I think the 4 of us could do some damage in a foreign country!! :D There may have been some Tequila involved in our 3 a.m. golf cart races, as well! lol So much fun! My dad taught me to travel "fearlessly" and now my own kids do the same when they travel... and scare the crap out of me. It's ok when I do it, but when my kids do it, it scares me. When daughter goes to Africa, I'll be a wreck. But, I know that it is now her turn to travel fearlessly as well. (Thanks, Dad! ;))

I've never been to Spain... hmmmm.... :)

April, I was crying as I wrote my message so it touches me that it came through to you. She read the letters, left them on the floor of her computer room and made no comment.

Quinn, like your daughter, mine has trouble expressing emotions; she tends to go inward. And funny but her texts are warmer; it sounds strange to say but they often have an affectionate tone.

I have a terrible temper, a quick tongue, and sometimes very little self control (hello food issues.) But I also have fierce and deep love for my daughter and she knows this. She tells me more than I venture to say many kids tell their Moms and we spend a lot of time together. Sometimes I think maybe we are too close, talk too much. I talk too much.

Anyway, thank you for letting me share this. And for everyone else, sorry for hijacking the thread.

Sounds good to me... Costa Del Sol... red wine... paella...yeah baby

I travelled fearlessly when I was young, wish I could say I encouraged DD to do the same (tho my travel was reckless, hitchhiking cross country, sleeping on beaches with one other girl in Greece; someone (Ma?) must have been watching over me.

You sound like the coolest person ever and I feel your DD is going to be AOK in her travels.

So do you (or does anyone) know a cool place to stay in Key West?

And now for food stuff. I am trying to go low carb. Mern, Cate, I know you guys do the low carb thing so any easy recipes or suggestions would be great. I can't do milk, cream, tomatoes or sucralose. I can do some cheese, and other artificial sweeteners or stevia.

I have to admit I got sick of logging, I got sick of watching myself so I went hog wild. Bad food choices and stress landed me in this flare. The shocks are lessening but now I have painful charley horses in my calves, something I haven't had for years. So now I am logging to plan low carb meals. You play you pay as they say.

A neighbor, one of DD's friends' Dad gave us a ton of cukes and green peppers from his garden (she fed the animals and water the plants while they were on vacay.) So today I scooped out the seeds of a good sized cuke and put in tuna with sugar free mayo, onion, green pepper, curry powder and mustard.

So Quinn, for now that paella is gonna have to be grilled fish and veggies and that red wine is gonna have to be seltzer with lemon.

Aw, Hope, I'm so glad this group gives you a diversion from your stress at times. I loved reading about the lovely adventures you and DH had while traveling. As I mentioned many times before, my daughter's teenage years were just horrible and it's amazing to me how well she came through. The things you are saying to your daughter like:
--belief in her strength and ability to face down what she has to
--that she will succeed
--that you will help her in any way possible
are the things she needs to hear. That unconditional love and her knowing that you are in her corner will make all the difference in the world. I, too, have a quick temper and a sharp tongue, but despite that, even as a teenager, my daughter knew I had unconditional love for her, even though I would not accept her behavior.

Tell me some kinds of foods you enjoy--like one pot meals, certain veggies or meats, etc. and I'll see what I can come up with that's low carb.

Mern, thank you so much. I know DD is a good kid and I hope to see her make positive choices. She has come so far in the past year.

I like: one pot dishes, yes. I eat a lot of fish and chicken, occasional beef. I like most veggies except celery and I will eat that cooked. Love tomatoes but I'm allergic to them and I've been eating them and breaking out in terrible facial rashes. Like I said, some cheese, no milk or cream or yogurt (unless it's sheep or goat) or sour cream. My tummy does not like sucralose so I use stevia and Sweet and Low. Chocolate is bringing on terrible hot flashes so no more of that for a while. I am sweating so much my family is actually getting alarmed. Oh no Mom might drown....

Hope, I'll see what low carb recipes I can find in my files to suggest to you from the criteria you gave me. Meantime, did you catch any of the recipes I put in Cassie's thread in the Food Talk Forum? The recipes I submitted in there would be low carb:

http://www.fitday.com/fitness/forums...sed-foods.html

Do you want me to post the recipes here? Or should we start a low carb recipe thread in the Food Talk forum to keep them together so that others can add their recipes, too?

Hope, what about eggs, mayo (I don't use it anymore, but have some recipes that do), or ranch dressing, which is a really good substitute for mayo in some dishes?

eggs yes, mayo yes, ranch no. i get terrific sf mayo online -Dukes, you can get it down south in stores.

Thanks for sending Casise's thread. Maybe a low carb recipe thread would be good. I don't want to put you to too much trouble tho. I can share some recipes: I have a couple of low carb cookbooks and some ideas. Your chicken in the crockpot sounded good. I have a crockpot I have yet to use. (!)

I'm still off the wagon but I had a huge boost of motivation today. I walked across the street to my friend/neighbors house, as I was walking up he pointed to my gut and told me that I'm getting big. I know I've been getting big but to hear it from someone else, when most people don't say a thing, is a huge eyeopener and motivation for me to try again to get my diet in line.

Hope, I started a low carb thread in the Food Talk forum. These are ones from my collection that have no tomatoes, milk, cream, yogurt, chocolate, or sucralose. As I think of them, I'll add some of my dump and taste dishes that I have in my head. I'd love to get some new low carb ideas myself--so would appreciate anything you could share as well.

http://www.fitday.com/fitness/forums...b-recipes.html

Anyone who has any low carb recipes you would like to add to the above thread, please feel free to do so. :)

Mike, I think your neighbor was kinda rude, but it sounds like you appreciated his honesty. You know what to do and how to do it, and I have every confidence that you WILL. Best wishes on your restart. :)

Hi guys, just a quick check in, I am madly working on my assignment this weekend and might not have a lot of time to post. Back on track and very thank full for all your support. I will try and get a moment to post numbers and goals tomorrow. I really want to answer each of you too.

Most people would think that. I guess I should mention that he's Cuban, maybe they aren't worried about being PC.;) Yes, I did appreciate it. Hell is someone would have told me years ago would would have never gotten to 210+ ;)

Nichaleh, glad you could pop in to say hello even if you don't have a lot of time to spend. Congratulations for being back on track. :)

Mike, glad to know you made allowances for your neighbor friend since he's from a different culture. :) I do understand that it's harder for men to recognize when they're overweight. My DH could stand to lose about 30 lbs. but his doctor never says anything about his losing weight. But I'm really, really obese so I don't feel right about suggesting he go on a weight loss diet when his own doctor didn't. Maybe I should send DH down your way to meet your Cuban friend. LOL

that is so funny

Mern those recipes look off the charts good!! I have been lazy lately but I'm gonna try some when I get back and will report back to you. And tomorrow I will add some. I am beat now; gonna go to sleep.

Mike, I was gonna say this guy is a friend? But then I thought hey maybe he is. Mern, you are so funny. My DH could stand to lose 20-30 lbs too. Maybe we can get Mike's neighbor to start a motivational camp?

Hi Nicaleh, nice to see you.

G'nite all.

here in SC, there is no other mayo!! If someone asks if you want mayo for your sammich/burger it's ALWAYS Duke's! In fact, it's made by Sauer's, which is down the street from the Bi-Lo Warehouse...

Hope, I hope you find at least one you like. It was easy to post them because they were already on my hard drive, so I just had to copy and paste. :) Looking forward to the recipes you can share when you have time. I don't have any food allergies. In recipes that call for wine I usually try to substitute some other liquid. Other than that, I can eat virtually anything low carb. I had to give up mayo because of the fat content and haven't found any low fat versions I like, so I substitute Ranch dressing or ask the recipe donor what I could substitute.

Tori, hi. Up here Hellmann's is the mayo of choice.

Mike, I wonder if Ricky Ricardo ever told Fred Mertz he was overweight. :D

Mike harpooned me on Facebook. Been a little worse for wear & bit off more than I could chew (again, haha) but I'm back! I won't be able to reply frequently because I only get Internet on my phone, but I am here!! <3

And you are a yes for the meet and greet and a "tentative" yes for the race, right?:D

A few simple goals:

1. Get back to H2O and limit coffee. The coffee machine is close to my desk and I am getting really bad at hitting it up instead of the water cooler down the hall. Uh... early in the week was pretty bad, but I really picked up the water toward the end.
2. Focus on whole foods. Mostly yes, but I did have some chocolate brownies my Mom made, and I broke down and had a Coke - it has been months since I had soda, and it was so good! BUT, it can wait months again before I have another...:rolleyes:
3. Get a few really good workouts in (like actually sweat) at the Gym. NO for the week. Plan on heading to the lake today to swim, so that is something!
4. Stay positive!!! Sort of... work is getting really frustrating so it has been tough to stay positive. I have a client that is getting really needy, and is making requests out of contract... lots of time working out budgets with management, which I hate! Otherwise trying to stay positive...
5. Download pix of friends and e-mail before too much time goes by ;-) No.

Holy cow! I have almost no green for the week! So much for making super simple goals... I should have goals like, brush my teeth, make coffee, breathe in and out. :o

This week had just been no fun, except for taking care of my son. He was in swim lessons all week and absolutely loves the water, so it was great to watch him learn to swim! :D But it cut into my gym time and then some, so no workouts this week. My scheduled down day on Thursday (when DH and DS are out of the house) was cut off by my client needing MORE work done, and of course within "a fast but reasonable pace." It is really tough to keep up with lawyers who are stressed out. Sigh...:(

Anyway, it is 2am, and everyone else is asleep, so this is my alone time for the day! Maybe I'll watch more episodes of "Burning Love" for a while, who will Mark pick?

Ama
5’6”, 39yo
2lbs over Goal

Hey Mhibdon, long time no see! At least it feels like it's been a while. How are ya?

Ama, you're here what's what counts. And you didn't do that badly, you'll get back. Glad to hear about your son learning swimming, isn't it cool to watch them gain that skill? I'm afraid to ask: What's Burning Love?

Tori, Mern, it has always been Hellman's here. But Sauers makes sugar free mayo and it's pretty stinkin good.


Mern, recipes to follow. I have two kids sleeping in my living room but I will go get the recipes soon. I should have them on my hard drive; it stinks to be computer illiterate. Maybe that should be a goal when DD leaves: to learn how to do that stuff.

1) 500 words of real writing per day: Yes, No :(
2) Stop obsessing over child/stop writing about her: Yes, No I don't think this is a realistic goal; she's leaving soon and I shouldn't censor my writing
3) Eat less and better (no sugar, tomatoes, dairy, chocolate, if I can manage): 2 sugar free Oreos, BIG YES
4) Stretch every day: Yes, Yes twice
5) Don't be mean: I wasn't mean, I was pointed; I was actually very kind

I lost another pound so I am only up 2 from my lowest recent. It sounds like gambling up 2, down 1, etc. I am really hopeful that diet will help this flare and if I can manage to get some rest I know I can beat this.

Unless you hear from me tonight, you may not hear from me possibly for a few days. I'm going to the Joisey shore with friends. May try to get online to post goals; I'm gonna need em down there. I'm gonna try to plan my meals and keep low carb and not drink even a sip of alcohol.

Can't stay on too long today - major chore day so Dh & I are free to go on a day trip tomorrow. Got pickles to put up, paint the trim around the windows in the living room, Dh is coming home later with a truckload of wood for the stoves, #2 son is having a group of buddies over - just gonna be crazy around here!

Numbers weren't great, and the weight has been stalled for the better part of 10 days:mad: - the calories and exercise aren't the issue, 'cause I've lost 2.5 inches off my waist since the beginning of the month! I have loosened up on the amount of carbs (danged birthday cake and all the fruit in the house!), so that could be slowing things down. Could also be just water retention due to heat & humidity...who knows!?! Just gotta have faith that it will start move again. NSV vs scale...:cool:

Calories: 1,933 Fats: 125.1g Carbs: 96.4g Protein: 119.5g

Will be stopping in later today after the dust settles - hope you all have a great day!

Judi, just reading about your day is exhausting me. Good luck with it all. And the scale will move. You look like you've been doing great; 2.5 inches off your waist -woo hoo.

What is NSV please?

to clarify the 1/2 is on the 24th

and I'm SO in!! I think making the decision to do this half has given me the motivation that I've lost. I have a goal (other than the ultimate one) and a challenge. Part of my problem is that I haven't been challenged. Let's hope I stick with it this time :) OoHhH!! WHN is gonna do the half too! YAY!!

Oh damn I was looking at the date for the 5k. The ride in the race car is on the 24th and it's on a first come first serve basis. :( Oh well.

Oh homeboy you know I'm in for the race!!!! Gonna knock you into the next STATE! Whuddup!

Canary- Life has been eventful! I took on too much (again) and flipped out, but I'm working on finding my balance! About to get hardcore into cycling once I fix my little dehydration issue!! How've you been??

Dream on!

Don't listen to scoffers. You're gonna do it. Some people are just jealous; they can't help it.

I've been OK, plus or minus, to quote my DH. Gained 8 pounds and have lost 6 of em so far. Kinda pissed off cause I had a goal to be 8 pound smaller, not larger. :eek: Oh well. Also trying to commit to the low carb thing to feel better. :D

What litle dehydration issue?

I'll have to suck. That's HS tennis season and we are hardcore. But you can count me in for 2016!

This is my next one: http://www.fireflyrun.com/

You can do it!!

My memory issues that had been slowly simmering since at least 2010 have come out full force to the point of me forgetting where I am, meeting people, and entire conversations. I had slaked off of my regimented lifestyle because I got caught up in other things, and then I realized that I had forgotten to drink anything but Starbucks for a couple weeks. So that was a harsh reality check as to get myself back into working order. I've just started the process of figuring out what is going on to hopefully start treatment before gradschool. But... Yeah, needless to say I'm a bit freaked...

mhibdon, welcome back for however much you are able to post. You have been missed. :) Best wishes on resolving the memory issues. I can certainly relate to not remembering having met someone and forgetting entire conversations. It can be so annoying.

Ama, I'll give you the green. You:
--picked up on the water toward the end of the week
--went months without one before having a soda
--plan on heading to the lake to swim today, which is great exercise
--are trying to stay positive despite all the work on budgets.
Wishing you more ME time and a wonderful weekend.

Hope, kudos on your additional weight loss and all the green. I hope your trip to Joisey gives you some stress relief. Say hello to The Situation for me. LOL If you change your mind and decide to eat some carbs or have some alcohol while there, just allow yourself to ENJOY IT and don't beat yourself up about it afterwards. When we go to Michigan next week, I'm going to eat low carb when possible, but I am not going to deprive myself of liberty to enjoy something off plan. Oops, I always thought Hellmann's mayo was zero carb. I'm happy you found the Sauers that fits your needs better. : No rush on posting the recipes, but I will look forward to your and anyone else adding to our low carb thread.

Judi, best wishes getting your chores done so you can enjoy your day trip with DH. Kudos on losing 2.5 inches off your waist. I always say the numbers on the scale aren't important. What's important is our health and how we look and feel in our clothes. Yep, that scale won't be stuck forever. :)

Hope, you got my mouth watering! I copied to my hard drive all your recipes posted so far--they all sound great to me. Thanks! :D

This isn't the Olymic Summer Games or the Presidential election. What's up with the 4 year gap?

LOL, my son graduates May 2015 and I'll be an empty nester, and can then go wherever I want whenever I want!

Mhibdon, I don't blame you for being freaked but you found the problem and are fixing it.

I want to share this: A while back, I started having panic atttacks, trouble sleeping, jitteriness, etc. not unusual but the level it was getting to was crazy. A doctor diagnosed me as bipolar and was gonna put me on lithium. It just didn't feel right. I am a big believer in diet and alternative approaches so I combed thru my diet and realized I ws drinking large quantities of Starbucks decaf soy latte. I talked to the doctor who told me the epsresso the drink was made with still had caffeine in it and the amount I was drinking was pretty significant. Plus I knew the soy milk had sugar in it. Got rid of the lattes, tuned me around 180 degrees, restored my "sanity," such as it is.

Moral: Starbucks is evil. No, no. Trust yourself. Observe and note and change what needs to be changed.

You can do it! (Hey this can be our motto.)