I never want to go back to 250 either! My goal is to get to 150 which is where I was when I met my husband 13 years. So it has taken me 13 years, 2 kids and quitting smoking to gain 100 pounds. Lets hope it doesnt take that long to get it off lol.

Anyone see Losing it with jillian last night? I thought it was great. I cried and laughed. My husband even cried and hid it from me of course lol.

Mornin' All! :)

Feeling much better today, though still tired. Had a good 3 mile walk this morning, sweat like a pig--wait, pigs don't sweat, that's why they bathe in the mud--sweat like a man I guess LOL!!!

Good job to all of you! You're hanging in and keeping up the fight.

Almeeker, I'm sorry about the elliptical. I need to dig out my treadmill manual and see what I should be doing for "maintenance". I shudder to think how I'll feel when something breaks on it! Sick huh? Like you we have lots of other "stuff" to do, but I feel so GOOD (most days obviously) when I'm done on that thing.

I raise my latte (skinny soy with vanilla) to you all!

What's the "Jillian" show and what channel is it on? Oxygen? Fit TV?

Hey ladies,

How is everyone? I made a plan last night that this morning I would get up and jump rope in the driveway for 30-40 minutes, since it has a similar calorie burn to the elliptical. Guess what? Can't it's absolutely pouring here, which is really too bad since I was so looking forward to it. So I was a bum and did nothing. But I've hired a sitter for the little one this evening so I can get to the gym while our two oldest fishy children are at swim practice. I feel like that workout is a must for today, or I'm going to slide right off the workout bus at lazyland and stay there forever.

My biggest issue right now is that I did something to my shoulder or neck, can't decide which really. It hurts to move at all and I actually have to concentrate in order to move that right arm even, since it's sort of numb and tingling. It feels like a pinched nerve, but I've had it for about 10 days and it seems to almost be getting worse rather than better. I've been drinking my water, and watching my salt intake, hopefully once this front passes it will fade away. I've had this problem before and it generally goes away on it's own.

montanacricket, glad to hear you're feeling better, could you send some feel good mojo my way? I know exactly what you mean about feeling good after you get done on the tread, I believe it's called a "runner's high" (even if you don't actually run). Yes I read up on the elliptical maintenance too, so when I rip it all apart to fix it, I'm greasing it up too. Hopefully that will keep it running well for a while. Argh.

christineval, I'm cracking up that you want to weigh what you did when you met your husband. It's only funny to me because I was already a fat chick when I met mine. I'm hoping to be about 50 lighter than I was the day we met. Hopefully he likes skinny chicks.... I missed Jillian's new show last night, I was just beat and went to bed pretty early. Glad to hear it was good, maybe I'll be able to catch a repeat.

speedy, congrats on the 2 pounds. I went and bought sweet potatoes today. We're having them tonight with bbq chicken. Yummmmm. I like to take the leftovers and make "yam snacks" with them. I make the faux pumpkin pie up, give it a bake, cut it into individual servings and then toss them into the freezer for another day.

jay, you honey are hilarious. I'm having visions of a large woman being dragged by a lease, willy nilly down the sidewalk by Marmaduke while cussing a blue streak and her prosthetic legs flopping and scattering behind her. We used to have a 130 pound Doberman, who thought he was a lap dog, so it's not all that hard for me to imagine. People were so scared of him, but the most danger he ever posed was from the venting of his GI track. Holy moly that dog could stink a whole house up - BAD.

Jaynie - it's called "Losing it" and it's on NBC on Tuesday nights. Last night was the first episode at 10/9 central, but I think it's regular time will be 8/7c. Jillian from Biggest Loser moves in with a family for 5 days and tries to help them makeover their lifestyle. What I liked about it is that it's not just about healthy eating and exercise, she really tried to get to the psychological/family dynamics/emotional issues that lead to unhealthiness. I cried alot - really struck a nerve in a few different ways. Highly recommend it!

Oh, OK. Thanks. I seldom watch network TV as everything is reality today and the rest, well, I won't comment on. But this seems like a good reality show. I never watched the Biggest Loser, except for a couple times. I caught Celebrity Fit about as much. Unless I dvr a show, I can't remember when it is on and where. I will search for it now and dvr it.

Almeeker - Good for you on getting in your workout. Your shoulder/neck issue sounds like a mild case of bursitis, which I got alot in my hips when I was running and now in my shoulder area from carrying my son all the time. It is an inflammation of the bursa sacs, which are little fluid filled sacs that help ball and socket joints (like hips and shoulders) rotate smoothly. When they get overused, they can swell up and cause a pinching/burning/dull ache sort of pain. There are prescription anti-inflammatories for it but now whenever I feel it coming on I take 3 Advil every 6 hours for a few days until the pain subsides.

Where are my Thursday weigh-in buddies?!?

I weighed in this morning expecting to be down just a little since my weekend wasn't the best, but I was down 2 pounds from last week! Woohoo! I've now lost 12.4 pounds in 5 weeks, and I am thrilled! And I was able to put on a pair of black dress pants that I haven't worn in 4-5 months this morning. I really want to thank all you ladies for giving me a wonderful group of women to be accountable to! Raising my coffee with Splenda and sugar free creamer to all of you!

Not weighing this week due to pms/aunt flo, might weigh in this weekend.

I got on the Wii Fit this morning after a 30 minute walk. I want to add the Wii Fit Plus in as a "shake things up" sort of thing. I get bored so easily.

Anyway, I've lost some weight since I used it over the weekend. And my "Wii Fit age" on the body test said I'm 38! Since I'll be 42 next Friday, I'll TAKE that!

I feel like I'm struggling, but I know that's the PMS irritability factor right now. Softball is almost over for my youngest daughter and it'll be a relief to get back to normal life. And summer! :)

One happy thing: This morning I put on a pair of jeans that is brand new that I was never able to get into before!!!! :) Made me feel so happy!

Keep on the changes ladies! You're all doing so well!

Morning everyone
Heres to a great weekend for everyone!! I have a challenge on sunday, dh and I are having company for supper and dh requested I make my baked ziti recipe...(its not low cal at all) so I am going to take a small dish of my own and lessen the cheese and sausage and make it more friendly for me. My biggest challenge will be the garlic bread...i cant stay away from the stuff!! I have to have the will power to throw it away after supper because I love it cold the next day..and have been known to eat it for breakfast!

Scale is starting to move again and Im so happy to see these numbers on it...I can feel the next decade coming!! Hoping by the end of the month to see it! Ive recently upped my protien by adding a sf protein drink wasnt sure how it would taste but i like it. I know I dont eat enough protein during the day and by suppertime Im starving..so after supper I have one of these drinks (and its chocolate) and I wasnt hungry anymore, and still losing. Im treating it like a treat in the evening...

Chris 4 years off your *age* is remarkable!! wow..keep up the great work!!

Erinn where are you??? We need you to come back....I know your struggling with your partner and you need to come here to get things off your chest. I miss your smiling face around here.

Egm I watched Jillians show rebroadcasted last night..its good. I feel shes helping the families more then on biggest loser..trying to get to the core of their emotional eating. The daughter suffers from a common problem for people who reach goal and feel they are still heavy. She needed just as much help. I know alot of people dont like Jillian because of her yelling but sometimes you need someone to be in your face instead of enabling you and telling you everything is going to be ok...

Ok Jay...one of the *rules* here is if you find a really yummy recipe you HAVE to post it...haha...I love new recipes! and to have a low cal macaroni or coleslaw would be great!!

Almeeker Im glad you took time for yourself!!! I can picture you outside skipping away....now if it was me Id scare the neighbours. Made me think of an episode of You are what you eat...a lady was on a small rebounder complaiing how her boobs always got in the way...so her dh got behind her and held them down while she jumped!!! cracked me right up!!! :D

Montana I think its time for me to walk a different route..Im finding Im not sweating as much as I was when I first started walking 3 miles. I need some hills now

Ok Im off for the day now..have a good one everyone!!

I hear ya...I have started adding hills on the treadmill--it goes up to 10% grade--and have bumped my speed. Intervals, really where I'll walk at 3 mph for awhile at 3%, then 3.2 mph at 2%, then 2.5 mph at 4%. It's challenging for sure! Sweat is GOOOOOOD!!!

Hey, what's in your protein drink?

Hey ladies, hoisting my diet Coke is up in the general direction of the screen. The elliptical is still down, but this morning I went out on the porch and rode my 20 year old stationary bike for 35 min. It's not quite the workout that the elliptical is, but I sweat up a storm and had visions of cleaning the porch afterward, so it was good for me in many ways. I think tomorrow morning I might run circles around the house and jump rope, weather permitting.

Patti, I'm totally cracking up about jumping on a rebounder with DH providing support. That would be hilarious and not too effective, since he would probably get right into it and pretty soon his hands would be awandering and so would his other stuff. He's a good husband, but likely a lousy sports bra LOL.... Glad to hear the scale is moving for you again. I hear you on the garlic bread, I love the stuff too and would eat it for breakfast in a hot second. Not too long ago I made soup dunkers with whole wheat low cal tortillas and I put reduced fat mozzarella and garlic salt on them. The soup was Papa al Pomodora, so I needed something Italian-ish to dip in it. You might try that and see if it's a good replacement for the bread? Good luck.

montana, congrats on the 2 pounds and on the end of softball. We're ending soccer here, but swim club just started. YIKES!!! I didn't know we were the same age! Well we're not, YOU'RE OLDER, but not by enough so that too many would notice, I'll be 42 the end of October. Happy Birthday in advance. And may Aunt Flo pack up all her junk and move on very soon.

egmdobbs, congrats on the 2 pounds and on the pants. You're losing it!!! And thanks for the diagnosis. A friend of mine was trying to tell me that I needed to see an expensive chiropractor, but he scares me a little and I don't know that I want him yanking my neck around. Right now the pain is so bad that I'm taking 4 Advil every 3.5-4 hours and I still have moments where the arm is intensely numb. At night I've been taking 2 Alieve, but I don't feel like it's very effective since I'm up most of the night, and wake in the morning with tears in my eyes. I tried to get in to see my doc, but she's out of the office until next week. Argh, I hate the medical profession.

Hey skinny where are you?

speedy, I wanted to make yam snacks, but alas the kiddos ate most of the batch, so there isn't quite enough for a pie. Oh well, maybe next time.

Well, this sucks. My post was lost even though I tried my usual trick of going back to find it and as usual it was a long one. Egb my weigh-in was only .8 lost but at least it wasn't a gain.

Got to leave now after thirty mins of pouring my heart out, lol, only to have it lost. Zoey and I need to go to the bank and vitamin store to get some flax seed oil to keep me regular. I had forgotten about that tidbit. I hadn't taken it for awhile and while doing research for some other health benefits of other foods, was reminded of it. But it works differently than laxative or fiber supplements in that it works slightly on the muscles contracting and your eh, hmm stools stay firm and formed and you don't get the diarrhea effect. Keeps you regular. I don't know why I didn't remember that. But I guess that is more than you needed to know. lol.

Finally going to start losing weight right
 

Hi There,

So I just moved to Texas, and decided that it was time to lose those extra 5, 10 (100) lbs. I realized Im about 50lbs heavier than my fiancee and that worries me.

So, since I dont have a job, I will need to put alot of effort into working out and eating healty, I know Im an emotional eater (mostly a bored eater) and that will be one of my largest hurdles since im not working. When Im busy, I can go all day long without thinking about food which I also know is not healthy.

Long story short, I'm going to have to put a lot of work into this but Ive overcame harder things so I should be able to do this also.

__________________
Starting weight: 281.6 lbs today
Goal weight: 160 - 180 pounds
Goal date: None yet
Weeks on fitday.com: 0

Welcome to the 100 pound thread! When I first met my husband, he outweighed me by 70 pounds. By the time we'd had 3 children and he'd lost weight for health reasons, I outweighed him by 50+ pounds. It happens and never once did I feel like he loved me less for it. Then I found fitday and now I weigh 30 pounds less than he does, whooo hooo hooo! I'm a full time stay at home mom, which is similar to unemployment but much nuttier. If I can do this you can too. A lot of us check in almost daily to cheer each other on and pick each other up on the bad days.

First and foremost I must weigh in (it is Thursday after all)…1.8 lbs this week and boy was that a struggle. Obviously it was Memorial Day weekend…three whole days off is a great way to screw up a girls schedule!

Don’t get me wrong I had a marvelous 3 days spent relaxing with my boyfriend. I was a very happy girl:) A very happy girl who went out to eat four days in a row :eek:and didn’t get the exercise she’s becoming accustomed to! I did get my boyfriend out on one 2 mile walk but it was a slow one. He was very supportive and was right there looking up nutrition facts with me (not that he used them for himself mind you- god forbid LOL) and really didn’t put up a fuss when I wanted to take that walk. The three days of the long weekend were not good food wise but they could have been much worse- I expected as much and was prepared to deal with the consequences so to speak but then Tuesday came around… Tuesday brought with it a text message from a somewhat estranged friend wanting to go out to eat and to a movie when I was done with work. I didn’t want to go. I wanted to get myself back on track. I needed to get in a good walk and to eat the darn lettuce threatening to go bad in my fridge. Unfortunately things have been so rough with this friendship that I felt like I had to go. I ate crap, sat in a movie for hours and started to feel like shit about myself. Tuesday was the straw that broke the camels back and by Wednesday I had a total “I suck at life” attitude- full of self loathing and bad self talk.:mad: Ugh. Wednesday I was determined to eat well no matter what and to put myself through my own version of a “Last Chance Workout” if only to shut up the damn voice in my head calling me a looser and worse! By the time I was heading to bed last night (slightly sore) I was feeling much much better. So as I mentioned it was a struggle this week but I got thru and I even got a negative number deserved or not.

Jaybrodz- I actually type most of my post but especially long ones in a word program and then cut and past them into the fitday response box. I started doing this type of thing years ago when and an old email account used to time out and loose any long e-mails I wrote. Just a thought :)

Janet_r01- Welcome! I only work half days most days so I have from about lunch time on where I’m trying to concentrate on this weight loss journey. I too am a “bored” eater but I’m finding that both the tracking of what I eat here on fitday and bumping up the exercise I’m getting is really helping. My boyfriend weighed himself on my handy-dandy new scale this weekend and proved undeniably that I weigh more then him- I had suspected but there it was in black and white (well black and grey really-it’s a digital scale LOL). I can’t say I was too happy to learn that particular tid-bit! I’m glad you are starting this process and I’m here for ya. We all need a little help and support every now and then- don’t hesitate to ask.

I’m way behind on commenting on peoples posts and I’m going to try to get better about that. Congratulations on all the successes and I’m sorry to hear of any aches and pains whether they are physical or emotional. You all have my water bottle salute- keep up the good work ladies!!!

eeb- aka. Erin Elizabeth Belz

Back in the saddle
 

let me preface this by saying, I have no effing idea what's going on with me...lol.

I am back, after having a week of just blech feelings toward this journey. I did half assed workouts, NEVER CHEATED ON FOODS (THANK GOD), but was drinking only 100 ounces of water... not blogging, not checking in here and logging like I should be. So, yea... I lost A LOT OF MOTIVATION. I just came back from a pretty decent workout, and I just felt like I was missing something, then I realized: I AM MISSING MY SUPPORT SYSTEM! So, I am re-committing to you guys. I say over and over how much I need you all, I guess I just got busy and lost track of that fact.

Thursdays are weigh-ins.... I AM NOW IN THE 250's!!! Ok, so barely, but I am so friggin' there. Lost 4 pounds this week, so I am back in the saddle. I think I miscalculated for Aunt Flo's visit, so I took my week's worth of PMS meds last week (I take them the week before), but I feel PMS'y today. I look at my body and just see a lot of fat... a sure sign Aunt Flo's train is pulling into the station.

I need to plan more carefully for food and whatnot. For some dumb reason I didn't get around to do "big shopping" this month, so I have been going every other day - expensive, time consuming and it means that I wake up and don't have the foods I need to keep up the program - I plan on doing the shopping this weekend and really stocking up. I also haven't even gotten around to checking my mail in like - 2 weeks!! Um, yea... I need to get back to reality.

I even started smoking again, it's so hard when all my friends and my SO do it, but I am re-committing here AGAIN. Starting tomorrow, I am smoke free. I had so much more energy and stamina. Plus, I wasn't so self-conscious of my breath. Blech.

Gonna go blog... missed you guys, I'll be back tomorrow now that I realize what life without FD looks like... *shudders*

Ugh, now why didn't I think of that Erin. I did that all last year for the classes that I was taking online. I think I may have early onset Alzheimer's and before you go whining about how I shouldn't joke about that, my mom had dementia for about five years before she passed. I mean I just don't remember things that I learned like I used to be able to do.

Welcome, Janet, and congrats for making that move--both of them--the move to Texas and to Fitday. You sound a little down on yourself, though, and as you iterated the not working outside the home probably does bother you. Well you didn't say it bothered you, but you are more active and apt not to think about food when you are, but I would also add, the former is probably true too. By the way, I am known as the one who speaks a lot, lol

Well, I am switching things up ladies. We talk a lot about calories and I am not totally abandoning them. Last week, I didn't keep a food journal. I was over each day but I ate "good" food that tasted good for me and my house is full of veggies and fruit, well not so much fruit because I only like apples, oranges, grapes and a bannana maybe once a year and that has to be near green. If it has a spot on it, forget it. I bought a lot of frozen fruit and I have can fruit, low sugar ice cream and my freezer is full and so is the rest of my pantry. Why am I saying all of this, it is because in the past when I went on an eating program as so many of the professionals tell us, I hadn't done that I now have pre-made low cal snacks in the house but I do keep fast packaged ones too, like lean pockets and the like. Again, I digressed, and didn't get to the why of it. I happened to be surfing the net today and received an email from another weight loss sight and it led to something else which led me to IE or intuitive eating and that seems to be what I first mentioned when I joined. I wanted to get back to eating like I used to eat when I was younger and in the army. It worked somewhat last week; although, I only lost .8lbs, but my guilt factor was nill. I didn't pig out on anything. I observed portions. It's just that I ate in the evening and nights. That is something I have to work on this week. I am not totally abandoning calories, because let's face it, they are practically ingrained in my head. I did it today and I feel no remorse. I think that I have eaten about 1600 cals and if the weight comes off slower than so be it. Probably to maintain the weight that I am trying to get to, at my age and activity level than the most I will ever be able to eat will be around 1800. Two thousand would definitely be stretching it.

In other words I am trying to set up eating habits that I can maintain for life and have been doing a lot of research on the health benefits of certain foods. Colon cancer runs rampid in my family. My father's mom and aunt died from it. He did, as well as two of his brothers. So that is the reason for the change in my strategy. Plus I just can't get the "My Pyramid" in, as it is called now, while trying to consume 1200 cals.

One thing, I am not going to not do is exercise. I will be so glad when I can. I am going to use my ab rocket tomorrow, since I can't walk for now for long periods of time. I took the Web MD test a couple years ago and it said I was much older than I am now. I want to at least get it down to my age.

Janet, as you can see I am long winded. Just for your edification, there is only my sister and I left in my family. I have grown children and a few friends from the military, but I feel most comfortable talking about weight issues here.

oooh, I love the ab rocket! I was reading a sports med web site that ranked that as #10 of top 10 ab workouts! Way to go Jaynie! You're uh-mazing. :D

Um, HELLO!? Ex-squeeze me!? Weren't you the one who told me I deserved to have a good time and be young a couple weeks ago when I had my set back? From the sound of it, your BF doesn't get to see you very often - so next time, just impress him with your studly priorities, this time... you got you enjoy you some man. Meh. Just like Scarlett, you too will live to fight another day - just like you said you didn't do as badly as you could have. Love yourself! (You reserve the right to TOTALLY throw this in my face when I do the same thing in the probable near future).

Welcome, welcome, WELCOME!!!!! So glad to see our ranks growing! You will get so much encouragement here, it's unreal. Don't be afraid to ask questions, once you start losing, you LOVE explaining how you did it. :D I am so looking forward to rocking this journey with you, and seeing that weight melt away.

Skinny - Glad to have you back! We all understand having icky weeks, but that's why we're here! Everytime you feel like sucking on a cancer stick, just log on here - we got your back!

Janet - Welcome! I love this group and have gotten alot of positive encouragement and helpful tips. I also weigh more than hubby, and he's extremely fit and muscular and walks around with his shirt off all the time. It plays tricks with your head because you start saying things to yourself like "he deserves someone thinner/prettier/sexier", and sometimes I put those words into his mouth when that's not how he truly feels. Oh, the psychology that goes along with being overweight.... :(

I have had an incredible sweet tooth for days now, and Aunt Flo isn't scheduled for a trip for another 2 weeks! I don't know why but all I want is a Dairy Queen Blizzard. I will go on ignoring that evil little ice cream demon inside me, mainly because I am so close I can smell the next decade and no delicious soft serve serpent is going to screw that up! Pray that I can continue this pattern all weekend!

Hey all!!!

Jaybrodz, I think that's a good plan long term. For now I'm watching the calories closely because I think that I lost track before I started this, on what a portion was, and what a "balanced" meal looked like. I'm using this as a training tool, but hope to someday be able to ditch it at least most of the time.

Congrats to all you "losers" :p I'm not weighing til aunt flo shows because I'm retaining fluids so bad.

Remember last week when I was hurting so bad??? WEll I talked to my mom this morning and now SHE's hurting. I think that we both had a virus...:eek:

Now I have my husband's lovely sore throat and cold. :( So I slept in this morning. I'm so dang tired with it that I fell asleep reading last night. When I need sleep, I need sleep!!!

So let's all have a great weekend! I'm going to get housework and laundry done and since hubby has national guard drill this weekend, it's "teach the kids to cook" weekend. WE're going to learn to make something new, just not sure what yet. :)

Happy weekend to all!

Egm, if you have a bullet, first mix some skim milk with splenda to taste and an extract of choice. Make it a little strong and freeze it in ice cube trays. Then put it in a bullet and add more skim milk and allow to blend more than the usual ten seconds so it is of blizzard thickness. If you use almond or vanilla extract or such, add just a few chocolate chips and stir with your spoon. I do this with fruit and it makes a good blizzard. I just didn't know what to call it. I was calling it a sorbet but it is not quite as thick as one. I am going to section some oranges and halved sections to make an orange one tomorrow. I used to like the vanilla popsicles with the orange sherbet outside. You ladies are probably too young to know what they are.

Cricket, I think it is wonderful that you are teaching your children to cook. My kids were active in the kitchen and when they were around twelve or thirteen, each was responsible for at least one meal a week. I had these terribly overly expensive menu cards where you pay too much for the pictures and they had to choose from them. It gave us a chance to catch a break with both of us being in the army and the whole family a chance to try something so out of the ordinary. I think that they enjoyed it all cook very well. One really excels and has surpassed me and like me, he rarely uses a recipe.

Low Cal Pork Stew (Best if made a day ahead to thicken and allow the flavors to seep in.)

1lb and a half of pork stew meat with fat trimmed and cut to soup size so it is evenly spread out in each spoonful

One each red, yellow, green and orange pepper cut to one inch by half inch pieces.

Two onions of choice, large, cut to about the same size

Small bag of baby carrots.

Two medium to large sweet potatoes, so that when cut is the same amount as carrots--leave skin on and cut to inch size pieces

Six or seven pressed garlic cloves or to taste

One carton of Swansons chicken broth and another can or carton available in case you have to add more to stew (Note: Freeze what is left over in ice cube trays for next time you need it.)

One can of diced tomatoes (I used a can that had olive oil and garlic in it because that is all I had. I am a cook with what I have person.)

Three T of extra virgin olive oil

About two T of dried oregano

Seasoning salt and pepper to taste

Sautee garlic. Put as much in as you like. Add meat and brown and add some of the salt and pepper to season it. If you have a bullet or processor or blender fill it with a bullet size amount of carrots and s. potatoes. Add broth to the fill line of the bullet which equals a cup of all ingredients if you don't have a bullet. Grind. This will be your thickener for the stew.

After browning the meat, toss in the peppers and onion. Add the broth to cook down and cover. When cooked down some to where you can add everything else, do so. Allow to boil and turn down to simmer. Stir and taste, you might want to add more seasoning. Check the liquid level a couple times and it is done in about twenty to thirty mins. If you want a thicker stew the first day, grind more vegetables that were not to be included in the dish and add after original cooking time, simmer some more until desired thickness but remember this will add a few more cals. My recipe is about 300 cals for a nice size bowl.

I thought about next time adding cabbage and was going to add green beans but that is the way that I make all my stews--with green beans and I wanted something different this time. You guys had talked so much about s. potatoes that I had to try it and a word of caution, try at your own risk; this one came straight from my head and not a recipe.

Weirdness
 

I have been so tired lately, achy all over, can't concentrate, floaters in my eyes make it hard to see. My throat is messed up, glands swollen... dizzy, lightheaded...and just blech.

Now on that score you would be wrong, not that I would ever admit to the whole of it ;).... Actually you can still buy those popsicles, my 6 year old LOVES them, only now they come in a box with raspberry and grape flavored creamsicles. When I was a kid it was orange or nothing... I've been telling my kids about the good ol' days lately. You should have seen there faces when I talked about PAY PHONES!!! Very very funny that. So then my 8 year old pipes up with "Well no wonder Superman isn't real anymore, there aren't any pay phone booths for him to change in". Leave it to her to put that together.

egmdobbs, I'm with you today, can't stop eating or wanting to eat to save my life, 1/2 way to Aunt Flo as well (I suppose it could be ovulation?). I'm already over budget for the day and we haven't even had our afternoon snack yet. And if I know hubby (and believe me I do) he'll want to go out to eat tonight. So if I have any prayer of salvaging this day I'm going to have to make a plan for dinner right now!!! Well golly, what can I make that has 37 calories, zero fat, 18 grams of protein, very tasty and is very satisfying????? Ummmm..... NOTHING!!! Tomorrow won't be any better, our 6 year old is turning 7, so we're having a slumber party with pizza, s'mores, birthday cake etc etc etc. Maybe the parts for the elliptical will arrive on Monday and I can jump back on the wagon with some gusto.

jay honey, how many people you feeding with that pot of soup? Good grief I don't think even my stock pot would hold all that. It sounds good, and there's pork in the freezer, but it's been too hot around here to consider stew, I'll have to print that one off and wait until we either get some rain or some autumn. Hopefully by autumn I'll have so many sweet potatoes I'll be looking for recipes to make with them. Fingers crossed.

cricket, I've been teaching my kids to cook too! I taught our 8 year old how to brown ground beef (or turkey) and boil water and then I taught her how to make things from there, like sloppy joes, spaghetti, beef stroganoff, chili, etc etc. Now she thinks she's a genius. Danger follows our 6 year old like that cloud over Pigpen, so we keep her back from open flame, but she's very good at baking and assembling things like salads and sandwiches. You might want to check out the food network website, Paula Dean recipes have been a big hit with my girls. They are easy and usually turn out pretty well regardless of actual culinary skill, big thumbs up for her "ultimate coffee cake" (which is now our 6 year old's specialty). Rachel Ray also has a whole cookbook of kid recipes, my kids LOVE her honey nut chicken sticks - although we cut some of the spices in half on her recipes. I also taught them how to grill (use your best fake French accent here) Carton a' Papier. Which is the name of a French cookbook completely dedicated to the art of tin foil dinners. It's really fun and the kids love it. Completely off topic, but I usually call it a night after I drop the book I'm reading smack down on my face.

eeb, you silly woman, vacations are necessary they break up the monotony of life, we even need to take the occasional vacay from the diet. It's okay, it's human and to quote a few folks on this forum "a zig up the calorie scale can supercharge your metabolism for a good drop". Besides if you were already perfect, just based on simple principle, we fat girls would have to hate you....

skinny, glad you're back. I was a little worried that you had it out with the SO and somebody pulled the plug on the computer. I hear you on the shopping thing. This past winter I signed DH and I up for a "Biggest Loser Couples" thing a friend of mine organized. So the first day of the competition arrives, I email in our combined weight and then I realized that the healthiest, low-cal breakfast option I had in the entire house was a 2-pack of pink frosted poptarts - with sprinkles... I can't do this with a monthly big shop, I've been going every other week for a big shop and once a week for fresh produce.

Well I gotta go the kids are groaning about being hungry.

Superman was too funny. Did I forget to mention it serves about twelve. I freeze everything in two serving containers in the deep freezer. A large pot will do, though. When my son was in third grade he had to write about what it was like for his parents and he said that we cooked over a hearth (sp?). I died rolling. I had to school him that yes there were microwaves that came out when I was about 17. We had electric and dishwashers. It is amazing how many things have come about in just his lifetime; he will be 29. All we had besides outside play, board games and later pong or whatever it was called, was good old reading and other hobbies. I kind of wish kids would get back to that. Then they wouldn't be so boooooooooooored as they say and would learn to enhance things with their imaginations. Even my sons, finally, say they are getting too old for gaming. When did it become a sport????

BTW, here in WA, it doesn't know it is almost summer yet. This morning when I went to the commissary it was raining and about 55, so we are still getting the cool weather which is typical for here, but not this chilly. That's why I was thinking stew, but I can eat stew or soup anytime. When I was little there used to be a 4:00 movie that used to come on and I thought the movies were old movies--from the forties. Anyhow, when it rained, we would have soup and P$J sandwiches and watch the movie. Back on the train of thought of kids, I used to do a lot with my parents. I would watch TV with them, even though I had a TV in my room. We would go bowling on almost every weekend, to the drive-in, to amusement parks, etc, but then again, my mother was able to stop working when I was about four and that is often not a possibility these days. I couldn't do it. My eldest child (son) told me he didn't think that both parents should work and he is in the position that he can do that and get this, he is an X-ray tech and only works straight thru Friday thru Sunday. She quit her part-time job and is attempting to start a medical billing business from home. They aren't hurting, but can't splurge as they want to come up here, but can't fit it in the budget right now.

When I was little I didn't hear over and over about how my parents used to have to walk miles to school but my father wasn't allowed to go to the school that was nearest to him. My fourth grade teacher was one of his teachers. I think that sharing about your childhood, as a parent, as long as it isn't on and on, is worthwhile. It lets them know when they are old enough, why, in some cases you react the way you do. Why is it necessary to text while driving, in the case of my kids, when texting wasn't even around when they got their licenses at 16. Did they miss an important message then?

Anyway, I am going on again. Don't even remember how I started--oh Superman, still ha, ha. If it seems I go on about my kids, it's just because they are older and besides them and school, "ain't" much going on around here. Going to make a fake muschoo (sp?) pork tonight. I bought a hawaiin marinade--I know a lot of fructose and it was listed first, but I don't like the plum sauce they use. I have left over cabbage and I bought some small tortillas and will eat about two with mostly cabbage and see how that goes over with the old taste buds and satisfaction level. One good thing about all of this is that I am back, after years, in the mood to cook and am actually trying different things like I used to do with the kids and the hubby that you all talk about so much of the time and I don't mean that in a bad way. Wish I had one, but I am too stuck in my ways, but I was reading my Essence the other day and there was an article in there about his faults, but you have yours too. I know I am waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to stuck in my ways and if he didn't like pets or the fact that I am celibate by choice and through religion, well how far is it going anyway. TMI again, lol.

woo hoo for 2 pounds :)
 

had a rough week with work and missed posting and even loggin in for the last couple of days, after 11 hours on the computer at work, didn't want to look at another screen lol. we didn't even get to walk at work this week, between the rain and work load, but we all resolved to make the time today so feel better about that going into the weekend. one good thing, was to busy to eat so calories have been way under for the past three days, but what I did eat was healthy, (lots of fruit, yogurt and cottage cheese) and with a healthy weekend last week was off to a good start - can almost see the next decade, so that makes me doubly motivated.

congrats to all the other "losers" lol and thanks for all the receipes. I think it's great to teach your children to cook, my mom used to encourage me and love to cook and try new things. I think kids will eat more of a variety if the help to pick it out or prepare it.

skinny- so great to see you back- I feel so much better when I'm logging and coming here for support.

so emotionally, the ex has called again and don't know if I can go down that road again, but still love him and want my old life back - lol , but with the new me in it - determined no matter what happens will not ever go back to hiding in that fat girl. !!! I feel to good about myself now and the energy I have is amazing to me. I still get awed that I'm not sacked out on the couch tired and out of breath walking down the hall. now I have so much energy, I have to exercise just to release it lol

hope everyone has a great weekend

There was a new young lady on here that wanted sites to go to other than this one and I said it was sparkle.com. The correct name is sparkpeople.com. Duh, I just tried to go to it. I have a page on there and I wanted to check it after a three year laps. Has it really been that long?

Speedy - Sorry about your rough day - I definitely know the feeling since my job revolves around the computer mainly. In fact, you ladies are what usually keeps me sane at work by taking mental breaks to check in!

Jaynie - Your pork stew sounds really good. I make a good buffalo stew and chicken stew, but I'm always looking for ways to shake it up a bit. I think I may need to invest in one of those magic bullets. I've watched the infomercials for years and thought that if I could be sure it worked like it did, it would be a good investment. I take it you like yours?

Montana and Almeeker - Kudos to both of you for teaching your kids how to cook. Even though mine is only 16 months old, I'm trying to introduce him to healthy foods and encourage him to try new things. Sometimes more successful than others. But daycare almost always derails my best laid plans. The ladies that run his daycare are both over 350 pounds and make biscuits and gravy, chicken fried steak, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, full fat mac and cheese and pizza for the kids, not to mention they sit and snack on chips and let all the kids beg for them like dogs. Really upsets me and I've left instructions regarding the food he eats, but to no avail when of course he wants what all the other kids have. I would switch daycares, but we had a hard enough time finding this place (which is awesome in every other aspect) that fit within our budget and is within a mile of our house. But I digress...I hope the time he spends at home will be enough to teach him to make healthy choices.

Well, I gave in...a little. I was out at Sam's Club and they had soft serve ice cream cups for 97 cents as I was walking out. I got a small one, probably about a cup of soft serve. It satisfied my need for ice cream. Plus, I didn't eat anything at the graduation party tonight, so my super low calorie dinner at home makes up for the little splurge. Still at 1600 cals. And I'm feeling really good tonight because today was our first day of summer hours at work - we get off at 1 p.m. on Fridays if we take 1/2 hour lunches all week. So I got all my grocery shopping done and got a haircut...something I hadn't done in a year!

Look for the new 100 plus thread for June....this one is getting too long :)

My stuff was packed up in a spare room while the construction is going on. I had never opened it, but my sister always raved about it, so I said what the heck. I had read a few bad reviews about it breaking after about six months, but if mine does and I can't get the parts because I have no idea where the receipt is, I will buy a new one. I love it and I have a blender, but it is just the right size for my being the only one. Haven't broken out the whole thing--just the basics.

I only have used it for soft sorbets as I don't like my omelettes mixed altogether, to me that is a flat scrabbled egg with stuff intermixed in it. I imagine it would be good for the other stuff that they make from leftovers and the salsa, if you like, fresh salsa, which I don't. My daughter made some and yuck. My taste buds have been ruined by the jar kind and fresh cilantro, yuck! But I too digress. I would definitely suggest one but try to get it from the TV. I got mine from BBandB and caught a sale but I think you might get more on TV.

Correction to Pork Stew recipe. Add one half to one T of oregano, not 2 T.

Sorry about that.

Ok so now I have decided that I will try to follow Weight Watchers faithfully including TRACKING my food which is what I find is the toughest part for me.

I will keep you posted. I will start weighting myself every Thursday to with you guys if that is ok.

I was on Weight Watchers for 16 weeks and only lost 2 pounds even with woringout everyday at lunch. The problem is I was not Tracking my food and I am starting to think that I was not eatting enough for the amount I am exercising.

Channel 9 at 10pm tuesday nights

Thanks, Christine. A long time ago when I was a child--I was 5'6" in the sixth grade and weighed one sixty--our mom went on Weight Watchers and I lost thirty pounds in six weeks and reached the goal that she had set for me. After that it was healthful cooking in our house only. It wasn't that bad before, as my mom didn't fry foods at all. But weight watchers was more restrictive then. I couldn't do it now, well I could, but I would have to remember that I just can't have candy and sweets in the house. Those are my downfall. I can keep a bag of chips for a month and dole out an exact ounce with a sandwich and other salty foods the same way. I used to be bad with them too. Perhaps it will change with the sweets too. When my kids were smaller, eating them was not a question because I always made sure the kids had the opportunity to have some type of junk food in the house and I worked such long hours that even if I did over indulge a little, it didn't affect me.

For me, I like a more restrictive diet, such as mypyramid. It's like having mom back telling exactly what to eat and it even says how much extras you are allowed within the total caloric limit, should you decided to indulge in an occasional candy bar or small bag of chips or a cookie or whatever. I personally stay away from that for now because I know I can't control myself and I live alone so there is no one for whom to have that stuff here.

I knoiw people are probably tired of my harping on that site but there is a great meal planner on there also with a copy tab, so you don't have to input it in daily. I eat the same breakfast everyday, so that saves time. I've gotten it down to about a half hour a day and maybe a couple hours while I plan all the meals for a week and yoiu can always tweak it if you change a meal or go out or something. And, you can use it in conjuction with Weight Watchers. mypyramid.com