Pamela - -Have a great weekend!! Wow! What an early morning you'll have tomorrow. I give your DD a lot of credit for that kind of dedication and discipline. Enjoy your run! Glad the cupcakes turned out well. Have never thought to try plain seltzer. Hmmm.... wonder how raspberry flavored seltzer would make them taste?
Thanks....the cupcakes were just the perfect addition to the weekend. A few of the other ladies appreciated having a lowfat option for dessert!
Hey Everyone! I am going to finally take time to really post. It has been a really hard week emotionally and I will share parts of it. Here we go...
Here is what is going to pick me back up and make me keep on moving forward....I have decided that I am not weak and I am not giving in. I will post about my mud race later tonight (have to run DD to dance in a few minutes) but I will say that I finished in the top 1/3 out of all the participants...men and woman. There were 1600 people who started the race and 400 never even crossed the finish line. I have looked at the photos, thought about all the wonderful things you all said here and thought about how strong I felt. I have decided that I am an amazing person and that this moment in my life is hard but I will run through it with a smile on my face like I do each race.
Time to run to dance but now you all know why I have been gone this week. I will be back because I am moving on and moving forward. Later everyone!
Jen
I am SO pleased that you are finding out such positive things about yourself, right when life is being difficult. If you keep that smile on your face, positive things will happen!
So yes or no on the banana?
We are having a rotisserie chicken and steamed broccoli for dinner!!
Personally... I say YES to the banana. Even though it has plenty of (natural)sugar, it is also loaded with lots of good stuff like vitamins (particularly C and B-6), fiber, potassium and manganese. Not to mention they are tasty and delicious and creamy.... so good with peanut butter and on cereal and oatmeal. Such a delicious HEALTHY treat! Tasty, inexpensive, easy to transport along, neat to eat on the go.... so many positive things to say about bananas!!
This thread is my emotional support. 100%. Yes, I get compliments, that I am still not good at accepting. Today someone said I was a stick, and I said I am more like an old oak. I still think that yes, I look good compared to where I was in Jan., but I want to look good period. When people ask me how I did it, I usually say I stopped eating and started running. I want to say, a fantastic group of Disney nuts helped a bunch, but I don't usually want to prolong the convo! I really could not have gotten as far as I did without you, and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
P - have you read much or heard much about coconut oil? There is a lot of conflicting opinions on it...
You (and everyone here) are part of my ongoing success too! You all are my support system... you are my therapist, my WW leader, my trainer, my dietician, and my best friend... all rolled into one neat spot on my computer!!
Coconut oil is a sat fat, so it wouldn't be considered a healthy fat on WW.
THEN I found out a school that Sophie and my friend's daughter got in time out at preschool for wrestling. Totally bummed out. 3rd day of preschool, in trouble already. TARYN
Don't worry too much about it. When DD was attending 3 y/o preschool, I got called in because she bit another child (didn't break the skin, no fight or argument involved... just a gentle bite

). I was HORRIFIED. I called the parents of the other child to apologize and they took it in stride. Anyhow.... DD is now 15 and that was the ONLY trouble she has ever been in in school! We chuckle about it now (I only told her about it recently in fact).
So this doesn't mean that Sophie has a lifetime of school troubles ahead of her. Things happen.
Well, it has been one week since the mud run. I know it sounds totally crazy but I will say that it is a run that changed the way I feel about so many things. I will tell about the run and maybe you will understand how I now feel different about so many things.
it.
I had NO IDEA that the run was that difficult! Still sounds like fun but....

I hope you gave those kids that called you an "old lady" the STINK EYE!!
always[/I] take them. Therefore never inform me of the situation again. Period. She was tossed out of a moving car into our parking lot...
I know that you and I have talked about our kitties before. Penney is very lucky to have found you. She is absolutely adorable! I have a soft spot for grey tiger kitties.
It always stuns me how people can treat children and animals so poorly/cruely.
Definitely out of character for him! I was shocked. He even used the paste to clean the ceramic cooktop! He made a comment about how he'd watched Sophie and the dogs and cleaned all day and was exhausted. VALIDATION!
Taryn

to your DH!
Kept switching between Amazing Wedding Cakes and Chopped Champions. Finally fell back asleep.
Just chuckling because I fell asleep to Amazing Wedding Cakes about 10 pm last night.
My ds2 emailed us a website to check out the other night. It is about a scholarship/internship. He was thinking about applying it but it would mean that he could not to Gambia in January. This after he was told last month that he was the lead person for Gambia. The next day he told us he thought about and deided not to apply.
He must have a good reason for not applying to this program, since it sounds like it was such a positive experience in the past. Life must be getting ready to head him in another direction.
Today is a day for us all to look at the positives in ourselves. So, I thought I'd do something a bit different. So, here's today's QOTD:
QOTD for Saturday, September 18: Taking the letters of your name (first name, nickname or screen name), list the letters and next to each, state something positive about yourself
Okay, I'm off to catch up on the thread.
Okay..... I deleted all of my responses a few minutes ago in my attempt to google adjectives to go with my name, so I'm going this on my own this time....
P= Positive Planner
J= Joyful (well... not all the time but...)
L= Loud (not sure if that is a positive

)
L= Loyal (makes me sound like a Retriever

)
A= Able
MacG- I am new here too - and a WW drop out. I vowed this last time I stopped never to go back again, lol - I am not cut out for points - for me it gives me the license to use 25 pts of garbage a day, instead of planning healthy meals. I am jealous of all of you who can do WW successfully - it would make my life much easier!
Sorry WW didn't work out for you. What system/plan are you currently using?
Love to hear more about the nutrition class you took.
I have a question for everyone. I logged my food in Sparkpeople and on WWonline yesterday and was under on both. Any suggestions? Thanks!
I ate 1 egg on a 1 pt. thin roll plus 1 peach for breakfast.
For lunch, I had an apple, 1/4 cup of frozen yogurt (TOM), and 1 cup of milk.
Dinner was 8 oz. of haddock, another peach, another apple, 1 cup of zucchini, and 10 Spanish olives.
I also had a tall, no whip, soy hot choclate from Starbucks yesterday afternoon.
I track sodium because I try to keep it low partially because of the whole Meniere's thing and partially because sodium really affects my weight. I track calcium because I'm lactose intolerant and I really need the calcium.
I count 4 fruit, 1 veggie, 2 dairy (unless you count the soy as dairy), 2-3 protein and some fat. I would definitely try to increase the veggie count to more like 2-3. Fruits seem okay, but you had room for another one. You needed more protein with lunch and maybe more protein at mid-morning. You also had room for another whole wheat carb or something like that. You could have reached your points with another serving of fruit and another carb, or another fruit and another small portion of protein.
It's so nice to see such an active and supportive group.
Jeez, now I'm going to have a good cry. I've been on the verge today, with my sisters 40th. Those big milestones bring back memories. Though on a funny note, I'm regifting the naughty present my sisters gave me for my 40th tonight. It was never used, just so you know. We have a sick sense of humor in my family.
I've got a pjlla plan in my head for the party, but instead of making the low cal cupcakes like you did, pamela, I made oatmeal carmalitas which were a treat my mom used to make and they have 3 sticks of butter, 2 cups choc chips, 1 cup walnuts, and a jar of caramel ice cream topping, so not very point friendly. I cut them into 48 small bars and figured each one out to be 4 points. So good. I'll have one or two, and no cake. I did eat one last night, but only one, and when I cut them today, I threw all the crumbs out. That's progress for me.
Have a great rest of the weekend everyone!!
I agree about the active group.... but honestly, I skipped two days and missed almost 10 pages!!

The naughty gift exchange sounds like fun!!
Glad you have a "plan" for the party. Even though you didn't stick totally with it (I believe I read in another post), you still thought it out ahead of time. Thanks for NOT sharing the recipe for the carmelitas!!
There is a lady we met there last week that is fostering a rescue dog that I think woudl be perfect for my mom. I don't know if I 've told you that Daddy's dog got hit by a car and killed 3 weeks after he died. I've been trying to talk mom into another one, and this little fella would be perfect for her. Housebroken, crate and leash trained, only goes outside to potty a few times a day, very cuddly jack russell mix, calm, needs companionship. I called to talk to her about it, she was crying. Someone from church had brought her flowers. Got me very upset. Spent some time talking to DH about it all on the ride home, and told him that it bothered me that he doesn't seem to miss Daddy. He started crying, too, and said that not a day goes by that he doesn't think about him, and gets upset a few days a week, too, but didn't want to say anything b/c he didn't want to make me more upset. WhY did it take us 6 months to have this conversation?
Nice of you to try to do two things at once.... give the dog a good home and give your Mom a new companion. Hope it works out.
QOTD for Sunday, September 19: Did you have an "AH HAH" moment that started you on this journey? If so, what was it?
Okay, I'll be back as soon as I've caught up on everyone's posts from yesterday.
Well... I had sort of that "a ha" moment several times in my adult life. I hated being fat and I would (at least once a year or so) get DETERMINED that this was going to be THE time that I lost it all. But it wasn't until SOMETIME during my most recent attempt that I FINALLY realized that it wasn't a "weekend" trip, but a LIFELONG JOURNEY! That was TRULY my "A HA" moment. On every other previous weight loss attempt it was always about the "diet".... and I would day dream about what I could eat and such when I was finally "done dieting".
I now realize that it is a lifelong journey I am on. I will never be "done dieting". I have to continue to count my calories/points for the rest of my life if I want to maintain my weight loss and BE HEALTHY.
It really sunk in for me a few "challenges" ago. Someone posted a question as we finished up one challenge about "are you going to stay on your diet while we are between challenges?".... or something like that. And I realized that it NEVER OCCURED TO ME to "stop" my healthy eating habits! I never thought about it in terms of anything "ending".... it is just a continuation of my healthy eating lifestyle..... whether I am currently in the midst of a BL challenge or not. I kind of realized at that moment that I had made a HUGE change in my thinking about this weight loss.
It's time...
Meanwhile back at the ranch. Penney was adopted, all set to go. I was devastated of course but knew I'd get over it. Then the husband came in and started 'you sureing' me. Then he started crying. Then started us, renting our hair and clothes. Ok not that bad really-- so long story short Penney is adopted. By us. We are insane people.
Glad she found her "forever" home.
Hello everyone...just pulling my head out of the sand and posting. It's been a rough weekend here and I'm taking some control - I control what I put in my mouth, how I move my body, and posting on our thread. I feel better already.
That's what it is all about.... CONTROL!
I haven't done much today, but I did workout for 50 minutes on the Wii/balance board. No gym today as my sister and BIL are already here. It's a family dinner day. They are having chicken drumsticks and chicken thighs, plus ribs. I am having chicken breast tenderloins-grilled, with nothing added to them. I'll have a nice large salad too. Had a great lunch as well.
Nice job PLANNING ahead for your dinner.
Hi Lisa,
I would like to join the group - I guess better late than never!
Welcome aboard! Hop right in and join our crazy group! It is a fast-moving train, so hang on! Glad to have you.
DH and DS are busy with yardwork, I'm doing the dreaded job of matching socks and DD is making chocolate chip cookies to send to some of my friends serving in Afghanistan. It's a beautiful fall day here - leaves are just starting to change, the days are slightly warm and it "smells" like fall. Yay!!! Now if my darn Bills would just get it in gear...!!!
Off to my parents for dinner tonight. Catch everyone tomorrow!
Jude
So glad it doesn't smell like fall here yet, but nice that you are enjoying it.
Yesterday, I did my 3 mile walk and then went to the farmer's market for fruits & veggies and meats and fresh flowers. Then one of my BFFs came to visit. We had lunch together and then went shopping -- Bed Bath & Beyond, Christmas Tree Shoppe, Target and Michaels. Then home to cook broccoli to take to DD22's apartment (she was cooking dinner for us). We left here around 5:30, stopped to buy dessert and then had a lovely evening at DD's apt. with her and her apartment mate. Jenn made us whole wheat pasta with sauce & grilled chicken, and we added broccoli to our plates. We all watched "The Backup Plan" which was fun and Marie and I got home around 11 or 11:15. This morning, we had breakfast, went shopping at Costco, and then home for lunch. She left, Andrew is studying, Howard is watching the Steelers game, and I am finally getting back on line to catch up here.
I wanted to give you all an early warning-- in the next couple of days, I am going to ask you to post your favorite recipe that takes 5 ingredients or less. So, start thinking now.
Sounds like you had a fun time with your friend.
HEY.... I've been posting my recipes over on the BL recipe thread.... does that mean I can just post a link??
Yeah it's good that I recognize it, but I also realize that it's tougher than some people would expect. My poor DS came down with another sinus infection this week, so I had to take a back seat this week. I'm hoping that this week will go better now that he's feeling better and that I'll be able to get back to taking came of myself.
Sending

and sympathy to your DS. I'm just getting over my sinus infection and it was NO FUN.
You go with your menus. I feel like a short order cook. I'm following WW, my husband is doing Atkins and my DS (14 months) doesn't eat too much yet. He has his usual standbys, but it's tough making dinners.
I am ALWAYS feeling like a short-order cook. My DH has done Atkins in the past, for two years, while I was doing WW for part of the same time. Plus DS has multiple food allergies and DD won't eat ANYTHING that comes from the ocean (she wants to be a marine biologist and says that this feels like cannibalism to her! ). It have a tough time coming up with meals that we can ALL eat! Hopefully you can get into a pattern with it.
I QOTD for Sunday, September 19: Did you have an "AH HAH" moment that started you on this journey? If so, what was it?
I know I've told this story before (in my WISH journal if nowhere else), but my a-ha moment came on January 6, 2005. I had been diagnosed with a potentially fatal heart condition in February 1995. It should have been curable but 3 heart surgeries had failed. As the condition wore my body down, I was increasingly fatigued, barely making it through shortened work days, not driving because of near blackouts and unable to go up and down the steps in my house more than once or twice a day. When I woke up after the fourth heart surgery and found out my condition was cured, I decided to re-take control of my life, get healthy and get active. I have been very overweight for all my life that I can remember and had stretch marks by the time I was 10. Once my heart was healthy again, I decided to start training to walk the 2006 WDW 1/2 marathon. Once I accomplished that goal, I had a new lightbulb moment where I realized that I can achieve anything if I am willing to work for it.
Thanks for sharing your story with us! I'm not sure if I have heard it before, but it was VERY inspiring!
Oops! Wanted to post the QOTD for tomorrow since I won't be on until about 9:30 a.m.
QOTD for Monday, September 20: What is your kryptonite, food-wise? In other words, is there a food (even one that might otherwise be good for you or "not so bad for you") that you cannot keep in your house because it is so irresistible that you might binge on it?
Without a doubt.... sweet potato chips.
Thanks everyone. It's been a much tougher day than I even thought, feels like an xray vest is on my chest. The picnic was a disaster for me. It was just a reminder of how much Daddy loved the outdoors, his family together, the park. There was just a huge, black, gaping hole. Everyone else seemed to have a good time. It's tough to be Daddy's little girl without Daddy. It's like I'm having a nightmare, that I know the ending, and when I wake up, it won't be okay again.
I lost it when DH had to come home and go to bed, and then again when he left for work. I just feel like I have nothing, no one. I can't gain strength from the girls right now. I have a million things I need to do tonight, and I can't make myself do any of it. I really just want to take tomorrow off. I might see if someone can come in for the afternoon, Monday mornings are wild for us. Or, I might wait and take Wed. I don't know.
A LOT happened this weekend, I need to mega post, when I feel up to it.
Night.
Hi all, I just learned about the W.I.S.H. board and I was wondering if it is too late for me to join the Fall Challenge?
Never too late! Glad you found us! Do you need any help getting started?? Check out the first page of this thread for lots of handy information. PM your starting weight to LuvBaloo, and you are ready to go!! WELCOME!
Eek I'm behind again already. I'll try to read and catch up in the morning. My darling Zoe is in her shower and I'll have to be sure she gets to bed and usually she'll be up all night if I don't go read with her in bed(YES she is in my bed ARGH). We gotta be up a little earlier than we are used to since she will be riding on the bus again. I just can't keep the car fueled up for it. I don't like watching other people help cover my fuel needs. So after I do my job search, resume spamming I'll try to remember to read up the last 10 pages or so I'm behind.
Tomorrow will be interesting I have to go see what this pep squad Zoe is joining at school is all about. I know they start learning for the cheer squad and cheer on the flag football team. She was begging big time to join. It cost $5 so not bad and I sure hope it includes whatever uniform they need. It didn't say any extra fees for them. Probably will have a shirt and specific dress code. I'll see tomorrow at 5pm I guess. I'll be busy with pep squad and violin performances this year I see. If I can get employed she wants to take ballet. But then I can put the money her dad sends towards that over our living expenses.
Hopefully she can get involved in the pep squad without too much $$. If there is a uniform required, ask around and see if you can find a mom of a girl who may have been involved in this in the past.... maybe she would have a uniform that you could borrow or buy cheap??
I am quite embarassed to admit this but for me it is Little Debbie Nutty Bars!
I keep (or used to) keep them in my freezer and could eat the whole box in the course of a few hours. I haven't bought a box in months just to avoid the issue - I feel bad for my kids!
DON'T feel bad for the kids. Sorry to sound brutal, but that Little Debbie's stuff is JUNK.... absolute unhealthy GARBAGE! You should be HAPPY that you have an excuse to keep it away from your kids! Instead of feeling bad that you are keeping that stuff from your kids, feel HAPPY that you are SMART enough to teach them better eating habits!!
Two QUOTD:
1) My AHA moment was when I got back in touch with people on FB and I refused to show them pictures of me because I hated the way I looked. I also knew that we had a big family event coming up (my niece's wedding) and I wouldn't want to be in any of the pictures. We found out the wedding date in May and since then, I've been beyond determined. I weighed 238 pounds then and today I weigh 195.
2) Peanut butter is just not something I can have around. I love everything about it. A big source of pride for me right now is the last jar of peanut butter I bought almost five months ago. It's sitting in our pantry with about 1/4 left and I haven't touched it in those five months. I can't bring myself to throw it out because it represents me being in control. I used to go through two jars a week. No more.
MB ... who has a very unhappy autistic teenager this morning...
I love the symbolism of that jar of peanut butter!! You might have to have it bronzed someday!! I appreciate that you realize that it represents CONTROL!!
Sorry your DD is having an unhappy morning.
Just wanted to quickly say "I'm Back!" -- I have a ton of work to catch up on at work and home, so I'm hoping to get to post later this week. I didn't do badly considering I was gone for a week -- I made 2 of my 3 scheduled workouts, and let me tell you, I am not used to the thin air of Denver! I lost .2, so I'll definitely take it. I know it was due to watching what I ate and those workouts, plus I did do a couple of walks in the evenings.
This thread moved over 20 pages while I was gone, so I probably won't actually catch everything -- just wanted to say

to anyone I missed, and I hope everyone who is sick, sad, or just discouraged feels better -- and everyone feeling Grreat! -- continue to do so!
Maria
Glad you are back!!!

Glad you found a moment to check in with us!!
Well, all I can say is that it is amazing what NOT binging on Sunday can do for a Monday weigh-in. I'm down 3.2 pounds for the week! That means I lost what I gained last week AND I'm down 2.0 pounds since the start of this challenge.
Now THAT is a good way to start a Monday.
I totally agree!!
Well... this started out to be a "good morning" post.... and now it is a "good mid-afternoon" post!!
I started reading and multi-quoting at about 8 am. Then my Mom called and I got distracted and didn't get back here until about 11 am. Then I accidentally deleted all of my responses when I was trying to google adjectives for Saturday's QOTD (where is that "hammer-hitting-computer" smilie!). And then I had to have lunch. So here it is, 1:41 pm, and I am finally nearing the end of my post for the day!! OOPS.... BRB...
When I posted the time, I realized that the day was slipping away and I hadn't hung the last load on the clothesline...

... so now it is 1:55 and I am just finishing up here....

oh well.
I had a great weekend.... thanks to all who asked. The family outing on the Cape wasn't nearly the food disaster it could have been. I ate a good breakfast after my run (finally free of sinus pain) and a healthy but light lunch in the car on the way there (protein and fruit).
I snacked on carrots and celery and peppers with a bit of hummus for appetizer and avoided the mini tacos, cheese and crackers, spinach and artichoke dip, etc.
For dinner I had a bit of beef and a bit of chicken, green salad (predressed, but not heavily), sliced fresh tomatoes, grilled broccoli, rice salad, and the couscous salad I brought (skipped the potato salad). I only went back for seconds on the tomato, broccoli and the couscous.
For dessert I had the lowfat cupcakes I brought (one right at dessert time and another one later in the evening). I avoided the alcohol (was tempted to have a beer but didn't care for the brand available, so I skipped it.... wasn't in a mood for wine) and the birthday cake and ice cream (SO glad I had brought those cupcakes).
It was not at all a disaster of a day!! I probably went over calories, though, because I was hungry when we arrived home late, so I had another helping of the couscous salad (can you tell I really love it?). But honestly, considering the disaster it could have been, it was a good day. And I had a great time visiting with some family that we rarely see and meeting my grandniece who was born this spring. (Golly, that makes me sound OLD!)
Yesterday was a quiet day here at home.... I was tired from the busy day Saturday and needed to catch up on a few things around the house. DS was disappointed we didn't start painting his bedroom, but I was just not mentally prepared to start that project. Maybe this weekend. I stayed on track with my eating all day, even though the family had pizza for dinner. I had a half a slice and then had something else for dinner. But I did splurge on a small serving of real ice cream. DS was kind enough to scoop for everyone... and he made mine just the right size!!
Tonight is a busy one with a soccer game in one town and DD's Rainbow Girls in another town. I will be missing the soccer game, but it would be just too much running around. I am planning to do a 5 mi walk/run tonight up the hill behind the Masonic Temple where DD attends Rainbow. I was doing it every Monday for a while this past spring and it is a great workout. I walk UP the hill 2.5 miles, briskly, and then run the 2.5 mi DOWN. Hopefully it won't get dark too quickly tonight, but I will wear my white sweatshirt and carry my penlight, just in case.
We will have dinner together as a family late tonight after all of the activities. Fortunately I have a delayed start setting on my oven. I will prepare the porkchops and put them in the oven with the delay set. They should be ready to eat when we all get home around 8pm. I will have broccoli in the pot, ready to steam and we will hopefully be eating by 8:15pm.
Well... DS will be home on the bus in about 15 minutes.... my, my, my this day went by FAST!!! TTYL...................P