Lisa's Journal (Life on the "Beach" - Part 2 all the way to goal!)

ZerasPride · Jan 15, 2004

January 14, 2004 (Wednesday) Day 45 on the Beach

Hi Lisa, yes, I'm here. I was checking out the regular WISH board first this morning. So many sites to surf and so little time . . .

It's cold this morning. Boy, I wish we could move where it's warmer but I don't think it's going to happen. Oh well.

I was really tempted to cheat today. Yep, the rock was ready to crumble. I got caught in a snow storm last night and didn't get home until 7:30 instead of my usual 6:00 and the natives were restless to say the least and wanted to eat REAL food RIGHT NOW. I caved in and let my DH order a pizza. I am really getting worried about him. He is hardly eating anything and I just noticed it. He has had toast for breakfast the past couple of days, protien and wheat bread with diet soda for lunch and whatever I make for dinner but he has been skipping the veggies or salad I make. He also doesn't eat his snacks between meals. He tells me it's no big deal and that he's just not hungry. But I am scared for him. He needs to eat more and he needs to eat his veggies. I'm going to try to get him to pick up some of his favorites at the store tomorrow and see if that will entice him.

Anyway, back to the pizza saga, when DH left to pick up the pizza, I had decided I was going to eat several slices crust and all. I just didn't care! It was 8:30 and I had not eaten since my snack at 3:00. I was starving. As I was waiting for DH, I decided it would be fun to try on some of the clothes that were too small in the back of my closet and reached for my favorite shorts that I haven't been able to wear in 2 or more summers. They fit perfectly! I was estatic and realized I did not want jeopardize all my good work by cheating. So I had the toppings off a few slices and my salad and was fine.

Menu:
B: 1/2 bowl of whole wheat flakes with 1% milk and 3 slices of bacon
S: 7 whole almonds
L: turkey salad with lf cheese and lf ranch dressing
S: 1 chicken and cheese roll up
D: several slices of pizza toppings only and a salad with a ff fudgesicle for dessert

Exercise/Water:
Did my FIRM cardio video for 30 minutes and water was a 5.0.

That's a wrap for Wednesday.

Erin - thanks for the advice about the weights, I really need the reassurance. I am incorporating them when I do my FIRM tapes. Thanks for commenting on me and DH's date night. We had a lovely time and hope to be able to do it again really soon.

Lisa - DH and I really enjoyed ourselves! I can't wait until I can comfortably cross my legs. I haven't been able to do that in over 10 years. I hope you are having a good day.

Strings · Jan 15, 2004

Lisa, you are a strong woman. Pizza is the one thing I just can't even look at. I leave the room when a commercial is on. I'm really proud of you. I bet those shorts look great. Try ro keep warm. We were at 3 degrees this morning with 9 inches of snow. Have a great day.
Beth

LAinSEA · Jan 15, 2004

Lisa - my DH can eat way more carbs per day than I can and still maintain weight loss (he's getting kind of cranky about pizza too these days). Good for you to resist. I don't know if I could be as strong.

I told my DH that if he can come up with a low-carb thin-crust pizza dough recipe that I'd go for it too. There is a $20 set at Costco that includes a baking stone, wooden paddle and cutter that I'd like to pick up to make pizza at home. I think he's going to do some experimenting soon. I'll share the recipe when he's got it down.

We've recently found the low-carb "Subway" wraps and some low-carb tortillas at our grocery store and trader joe's. It's so nice to have wrap made with these for a change. Lots of great fiber too.

I'm proud of you for getting into those clothes in the back of your closet!

-Laurie

joyjoy · Jan 15, 2004

Okay, I'm going to get fired. I literally spent nearly ALL DAY reading your entire journal! I did take a few breaks to put in some quality time with my employer, but for the most part.. nahhhh.

Well. I must say I am VERY impressed with your determination and tenacity at this program. You are really an inspiration. I ordered the book at amazon.com and I'll be starting as soon as I get it. Thanks for being so diligent about keeping up your journal, I'm sure it gets to be a chore sometimes.

Congratulations on your success thusfar and keep at it, girl!

Melanie :wave:

ZerasPride · Jan 15, 2004

Hi Beth - It can be so hard to resist sometime so I am trying to focus on stuff I can have and not what I am not allowing myself to have right now. I'm going to list a couple of pizza recipes (one with a crust and one without) that I got off the lowcarbfriends board. Feel free to try one. I think I'm going to try the one with the crust next week.

Hi Laurie - DH and I have seen and drooled over the commercials for the wraps at Subway. They seem like a nice alternative. It seems like everybody is jumping on the lc bandwagon. I heard Burger King has a whopper without the bun and several potato chip companies are coming out with lc chips. Like I mentioned to Beth, below are a couple of pizza recipes you might want to give a try before you buy the kit from Costco. I hope this helps that pizza craving we can all get from time to time.

Welcome Melanie - thanks so much for visiting my journal! It's nice to have a new WISH buddy!! I hope it didn't take you too long to get through to the end. I can't believe I've actually kept up with posting everyday. I find it very theraputic and it really does help with keeping me focused, not to mention I love getting the encouragement from my WISH buds and giving it where I can too! I'm glad you'll be starting on SBD soon. It really is a good program and I know you'll be successful!

DEEP DISH PIZZA
4 oz. cream cheese, softened 3 eggs (2 eggs it will have less of an eggy taste but wont rise as high) 1/4 cup Kraft-type parmesan (or "real") - I used the stuff in the can 1/4 t. oregano (I used an Italian seasoning mixture) 1/4 t. garlic powder 8 oz. Italian cheese blend or mozzarella, shredded 1/4 cup pizza sauce (mine had 4 carbs per 1/4 cup) 4 oz. mozzarella, shredded Assorted toppings: pepperoni, ham, sausage, 4 oz. can mushrooms, green peppers, bacon, hamburger, etc. Dash of garlic pepper or garlic powder and some Italian seasoning for top of pizza Beat the cream cheese, in a medium bowl, until soft and creamy. Gradually beat in eggs, one at a time. Don't be tempted to just dump the eggs into the cream cheese all at once, the cream cheese will just stay in little lumps. Add the cream, parmesan and seasonings; stir in the 8 oz. Italian cheese. Grease a 9x13" glass baking dish. Spread egg/cheese mixture evenly in pan. Bake at 375º, for 15 minutes. (this is what the original recipe said, but most people on the forum said to bake it about 30 minutes. That may be a bit too long; it was starting to get very dark on the bottom. You do want it to be nice and brown, though, for the "bread-like" experience, but be careful) Let stand 5 minutes. Spread crust with pizza sauce, then 4 oz. of mozzarella and the toppings of your choice. Sprinkle with garlic pepper. Bake until bubbly and browned, about 15 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting. Makes 8 servings (4 carbs each)

CRUSTLESS PIZZA

Ingredients:
1. 1/2lb browned hamburger
1/2lb browned, scrambled sausage
2 green peppers
2 cans of mushrooms (stems and pieces)
Spices
1/4 of a small onion (sliced and cut up)
2 cups of shredded mozz cheese
Pepperoni
Canadian Bacon
Tomato Sauce

How to Prepare:
Brown hamburger and sausage and then drain. While this is happening you can cut up your veggies and prepare your other ingredients. ** To make the sauce, i just use 1/2 cup of tomato sauce and add garlic powder and onion powder** (Just to have that sauce look). Use a 9x13 and layer the ingredients in the order you want. We always put hamburger and sausage first... Add the ingredients you wish..
Back at 375 degrees until cheese is brown and bubbly.
This is a huge thick dish.

DoeWDW · Jan 16, 2004

Lisa, such perfect timing!! I've copied both pizza recipes and will be trying them over the next 2 weeks! I'm working really hard to find new recipes these days!

You've been doing so well! Congrats on fitting into some of your "back of the closet" clothes!! Also, congrats on staying on plan the other night. I know that feeling of being so tired and so hungry that I could CARE LESS - just give me FOOD NOW!! You are doing an amazing job!!

Hope you have a great day, Lisa!! :sunny:

lulu201 · Jan 16, 2004

Good morning, Lisa! :sunny:

You are doing so well. . .every time I see your cheat free star clippie I am awed and inspired. Truly. ::yes::

I know what kind of dedication that it requires--well, take your pizza story for instance. The fact that you wanted it but then just ate the toppings. . .you've given me extra motivation to stay on track today.

How are things with DH? He's lucky to have sweetie like you keeping your eye on him.

Have a terrific day and keep up the amazing work. Thank you for all the support you send my way--I'm glad we're "internet ladies" in this together!

:wave:

Erin

ZerasPride · Jan 16, 2004

January 15, 2004 (Thursday) Day 46 on the Beach

I have really been a SBD crusader these past few days! Another lady at my job borrowed the book from me and she's starting next week. That makes 7 of us total. It is wonderful to see people embracing a healthier eating style. I think we should start holding weekly meetings like they do with WW. Maybe we could get a scale and a tape measurer and keep them in the employee lunch room!

Anyway, it has been so cold lately. DH and I have rekindled our talk about moving to North Carolina. We'll see how it goes over the next year or so but this cold weather is not helping at all.

I will weigh in on Sunday and have been very good about resisting the temptation to get on the scale. I keep telling myself once a week, once a week.

I'm so happy that DH ate a nice salad last night with his grilled chicken breast and he has agreed to let me make some quiche cups for breakfast for the both of us next week and to eat some more veggies next week so I am a happy camper. I used to be worried that he could eat an entire pizza in one sitting, and now I worry that he's subsisting on toast and grilled chicken breasts. What a difference six or seven weeks can make! I think he was just going through a thing where he had gotten a little tired of salad at dinner and boiled eggs at breakfast so I am working on adding more variety for us.

Menu:
B: 1/2 bowl of wheat flakes with 1% milk and 3 slices of bacon
S: 7 whole almonds
L: chef salad with lf ranch dressing and a lf fruit yogurt
S: no afternoon snack
D: 4 slices of bacon and 1/2 bowl of wheat flakes with 1% milk

I know my dinner was just a repeat of breakfast and that I am probably eating too much bacon but it was either breakfast for dinner or I was going to stop at a fast food place and grab a burger (without the bun of course). I thought breakfast was a better choice.

Doreen - I'm glad I could help you find something new to try. The lowcarbfriends site has literally dozens of recipes if you are looking to be adventurous. Please let me know if you liked either of the pizza recipes. Thanks for your support, it means so much to me!

Erin - Thanks for stopping by. Your encouragement is such a boost to my morale! Staying cheat free is something I am determined to do and confidentially, I like seeing the days add up on my clippie so that keeps me motivated when I am tempted! Thanks for commenting on DH. The fact that he ate a salad yesterday made me so happy! I don't want him getting too skinny. I like having something solid to hold on to ::yes::

.

I hope everyone has a good, warm and cheat free day!

wiskband · Jan 17, 2004

Hi Zera........
I decided to look ya up since you replied to my journal....Glad I did, your doing great with this Cheat free thing!
See although, I have been losing weight, I do cheat alot!
And now that I am writing everyday about my food intake, I notice it even more. I love to pick! I have four kids all under 10, its hard not to pick. lol They dont finish something (ill finsih it for them or just the school snacks I got laying around the house) can make you go crazy! Anyway I believe it may have been you that suggested I join the cheat free folks, I have been considering it. I hate to fail which is why I have been CONSIDERING it and havent actually done it!
I have tryed to be as spefic as I can in my journal with the food intake, and Have promised to be honest 100%. like your journal, I feel like I am writing to myself so if I lie, I am only lying to myself.
I guess theonly thing is I am not following anything strictly so even when I think I am cheating, I rationalize!!!!lol.
anyway perhaps I will join.
Anyway just wanted to poop in and tell ya Great JOB! you are definitely an inspiration!
renee
:crazy:

Castillo Mom · Jan 17, 2004

Hi Lisa! Sorry I haven't been around the last couple of days, boss was away in meetings so that pretty much leaves me to oversee the staff. There is another case mgr. here but she hides in her office when my boss is gone so the staff won't even bother going to her for anything. :rolleyes:

I wrote down your pizza recipe, sounds like a great alternative. Glad your husband is eating better now. We do have get on them sometimes don't we? But it's for their own good.

Time is short since I'm still at work and I have a couple more journals to visit. Take care Lisa and have a great weekend. Oh, and good luck on the scale tomorrow, I'll check in with you on Monday to see how you did.

A1A1 · Jan 17, 2004

Like CastilloMom, I have been away from my friend's journals for a couple of days. I couldn't wait to check in to see how you were doing. I am so happy for you and dh. Great work. I will try the lc pizza, too. After reading your previous post about pizza tops, that is what I ate today for lunch and dinner. I really felt like I was eating my favorite food. People probably thought I was nuts eating just the tops and throwing away the crust.

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!

JCJRSmith · Jan 18, 2004

Hi Lisa,

I have been mostly a lurker here, but I have been following your journal and your amazing progress. You are an inspiration to others - never doubt that. Witness the fact that there are now 7 poeple at your office on this diet since you began. My wife and I started the SBD on 5 Jan, and to date, I have found it:

a.) easy
b.) life changing
c.) satisfying
d.) all of the above

"I'll take D. all of the above for 15 pounds, Alex."

Actually, follwing the diet, as of yesterday morning, I was down 16 pounds (not bad for two weeks). Tomorrow we start Phase 2, but we are going into it slowly - more like a Phase One-and-a-half.

Also, tomorrow I plan to get my fat, lazy, bu.. er, get myself on to the treadmill or skier (we have both) and get some exercise. Wish me luck - and keep up the good work

Jerry in PA

PS - I grew up in Solon - GO TRIBE, GO BROWNS, GO CAVS!!!

ZerasPride · Jan 18, 2004

January 16, 2004 (Friday) Day 47 on the Beach

I can't believe I forgot to post yesterday! Duh! I guess I do have a life.

I'll make it short and sweet because it's hard to remember from two days ago very many details.

Menu:
B: 1/2 bowl of cereal with 1% milk and 3 slices of bacon
S: 7 whole almonds
L: A Skinny Bou coffee drink and a double cheeseburger from McD's without the bun or ketchup with a diet soda
S: no afternoon snack
D: taco salad at home and a cup of no sugar added hot chocolate made with 1% milk with a small squirt of reduced calorie whipped cream (yum, yum)

Exercise/Water Gauge:
I used today as my "wild card" non-exercise day. Water was a 5.0.

That's a wrap for Friday.

Renee - thanks for stopping by! Keep a journal helps to keep me honest and serves as a gentle but persistent kick in the pants whenever I think about cheating. I also like adding days to my cheat free clippie so I hope you decide to join us soon!

Lisa - Hi my friend! It's so nice to hear from you. I know you are very busy so I consider it a special treat whenever you can stop by! I hope you can try the pizza recipe soon. Let me know what you think of it if you do. Thanks for commenting on my DH. He seems to be eating a lot better lately. Take care!

A - Hi! I hope you are doing well. I have to make it over to your journal to see what progress you are making. I felt a bit funny the first time DH and I had pizza and we threw away the toppings. But I don't feel funny doing anymore. I just keep thinking to myself - I'm allergic to the crust - it makes me fat! I really don't miss it too much but would like to eat my pizza with my hands instead of a fork and knife all the time. Take care of yourself and I'll be checking on you soon!

Jerry - thanks for stopping by my journal and thanks for the encouragement. You have lost 16 pounds in the first two weeks? Awesome job! You mentioned being on SBD 1.5, I found that so funny because that's what DH and I always say. We just haven't quite gotten comfortable with the whole idea of eating all the stuff you are allowed on Phase II. But we're getting there. You and your wife are doing it right by planning on adding back the good carbs slowly and seeing how your body reacts to them. Nice to have a former fellow Buckeye on the SBD! Keep up the great work and keep us posted on your progress!!!

ZerasPride · Jan 18, 2004

January 17, 2004 (Saturday) Day 48 on the Beach

I had lunch with a very dear friend today. We went to Red Lobster and I had looked at the menu on line before hand and pretty much knew what I was going to have. We had a lovely time together and I focused on all the good foods I could have and tried not to think about the meal I would usually have ordered. I wanted to get the cole slaw but was afraid of the sugar so I stuck with the salad. I asked the water for a vegetable with my meal and he forgot so my meal was delivered with a big buttery baked potato. I immediately took it off my plate and threw it (okay tossed it) to the side on an empty plate. My girlfriend laughed at me. It was a good lunch and the company was outstanding!

I got an invitation to a ladies night out for this evening. I made taco meatballs because I wasn't sure if there would be foods there I could eat. Boy, am I glad I did! There was practically nothing there that wasn't breaded or fried. My meatballs were actually a hit. It was the first time I had tried them and they were tasty. I did feel a little bit overwhelmed at first seeing all those wings, bread, mac and cheese and other foods just there fore the taking. The hostess (who knew I was "dieting") proceeds to tell me that it looked like I was going to have to go off my diet for that night. That's all I needed to hear. A stoney resolve came over me and I filled my plate with salad, several meatballs and green beans. I chose to focus on the conversation and music instead of the food. Even when they were eating brownie cheesecake and butter rum cake, I had a cup of peppermint tea and totally engrossed myself in a conversation with the nice lady sitting next to me.

I am always so proud of myself when I can come out of a potentially devastating social eating situation with flying colors. It helps me to feel powerful and in control of my eating and myself. Just two months ago, I would not have had the resolve, confidence or will to resist all that food but now I do have the power. It's an awesome feeling! And I am also happy to say I didn't feel deprived all evening. I am learning to focus on people at parties and not food - that's hard for me because I always equated parties with food and would practically ignore the people. I don't know if that makes sense or not but it's true for me.

I also knew I was weighing myself Sunday morning and I didn't want anything to interfer with the scale. I admit I was a bit hungry later in the evening when I got home. DH wanted me to eat but I refused. It was important for me to get on the scale and see a loss. I had cheated and weighed myself in the morning and I wanted to maintain that loss or hopefully see a little more lost on Sunday morning and didn't want to take a chance by eating late at night. There I admitted that's the reason I didn't eat even though I was hungry. I won't do it again, I promise

.

Menu:
B: 1/2 bowl of oatmeal and three slices of bacon
S: no morning snack
L: (Red Lobster) grilled shrimp, shrimp scampi and broiled flounder with a salad and diet soda
S: 1 cup of no sugar added hot chocolate with reduced calorie whip topping
D: 3 taco meatballs, salad and green beans with peppermint tea and a diet rite (white grape)

Exercise/Water Gauge:
I decided today was the day I was going to "go for it" with my FIRM work out video and increase my work out from 30 to 40 minutes. I did it!!! It felt good but I am a bit sore. I hope to work my way up to the entire 55 minutes by spring. Water wasn't so good today, about a 4.0.

That's a wrap for Saturday. I did weigh myself this morning and was happy with the results. Like my new clippie? I am almost at my first goal of 10% of my body weight being gone. This board, this journal and my WISH buds play a big role in my success. I almost felt like you guys were there at that party with me last night and at the restaurant in the afternoon cheering me on. The support here is so powerful and I hope I can inspire and encourage each of you (posters and lurkers alike) the way you have encouraged and inspired me!

DoeWDW · Jan 18, 2004

Lisa, you are such an inspiration to me!! What a great way to handle your lunch date AND your evening out with the girls!

Congrats on that beautiful new clippie!! :Pinkbounc

lulu201 · Jan 18, 2004

I AM IN LOVE WITH THAT NEW CLIPPIE AND I WANT MY OWN RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Woman, you are truly amazing! If you could just pass over a teaspoon or so of your resolve, I'd be a happy camper! What a great idea to weigh yourself before your Ladies' Night; it helped you to stick to your guns. Though we all know you would've anyway. I'm going to remember your story all week long, Lisa. Thanks for journaling it.

Will you be working tomorrow? Whatever the case, enjoy your day and make it another winner!

Congratulations,
Erin

Strings · Jan 18, 2004

Lisa,

I LOVE YOUR GORGEOUS NEW CLIPPIE!

Congratulations. I know how hard you have worked. I'm so proud of you. You did a great job resisting temptation at the party. Making it through that party shows you have really made a lifestyle change. I'm glad DH is eating his veggies too. Sometimes men are worse than kids.
Congratulations again. :smooth:

Beth

ZerasPride · Jan 19, 2004

January 18, 2004 (Sunday) Day 49 on the Beach

I can't believe I've lost 25 pounds. I haven't reached my first 10% goal yet. I still have 3 pounds to go but I am almost there. I wanted to do something for me as recognition of losing my first 25 pounds. I thought about getting a manicure but it was almost $25 so I decided to go buy the stuff to give myself a manicure at home. I like the results. It's not quite professional looking but if you saw my nails before you would definitely agree with me that they look 100% better. I have decided that for every 5 pounds I lose from now on, not only will I get a new weight loss clippie but that I will buy myself a new shade of polish.

Today's menu:
B: 1/2 bowl of cereal, 2 scrambled eggs and 3 slices of bacon
L: 1 hot dog on a slice of whole wheat bread and some popcorn with a diet rite
D: 4 deviled eggs, collard greens and 1 fried chicken breast (cooked in canola oil and coated with egg and parmesean cheese) with a cup of hot chocolate with reduced calorie whipped topping for dessert

Exercise/Water:
I didn't work out today. It's my own fault, the day just got away from me. I was supposed to do my FIRM ab sculpt video. I'll make up for it on Tuesday - instead of my bike ride, I'll do the tape. Water was a 5.0. Not too bad for a weekend.

That's a wrap for Sunday.

Doe - thanks for stopping by and checking on me. Your support means so much!

Erin - You will earn your new clippie in no time. I'll be looking for it! I really don't know what spurs me on and makes this time so different from the others but I know the support I get here helps so thanks for being my WISH buddie!

Beth - thanks to you too for stopping by. I'm glad DH is eating more too. I was really worried there for a minute.

Take care everyone and I'll be stopping by your journals soon!

A1A1 · Jan 19, 2004

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WWWWWWWWWoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooppppppppppppiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

I was on the edge of my seat reading about your party and your lunch. You deserve this wonderful new clippie!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you~happier for you than for myself when I show a loss!!

You tried this program completely on your own (you and dh, of course), and have made it a success. This is so great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You made my day!~

Keep up the outstanding work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :hyper: