Drink lots of water! Have some healthy snacks with you. I had Luna bars or other low cal snacks with me and ate those in the morning. Lite popcorn is also something easy to take with you on the run.
Have a great trip! QUOTE]
Great advice!
My sister and I share whenever possible. We never get dessert and rarely buy a snack. I looked over the menus and wrote down probable POINTS values for menu items that were frequently offered. It's over a year old, but if I can find it, I'll try to PM it to you. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The last 2 times we've went, I was on a low-salt diet and couldn't eat or drink nuts/peanuts, chocolate, caffeine, or alcohol. I can eat/drink those now, but because I couldn't then, I got so much information. There are lots of healthy options. I was able to get a salad at Flame Tree BBQ in AK. My sister and I have 2x split a flatbread from Captain Cook's at the Poly. The 2nd time we split a side salad and a fruit cup as well. We also brought our own cereal/oatmeal/granola bars and buy milk for breakfast. We brought a few healthy snacks as well. We even had room in our luggage to pack a few water bottles. Speaking of which, that's my biggest tip: drink your water!
QOTD: I preplanned dinner for tomorrow. Usually we fry the chicken, but tomorrow it'll be baked!
Excellent advice, and good job pre-planning your dinner!
Since I had to cancel our Disney plans for the day I treated us to a seafood feast at home and I also had my non food reward of a Watermelon Yankee Candle. Losing weight is fun I love my reward days!!! Had to share that with everyone. Now I hope I dont regret the lobsters. It is my sons favorite food and he insisted he was having one for dinner. He seems fine and ate the entire thing along with some corn on the cobb and watermelon. Funny now kids rebound so quickly.
Kids are amazing, they recover like it's nothing...Yankee Candle's are just yummy! My ds gave me a black cherry one for Valentine's Day.
Saturday QOTD: What is your favorite Olympic sport? Is there an Olympian who has inspired you past or present? (And no, I don't mean Zeus or Poseidon!)
Winter - curling, it's athletic and strategic
Summer - gymnastics and equestrian (DH had tickets to the 1996 Olympics but I stayed home. DS13 was only a few weeks old at that point)
Athletes- Dorothy Hamill (when I was little, I wanted to be her)
Dan Jansen - To get out on the ice after finding out his sister died, what amazing strength.
It's getting easier and I'm finding that I'm not snacking right after meals either. I pop my Extra Sugar Free gum instead (love my ad??

)
Great job on skipping the chocolate, you are doing great! Next you'll be telling us you use glad bags to portion your veggies, and posting a demo video -- you could make a commercial!
QOTD:
winter-speed skating and figure skating
summer: gymnastics
growing up my sister and I pretended to be nancy karrigan (sp) and would make up routines (on the ground,mind you, not skating!) and I will always remember that!
Poor Nancy, I see her family on the news all the time lately. Hopefully she will get through her family tragedy.
Sunday QOTD: What will you do today to ensure you will feel less stressed about the coming week?
Pack my DH up and send him off to DC again. Seriously, it was not a good weekend with him home. We were stressed, he's in pain because of his back, the walls were closing in around me.
This week I need to stick to my schedule. It's a busy week and I need to stay on task to get what I need to do, done.
Watching Ruby and they are headed out for a road trip. Her trainers gave her the following quote when they were discussing eating on the road.
"Don't set yourself up for failure"
I hope dh starts to feel better... that is such good advice, if I fill the fridge with cheesecake, I'm sowing the seeds of my own demise...
QOTD: I made our menu for the week so I will be less stressed. Of course, the next 3 days are filled with extra things after school. Tomorrow, the rest of the family will have turkey hot dogs and I will have a tuna fish sandwich on an Arnold sandwich thin. Tuesday I will be picking up McDonald's as DD2 has a 5pm appt and DD1 has communion class until 5:15. Wednesday the girls will eat one thing and DH and I will have pierogies with sauce and parmesan cheese. Thursday will be sweet and sour chicken and Friday we are going to a college hockey game and there is a reception before so we will eat something there and probably have something during the game.
Monday- dancing at 5 for DD1 and 7 for me
Tuesay- communion class at 4 and dr at 5
Wednesday- dancing at 4 for DD2 and theater at 5:20 for DD1
Thursday- DD2 has a playdate after school
Friday- hockey game
I hope your busy week goes well. Having the meals planned will definitely help!
Sunday QOTD: What will you do today to ensure you will feel less stressed about the coming week?
This is a good question for me today. I had a pretty "stressed" type of weekend and know that I need to find some peace for my week. After thinking about it, I have decided that I will plan my menu out for the week. I am feeling really horrible tonight with bad cold symptoms and I think if I plan out some really simple meals for the week, it will help.
I am also going to give myself a "free pass" to have some glasses of OJ if I my cold continues. I really wanted some today and did not want to "waste" points on it. The silly thing is that I rarely use my flex points or my exercise points. I should not get so stressed about having a glass of OJ when I don't feel the best. I will record it and not let it bother me to use some of those points on juice if it makes me feel better.
Jen -- drink some juice! That is what those other points are for, when you need them it's ok!
Sunday QOTD: What will you do today to ensure you will feel less stressed about the coming week?
I'm adding 12 hours to my work week starting tomorrow (from 16 hours to 28). My regular routine is get up, get the three kids ready and take them to school, then come home and eat breakfast, play on the computer, take a shower, treadmill before going to work. I'm going to miss my morning time! To survive next week, I'm starting by going to bed earlier. I've also got the kids bags packed and lunches mostly done, things I usually do in the morning. And I have a house full of food - the store is just down the street and I waste of lot of time running there every day or two for what we want. All about organizing and not procrastinating.
Two great things I'm excited about:
1) More money we desperately need.
2) Without having lost 20 pounds, exercising every day, and eating healthy, I don't think I'd have the energy to pull off more work hours and handle everything else. My energy is so much more than it was two months ago. Thank you, BL9 Spring Challenge!
Be gentle with yourself as you adjust to working more. There will be things you didn't anticipate, just let them happen and deal with everything as it comes. You're just new, and you'll get comfortable as you go. Congratulations on your fabulous loss, just think you were doing something good for your entire family!
QOTD: I have a busy week ahead. I'm working 4 nights and am running a meeting one other night. I'm not sure how many days I will be subbiing at school or how much the sap will run. We did get some groceries taken care of today so that will help.
I know you have a busy, busy week. Just remember how much fun you had skiing, and take that with you through the week.
Sunday QOTD: What will you do today to ensure you will feel less stressed about the coming week?
Good question for me this week. I dont think there is anything that I can do other than maybe drink.
Monday - Cholesterol screening at 10:30 so no coffee or food til after
then we have a work meeting over lunch with our finance committee and I have to pay attention and write the minutes
Tuesday - two board level meetings that I have to write the minutes of
Wed. and thursday arent too bad
Friday - my yearly review
AND to top it all off, we're supposed to find out this week if DS got into either the magnet kindergarten or the year-round one. The school he's assigned to is really bad.
This is me this week:
I feel your pain! We have 3 more weeks to wait and see if ds got into his school of choice...but at least I don't have my yearly review. Hang in there, you're just workin' for the weekend!
Just a quick check-in for me today, busy couple of days to start off this week. QOTD: I wrote a brief exercise plan so I don't have to think about it, I just do it. I watched the latest episode of the Biggest Loser last night and was so jealous about how much they lose every week! But then you get out of it what you put in I suppose. I can't imagine how awesome a double figure weightloss week after week would be!
Fantastic writing your workout plan -- it's great to just do it without thinking. That's the key to my AM workouts. I get up, get dressed, and start moving. I don't think about it or I'd stay in bed.
I made a really, really, yummy dinner tonight. DH raved about it, oldest DD was suitably impressed, and the pickiest member of the family (not quite 4 youngest DD) even finished her bowl. I'll definitely add this one to my three ring binder of keeper recipes. It was a Spanish Meatball Soup (in other words, albondigas) from the Positively Ageless cookbook/nutrition plan book. It's written by Cheryl Forberg, RD, who is apparently one of the nutritionists for The Biggest Loser. That being the case, I thought it seemed appropriate to share the recipe with this thread!
The recipe sounds yummy, thank you for sharing!
Just jumping on to say HI!
I had a great time in Vancouver. Because it was a last minute trip, we didn't see any actual competitions, but we saw just about all the free "celebration sites" and had a great time!
One of the highlights for me was doing a biathlon simulator. For the skiing part, it had you do some slides on the same thing that was used in the Biggest loser challenge in the last episode. It was tough and exciting to do something I've seen on BL

It was great seeing people from all over the world proudly wearing the colours of their country (Canadian, American, Russian, Dutch, Czechs, Germans, Estonians, Swiss, Swedes, are a few that I noticed in the crowds of people). It was exciting to see the Olympic Cauldron and the Olympic rings. We got to see 2 Swiss men playing the Alpine horns (like in the Riccola commercials). Overall a great trip.
Hey Shannon! I'm so glad you have a wonderful time, and thank you for giving us an eyewitness report. The photos are really fun, how proud you must be to be Canadian! You guys put on an incredible Olympics!
Sunday QOTD: What will you do today to ensure you will feel less stressed about the coming week?
Try to get sleep. I've been up too late watching the Olympics. OK glass of wine and Plushenko Bolero you tube...

And a nice hot bath. Bolero is my favorite piece of music in the world. What's one more cat right?
Torville and Dean, a true classic and a true class act...I hope you were able to get some good rest.
QOTD There is no way I will not be stressed this week. The show I am working on is opening this weekend.
MOn school Math meet and show
Tue school grocery shop show
Wed school tutor show
Thur school show yoga (I will need this by Thursday)
Fri school show
Sat show
Sun show
Dona, you are indeed a busy woman -- I think the yoga will be awesome for you this week.
Monday QOTD: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It's Off to Lose Weight We Go! (recycling from the last BL Challenge -- it's good for the environment!) If you were one of the seven dwarfs, which one would you be today -- Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy, Doc, Sneezy, Bashful or Dopey?
Today I'd be Happy, I'm pretty much having a good day. I'd like to be Sleepy, but no nap for me -- they frown on laying down over your keyboard
QOTD: Sleepy, as I'm staying up too late every night watching the Olympics and Happy, as my kids go back to school today after a week off!!
Yep, vacation week is over -- unfortunately that means we're back to checking homework...I thought I was done with 6th grade.
I just read in a magazine last week that they are actually at the camp 8(?) MONTHS so everything is time compressed. What's presented as only a week's weight loss is much longer. (Which also makes it harder to believe that someone wouldn't lose anything or even gain a pound.) Makes me feel so much better! I can't remember which magazine it was in (I read it at my kids' dance studio) so I can't vouch for reliability, but I think it was legit - I'll have to get the name this week.
Hmm. Very interesting. You should never compare yourself to the contestants -- think of all the things we don't see -- there's no way you can drop that much weight without professional help!
Sunday's qotd for me this week is to stay in control and I can most do that by tracking every bite, and so far have done that over the weekend. I'm coaching next week, and know from the past that that is always a good week for me, so if I can see a loss this week too, that would get me on the right track.
Woohoo! Coaching is the best for weight loss! I cannot check in here if I haven't done what I should, I feel too guilty!
Monday QOTD: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It's Off to Lose Weight We Go! (recycling from the last BL Challenge -- it's good for the environment!) If you were one of the seven dwarfs, which one would you be today -- Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy, Doc, Sneezy, Bashful or Dopey?
Sleepy - I couldnt get to sleep last night - got maybe 5 hours - and I cant have coffee this morning becuase I have a 10:30 a.m. Cholesterol screening
I hope your cholesterol screening goes well, and you get a ton of rest tonight!
Grumpy, My daughter came home for her baby shower, which was great. I then had to send them home last night instead of today, because we thought we were getting an ice storm. (ended up just raining). Now that grandbabies are coming, its even harder having her in another state.
Awww, I know how sad you were to see her go. I predict you will be doing lots of visiting once that little one arrives!
I know they start filming several months before each new season starts. Otherwise you wouldn't get the "See how the eliminated player looks today" update. But I was under the impression that a week on the ranch was a week on TV. They lose a lot of weight because they HAVE a lot to lose, they eat very restricted diets, and they exercise a lot (several hours) each day.
I can't imagine working out 6 hours a day, and then having a stick of gum for dessert. I don't think I'm cut out for life at the Ranch...but I would go if asked!
Yay! I'm ready for a great week! I will say that I am Sleepy today because DH had trouble sleeping last night so I did too.
I hope you get a great night's sleep tonight!
Dopey. Can't explain that...
Ok, well, I hope you feel less Dopey and more Happy as the day goes on!
QOTD: If I were a dwarf today it would be Doc. I have so much to do as I've been asked to sub the rest of the week at school so I need to be the take charge person, I think Doc would fit that bill today.
Ah, an organized one! I hope everything falls in line for you.
Monday's QOTD: I am definitely a Happy, with a lot of Dopey thrown in
Advice/Suggestions Needed: Each week I have been increasing my exercise a little at a time. I am now sweating 45min-1hour, each morning, 6 days a week.

I need to bump it up again today. I am looking for ideas on a 10-15 minute exercise I can do in the afternoon or evening.
Well, I'm going to suggest yoga. It can be nice and intense, and I still don't sweat. It's a great way to stretch out your muscles and get the long/lean look, and a nice balance for the cardio.
I am having a day. My run was crappy. Little guy doesnt want to go to school and I am not going to make him go. Plus I have a check up at the doctor (just rountine) but I hate the doctors office my b/p is always high due to white coat syndrome; So I get freaked out. At least I exercised today. Even though it was the first time I hated every minute of it. Oh and I have a job interview tomorrow. I am getting kind of bored at home. I have never not worked and genrally have the house clean by the time I drop my son off at preschool. Therefore there is not much for me to do for the 4 hours he is gone. I hope the hours work for me. So I have a busy week.
On a happy note I booked Crystal Palace for Easter Dinner. No sense in the three of us sitting home doing nothing after breakfast and church. I have to research what is offered on Easter at Disney. If anyone has any tips please send them my way.
You do indeed have a busy week! Best of luck with your job interview, and I hope your day and week get better.
Oooppps WOTD Today I am definatly Grumpy with a need for Doc since everyone is still sick but me. Grrrrr not having a good day and that is so not like me.
I'd be Grumpy if everyone else but me was sick, too!
Monday QOTD: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It's Off to Lose Weight We Go! (recycling from the last BL Challenge -- it's good for the environment!) If you were one of the seven dwarfs, which one would you be today -- Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy, Doc, Sneezy, Bashful or Dopey?
Today I would be Happy, with a dash of Dopey. I'm always Dopey because I'm very forgetful (getting worse as I age). I need to figure out how to be more focused.
I'm Happy because I went to bed before midnight, for once, and we got up on time this morning. The boys got to school on time, and DD and I headed to Target, Kohls, and the grocery store. Bypassed McDonalds for lunch and decided to eat at home, and did all of that before 11am!!!
Now I'm going to go clean my kitchen so we can have dinner early without battling the mess.
What a great day you had, definitely a Happy!
Well... I would be the little-known dwarf.... "GUILTY"! He looks a bit like this...

I WAAAAAAAAAY overindulged on Chinese food last night. It is definitely a trigger food for me. I had planned on a splurge of pizza last night, but we decided to save the pizza for later in week and got Chinese instead (I hadn't had it in months). I just lost all control. Even though I had eaten very lightly during the day to save some calories/points for dinner, there weren't enough calories in the WORLD to save to equal what I ate last night. But like that "dish" analogy, I am deciding NOT to throw in the towel. I had a light healthy brunch to start my new day today. I am committing to do at least a hour of good exercise today. We decided NOT to go to a family movie today (my kids are on vacation) so I will be avoiding ANOTHER trigger food of mine... movie theater popcorn.
Well... I suppose that exercise time needs to start now. TTYL.......P
Very nice getting back on track -- and you cannot be guilty. You can't change the past, all you can do is learn and do whatever will make you happier next time.
QOTD: unfortunately, grumpy! gloomy weather and rain and Monday and some other things all rolled into one. If you would have asked Sat. I would have said HAppy!
Well, I'm glad you were Happy, and hopefully Happy will be in your future again!
Sunday QOTD: What will you do today to ensure you will feel less stressed about the coming week?
The only stressful thing I have this week is the snow. I did all my grocery shopping for the week yesterday so I think I am stress-free for the rest of the week.
Monday QOTD: Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It's Off to Lose Weight We Go! (recycling from the last BL Challenge -- it's good for the environment!) If you were one of the seven dwarfs, which one would you be today -- Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy, Doc, Sneezy, Bashful or Dopey?
I guess I am Happy today. I stepped on the scale this morning and realized I am only 1.1 pounds away from being down 25 pounds.
And one of my BFF's has decided to go on the cruise we are going on in December. That makes me really happy!!
You are doing great, with plenty to be Happy about!
QOTD: Dopey. My DD is home sick from school today so I'm off work today. I'm feeling a little discombulated and out of sorts, but not in a bad way, just an inefficient, not quite sure what to do with myself kind of way.
I hope dd feels better -- and I know that feeling. Just think of it as a surprise blessing, and spend a little time doing something for you while dd rests.
Ok, I'm off to analyze a powerpoint -- I'm sure I'll find something new and exciting to share with my boss...
Maria