losing very well.

By the way..I think it is so cute you do not want to have kids because it would not be fair to the dogs! Good for you!!

[Livywilltim-mom]

Mandy,

Don't sweat the yogurt and berries...very healthy choices.

I am glad to hear about the new trainer.

KUTGW!!

Hugs

[PalmTreeGal]

159.4

[Debralynn]

Here are the ones I have used. The second is the best one. The first has all legal ingredients. I use the "True Lemon" granules instead of lemon juice. Obviously, fresh crab would taste way better than canned...

Mayo Crab Dip

INGREDIENTS:
1 can (7 1/2 ounces) crab meat, drained and flaked
1 hard cooked egg, chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
PREPARATION:
Combine crab, hard cooked egg, mayonnaise, and remaining ingredients; mix to blend well. Cover and chill crab dip. Makes about 2 cups of crab dip.

************************************************** ***************
Cream Cheese Hot Crab Dip

INGREDIENTS
11 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 small onion, finely chopped
5 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 (6 ounce) cans crabmeat, drained and flaked
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, onion, mayonnaise, crabmeat, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Spread mixture into a 1 quart baking dish.
Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove baked crab dip from the oven, and stir well.

[NewYorkGiants32]

that recipe looks good!!!!