New You - January 10, 2005 WEEK TWO!

Staying with-in my points...more later!

Blessings,
Lenora
"Well behaved women rarely make history."
~Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

I had a girlfriend come over today...she found the cutest outfit...she said, "Anne, I saw this and it said, buy me for Anne, so I did, it's capri's so you can't wear it for a while, but it is soooooooo you!" I have never had anyone do this. Isn't it sweet, she is a great friend.
It is the most adorable outfit. Bright pink capri's, with over shirt and white under tank top, all with sparkly flowers that go together with bright yellows, greens and matching pink! I love it.
It is too small! I almost cried! It is pre-hysterectomy size. I haven't exercised in over 3 months...my water drinking has lapsed. I am gonna wear this outfit for my DH's birthday in June. I can do this...and I will be good! I will post a picture of me in it...I'll do a before and after in it!!
AnneP.
A child enters your home and makes so much noise you can hardly stand it--then departs, leaving the house so quiet you think you'll go mad. -Dr. J.A. Holmes

You said that very sweetly.
I can put the outfit on, but it would not be very cute. It is a bit snug. That is why I am giving myself almost 6 months. My doctor has cleared me for hiking/walking, but I know my body, and I will not push myself. Relapse with this is not pretty. I can only do so much, but I refuse to "diet" without exercise.
We watch our portions, and move.
Another girlfriend and I are interested in Weight Watchers...we haven't gone yet.
But..
Today...my goals
Drink 2 bottles of water.
Walk 20 minutes at foothills
Portion control!

AnneP.
A child enters your home and makes so much noise you can hardly stand it--then departs, leaving the house so quiet you think you'll go mad. -Dr. J.A. Holmes

I have absolutely no self-control with favorite foods. I'm horrible with leftover portions and rarely make enough to have a second meal for that very reason: when time for the second meal...the leftovers are gone!!!!

I have to buy snack foods that I don't like in order to be able to resist eating too much. The one blessing, though, to being a picky eater is that I am NEVER tempted to munch on something I don't really like just because it's in the house. When I buy snacks/treats (not often) I just choose something I don't like! Temptation gone! I can walk by a plate of chocolate chip cookies all day long and not touch it...but put a plate of peanutbutter cookies out and you'd better watch your fingers or I might accidentally nip one if it gets in my way!

Tomorrow is my weekly weigh-in. I've resisted getting on the scale here at home for a couple of reasons: 1.) It's "fat-and-cranky week" for me, and 2.) I've just about quit smoking and fear that any upward movement on the scale will either have me chain smoking or eating my way through the nearest Mini-Mart's candy aisle.

Anne, I've got my first "target" outfit hanging where I see it every day! (A red Valentine's Day Dres.)...and yes...I do intend to actually WEAR it...(as opposed to not wearing it )

Have a great Tuesday, friends!

Blessings,
Lenora
"Well behaved women rarely make history."
~Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

So Far!

I have been eating well thanks to the handy and available fruits and veggies I bought, cut, and bagged.

Not great on the water......OK, I just refilled my bottle (32oz)

I also planned and prepped dinners for this week which is so important for me. If I have to wait too long and get really hungry, I will really overeat very unhealthy things.

I got on the scale yesterday and have lost 4 pounds, which I know part of is water weight, but it still feels really good.

No exercise, knee still too sore to even walk on the treadmill. I did do a really deep, long stretch yesterday and today though.

Bye!
-Jo

We have a lovely paved walking area, in the foothills of our little town...It is 1 1/2 miles of up and down trail in a large circle. The girls took their scooters and laughed all the way...we go at 10am, then the "serious" walkers are all gone, and my dog can run free after the numerous rabbits.
I am working hard on my water. Still on first bottle. But, had two cups of chai, with girlfriend that popped in on her walk!
AnneP.
A child enters your home and makes so much noise you can hardly stand it--then departs, leaving the house so quiet you think you'll go mad. -Dr. J.A. Holmes

DH lost 5# last week, and I lost 2# (total now of 4# in 2 weeks). I must remember that this is not a competition. He has greater muscle mass and more weight, so his weight loss will be quicker. (Not fair )

I have been pretty good with sticking to my 1400 calories and I made it to the YMCA 4 days last week, worked out at the hotel over the weekend and back to the Y yesterday. I even worked in 1/4 of a dessert at Ruby Tuesday for my birthday lunch.

I'm still having trouble drinking enough water. But, I'm sure this too will come with time and planning.

Speaking of planning, I am trying out a new software called Living Cookbook (www.livingcookbook.com). You can use it 25 times for free. I wanted a cookbook analysis software for my birthday. It allows you to enter your own recipes, plan meals, track your pantry, freezer, refigerator items, compile grocery lists, calculate cost of meals and nutritional analysis and also points for the Weight Watchers. It's a little difficult at first but I think it's going to be great. I've planned 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 35 dinners on paper. Now to enter it in the software and make it balance for my calorie level and keep up the fiber and down the fat.

Congratulations to all the success this week.
Susan

I drank my water! Yeah me..
heck Kerri-4 sizes! Yikes! I gotta eat!?!
AnneP.

Morning all .

I don't think I have any sexy clothes that I could squeeze into by Valentines Day. I know the experts say that we should have lovely clothing that makes us feel sexy regardless of what size we are. BUT....really....I just can't seem to make that happen. I have trouble buying utility clothes that I feel good about, let alone a siren outfit. It's a self image thing I guess. I try things on at the store and just think "YUK", never "how hot is that" . Sad but true, I don't find plump sexy, and I am definately plump.

I suppose I should do something about that eh? Exercise perhaps? I found my treadmill yesterday, just can't unfold it until I move some stuff. Which I can't do until I create a place to move it to. I'll work on that today.

And now I'm off to eat the breakfast I forgot to have before I jumped on here. Cereal this morning, and no plan yet for the rest of the day.

I'm cheering you all on....may you look and feel *HOT* come Valentines Day .

I am finding it harder & harder to work my water in. I'm not tired with it or bored, but I just can't drink 16 oz. when I'm out and about because I ALWAYS have to find a bathroom. But, today is an at-home day for me, so I'll get my 64 in today!

I'm right on track with my weight goals, so I'm sticking with my goal date of 5/31/05 for 51 pounds of loss (I started 11/29/04, so that is "right on" with 2 pounds per week average).

I walked on the treadmill Monday and Tuesday evenings. I also went to my first yoga class last night. It was great! I am very excited about it. I will only make it one night this week, but I will probably make it two nights next week. DH is going on a business trip Friday evening through Sunday evening, so I won't get my treadmill work in this weekend. I will probably do a workout video while DD naps to get it in at least one of the three days.

I am not very motivated today. I thought I would scrapbook, but I am just not in the mood to do that. I just put it all up. I am doing laundry and will sweep in a moment, but I think I'm going to spend the day (my Mom is picking up DD from school) just focusing inward and contemplating my goals, where I'm going, etc. I will probably go get on the treadmill this afternoon, though.

I hope everyone has a NEW YOU kind of day!

Vonnie

I thought gallstones were worse than labor, so I'd guess a broken tailbone could be about that painful, too! I'm sorry, Shaun, about your fall...I hope it quits hurting quickly!

I passed the "first 5 pounds off" mark at WW today...got my little star and bookmark!

I did fine with my points today...but had them used up by 5:00 pm. Aunt Flo is due at any time and my appetite was anticipating the visit, I think

The high-schoolers only have a half-day tommorow, and all the kiddos are off on Friday. I'll have a housefull of freshmen from about 11:00 tomorrow on!

I'll see you all tomorrow, I expect.

Blessings,
Lenora
"Well behaved women rarely make history."
~Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Day 2 is the easiest day of a diet...cause it's the day you quit! ha ha
I forgot to bring my water with me...and here in the desert, the water is pretty nasty from the tap! yeck....
So did real good eating portion wise...just had a snack of raisen bran and fatfree milk...
Drank almost 2 pots of coffee...very cold and windy here, and got a chill. But back to the grind tomorrow...
AnneP.
A child enters your home and makes so much noise you can hardly stand it--then departs, leaving the house so quiet you think you'll go mad. -Dr. J.A. Holmes

Weather-wise. We're in for some really strong storms here; we're already under a tornado watch until 11 a.m. So, it's probably not "if" the power will go out, but "when?" and "for how long?". I just hope it doesn't get bad while DD is at preschool & I'm at work, but that's when it is forecast to do so.

Yesterday was a true "funk" day for me. I don't know what my problem was. I just had no motivation. Today, I feel some better, but still not totally normal again. I think it's weather, Aunt Flo is just leaving (sorry to be sending her to some of you gals, though), I'm not sleeping as soundly, etc.

Today's plan:

WATER - lots of it! I can see a big difference in how clear my skin is!!
EAT THREE MEALS AND TWO SNACKS - no cheating here!
FOLLOW MY MEAL PLANS - B'fast is Slim Fast Shake; Snack is a Slim Fast or Low Carb bar; Lunch is a Lean Cuisine; Snack is a smoothie (gotta run the dishwasher so my blender will be ready); Dinner is broiled pork chops, carrots.
EXERCISE - at least 1.5 miles on treadmill; abs & glutes exercises while DD naps

So, that's my plan & hopefully I'm sticking to it!!!

Y'all have a great day!

Vonnie

I have little hope of scaring up a day of healthy eats. I need groceries but I refuse to tramp around in this bitter cold to get them. Heck, I don't even know if my car will start. DH said he'd bring home pizza if I wanted, and I do have things I could eat for breakfast and lunch. I did have a city run with lots of stops planned for today, but have moved that to tomorrow when I can only hope for warmer weather.

So sorry about your tail Shaun . I have never hurt my tailbone, but I'll trust the rest of you that it hurts. Can you sit??? I'd think sitting would be painfull.

Jo you struck my funny bone with the (insert forehead slaps) . I'm easily amused . Oh, I can see *much* use for (insert forehead slaps).

Congrats on earning your star Lenora .

How are you doing with getting to bed earlier Honey? It's hard to quit having fun to do something as boring as lying abed. I'm not quite as chronic as you for staying up so late, but I sure do understand it. I love late nights. Induging that love makes for tough days though.

I've not had breakfast yet so I'm going to make myself some oatmeal. One of those handy little packs that you just add water to.

Take your vitamins and supplements everyone . I'd remind you about the water but your already trying so hard on that one. Right?

Have a fit day , and for those entertaining you know who....try and nap her away .

I walked...called a friend (one who gave inspiration outfit), and took her with me...she was in a funk, and felt much better...
Yeah...on to the water bottle....and beyond to the toilet...

AnneP.
A child enters your home and makes so much noise you can hardly stand it--then departs, leaving the house so quiet you think you'll go mad. -Dr. J.A. Holmes

Have I really been gone that long?? I had loads to read back through!

Becky, I think you're well set for any pain that childbirth can deliver. DH has had the tailbone injury and still has occasional problems with it several years later - sorry Shaun - but I think your experience wth Crohn's will have been pretty good preparation for childbirth. The advantages of childbirth are that you can insist on drugs to see you through it all if you fancy, and you do get something worthwhile at the end, instead of more pain!

I've actually had salad for the last two days!!! And regretted it deeply the first day, but the second day I took some extra medication further in advance so the repercussions were greatly reduced. This meal planning thing DOES help, but I've had the good sense to take it easy and I only plan about 4 meals in advance. It doesn't mean I do all the cooking that far in advance either, but at least I don't leave the cooking so late because I'm racking my brains over what to eat. I drew up a list of stuff I normally cook and I basically try to rotate the rice, pasta, potatoes and breads so the dinner choice comes from that starting point. Seemed easier than trying to do it via the meat. We've had about three meals that I haven't done before too, so I didn't get too tied down. I gotta figure out where to hid a spare eggplant though before it dies. I'm thinking tonight's meatloaf could make a fabulous hiding place for all kinds of odds and ends - do eggplant and cilantro work together?? And the rest goes in Monday's broccoli soup!

So last night's dinner was actually meat-free! We had quesadillas with salad and light sour cream. Couldn't find any guacamole and forgot to look for avocados. The quesadillas were yummy and far more filling than I would've expected. I usually do up a chilli style meat mix and then we throw everything together burrito style. So I'm going to try and work in a few more meatless dinners occasionally. Soup and sandwiches on Monday might work, but since there's cheese in the soup we might have ham in the sandwiches... haven't figured that out yet. And there's a cheese omelette (with other filling possibilities like tomato in the offing) scheduled for next Thursday!

Yesterday I didn't drink so much water though, or take my medication, so I'd better get on with both of those today. Just can't seem to get it all going at the same time (along with the decluttering!). My brain just can't handle so many improvements all at once. I guess that's a good argument for trying to introduce one habit at a time and waiting till it's a solid habit!

Kerri.

Honey, what time do you drink your last cup of tea or soda or whatever of the day? Have you tried making that earlier? Maybe you could fall asleep earlier then.

Also, put on the calendar when to take things out of the freezer.

Breakfast: 2 cups of tea and 2 bowls of cereal, all with milk.

I don't nap very often as I can't just take a short one - it ends up as a couple of hours, and I don't wake up very refreshed either. I seem to stay dopey for the rest of the day. I don't mind feeling like that, but I don't get anything done!

As for my last drink of the day...I don't have a routine for drinks at all, so I have no idea when I have my last drink. Sometimes I take hot chocolate to bed with me, but other times I probably don't have a drink for a couple of hours before bedtime.

The truth is, I COULD sleep if I went to bed early. I can sleep anytime if I lie down and shut my eyes! It's just that I never go to bed until I am extremely tired. It seems really foreign to me to go to bed if I don't feel very tired. There always seems to be something more interesting or more important that needs to be done, than to go to sleep. I love the quiet too. It's the only time this house seems to be peaceful. When I get to the point that I am so exhausted I MUST go to bed, then I do. I guess that's not the most sensible way to carry on really, yet here I am pecking away at 12.40am again......

I had no breakfast today, but lunch was egg fried rice with dragon sauce. Dinner was cinnamon toast for me and cereal for DS13- yes I know, pathetic. We had friends turn up and so I couldn't cook dinner. We waited for them to leave, which turned out to be 11pm, and then ate. It wasn't so bad as we ate lunch late at about 2pm and there was a lot of rice, so we were quite full.

I really am going to bed now.....

I couldn't tell people they can't come over, I would feel rude.

We just can't fit dinner in before he goes to his club, though he does have a snack, so he'd had a couple of English muffins, which I'd forgotten about when I posted last night. He also had a little party food at the club, and our lunch here was a cooked meal, which we don't normally have at lunchtime. So I wasn't starving him!

He didn't go straight to bed after eating either, as we had to spend time airing out the upstairs of the house and cleaning DS' chair, which stinks. Friend's son poohed himself again, and just sat in it for ages without saying anything. He's 10 and apparently didn't want to get up 'because I was playing'. This is the second time he has done this here. I am less than impressed, especially as so far I can't get the smell out of DS' new computer chair.

Today's breakfast was a banana, lunch will be a sandwich and more fruit and dinner tonight will be a chicken with vegetables, cooked in the slow cooker. We have DS' Maths lesson this afternoon, and always arrive home cold and hungry, so it will be nice to come home to dinner.

Yesterday was the first sunny day in 18 days. It looks like today will be a sunny day too. YEA!!!! It's amazing the difference a little sun can make in your mood. I had been feeling rather sluggish and distracted, I think now it was because of the cloudy days.

Well, this morning was my weigh in day. I thought after last nights snacking it would be up from the salty snacks, but I've lost another pound. Down 5# in 3 weeks. Slow and steady.

My biggest problem is not drinking enough water and over snacking in the afternoon and sometimes evening. So ladies any suggestions for keeping up with the water. To be honest I can't even tell you how much I am drinking. Maybe I should write it down? Do any of you keep a food journal?

Question?? How often do you all post here? Maybe I need a PODA for my meals and exercise and then TADA in the evening? What do you all think??

Lenora, I haven't been to WW in several years. (I'm a lifetime member) How do they determine the number of points you can have? What is the new no counting program about?

Anne, maybe with the info from Lenora, we can start our own unofficial WW?

Honey, just felt the need to say I think you're doing a super job with DS. Even if there's a few late night suppers.

Hope, popcorn is suppose to be a good snack (right?), let us know how the cinnabon flavor is.

Julie, welcome back. Happy you have a new home. See you on flybabies soon.

I'll send you a message on this site, Hope, since I think all I have is your old one as well.

So good to see you back! Blessings on the new homestead, too!

Susan, good job on another pound! I had set a goal of 2 pounds a week, but I've decided that as long as I'm losing "something" I'm not going to beat myself up about "how much" the loss is. Slow-and-steady will be my mantra, too! WW sets your daily points by weight. You also have an additional 35 points each week as "flex" points. The "no-counting" plan is unlimited amounts of "core" foods ONLY. The core foods are whole fruits, veges, lean meats, fish, and whole grain cereal. It basically cuts out all processed foods, breads, pastas, sugar, flour, etc. You do get 35 points each week to use for non-core foods, though. I would suppose it would be a good chioce if you love fruits and veges...I'm a "grain" girl, myself, so I just count away!

Blessings,
Lenora
"Well behaved women rarely make history."
~Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Sorry to be AWOL since Thursday! DH left for a business trip Friday and will be back tonight. So, I've had double duty, and had DD all by myself. This is DH's first time to be away from DD & I think they're both having withdrawals!

Well, Friday was my weigh-in, measure-in. As I suspected, I didn't lose. Didn't gain, either, though. And, I did lose 1 inch around my hips! I'm not going to complain with that.

I've re-evaluated what I'm doing and figured out a few areas that I need to work on this week. (1) drink 8 glasses of water each day; (2) watch my portion sizes; (3) walk longer & with more intensity; (4) go to yoga Tuesday & Thursday this week.

I got some green tea capsules to take. I just have trouble getting the tea in every day along with 64 oz. of water! I also got some punch out cards with portions in actual size. They were free in a magazine I picked up!

I am only 3 pounds from my first reward & I want it! At 15 pounds of loss, I get a massage. I REALLY want that massage!

I'm also looking at hairstyles again. I want a good one. I want one that looks like it's a STYLE and not just my hair hanging around for a change! I am now willing to spend a little time on my hair. I think that my weight loss and just taking care of myself in general has motivated me in several areas & also given me the realization that "hey, I AM worth taking care of!". Does that make sense?

Well, I'm going to run. I want to read some other threads since I've been off for a while. And then, I need to get DD up and ready for church, along with myself!

Have a great day!

Vonnie

We had broccoli cheddar soup for lunch yesterday Jo, although it was supposed to be today's dinner. I had a little mental shuffle so we could all go out and eat chicken wings last night! I've found that eating goes better with the menu planning too, though I'm only doing a few days at a time because the thought of planning a week or two is enough to make me break out in hives. But we got a couple of salads in last week and extra veggies with every meal, which is MUCH better than I've done recently. I've gotten so lazy in the last couple of months that I don't think we had veg with anything except pasta, and that's only because it's hard to make a pasta sauce without canned tomatoes!

I wish I could prepare more and freeze them but I just don't have that kind of space. Particularly at the moment when I've just bought a ton of meat and filled the whole space. There's only one place I can sensibly buy most of my meat, properly fresh rather than defrosted, which is useless to me, so I buy lots at a time to keep me going.

I don't even have room in there for a tub of ice cream! Might freeze a small ramekin of vanilla yoghurt later if I can squeeze the space!

Have I taken my meds Hope?? Not in about three days! Need to go get some water now and get them down before I leave them till the end of the day again and forget about them.

Kerri.

I am ready to start a new one, too! I am re-enlisting myself. I haven't done horrible; I have maintained my 12 pound loss. But, I am not satisfied; I want to be a loser!!!!

So, it's up with water, up with whole foods, up with vitamins, down with fat, up with walking!!!

A question for anyone who might know this. I have a Pampered Chef microwave steamer thing. It is really a plastic bowl with a lid that has small holes in it. If I want to steam a vegetable medley of baby carrots, broccoli heads & squash pieces, (1) how much water do I put in with the veggies & (2) how long do I put it in the microwave? I love steamed veggies & this is a good way for me to get them into my menu.

DH is back from his trip, so it's back to the gym tomorrow! Yippee!! I've really missed it! Who would've thought it?

I think I'll try to do my walk in the morning & then go to yoga tomorrow evening. I want to go to my nephew's basketball game Tuesday night, so I won't make it to that yoga class.

Have a great evening! See you in the morning!

Vonnie

I always do my broccoli in the microwave. Don't think it matters how much water you pu in there as long as it won't completely dry out before the end of cooking time. I usually give a head of broccoli about 2 1/2 to 3 mins, but that's probably only if you like it fairly crunchy still. I get complaints from those who prefer it softer! You can leave the lid on longer, say while you're serving other items, and that will also add to the cooking time.

but as Becky said, try to stick with veg that have the same density, both in and of themselves, and because of their shape or size of cut. I keep the leaves of the broccoli on top of the florets and stalk bits so they don't get so much steaming. Carrots you'd probably have to slice fairly thin.

Kerri.