Welcome to the WISH Biggest Loser 7 Challenge

[MelanieC]

It's been wonderful being the WISH Biggest Loser 7 Coach for this past week.

I'd like to welcome ohMom (Molli) as the new coach for a new awesome week that we will all ROCK!!

Thanks Molli for being our new coach!

 

[jennz]

Thursday QOTD:

Well, funny you should mention this... I was thinking about this, this morning before I saw your post.

I SURE COULD USE SOME SUGGESTIONS!

I am worred about 79 days from now. I have given up McDonalds and chips for 100 days, I am at 22 so far, but what happens at 101 days? I am so worried about falling back into the pattern of eating chips by the family size bag full, and McDonalds mutliple times a day. I have given this stuff up for 100 days before, only to QUICKLY fall back into the previous destructive patterns. I don't want to say I can never have them again, but neither does "have it in moderation" work, because I KNOW me, I start with one chip and it snowballs, I can't seem to be able to resist that temptation. My one thought was that for 1 day, say at 101 days I can have the chips and mcDonalds and then start another 100 days challenge on the very next day.

I just don't know what to do.

It's okay - it's just day by day. You can do it. I have been inspired by you and not totally given up chips etc but when I get home from school - my usual stress-eat-the-bag-of-chips-time - I have started having some fruit, or cottage cheese, or pita chips and then leave the kitchen and do something else (laundry, vacuum, help dd w/homework, exercise (gasp!) ). By the time that's done it's time to start dinner. After dinner I've been having strawberries or another fruit and I just realized that I haven't been craving chips or sweets - wow! Yesterday I did go w/dd to McD and we split some fries and had small choc milkshakes. Yes they were very very tasty but today, back to my routine and I didn't crave them.

So my point is your making a lifestyle change and while they will always be tasty you can have them when you choose. Maybe you can say on the 14th of every month you'll have McDonalds. Random I know.

Hope that helps a little!

 

[MelanieC]

It sounds like many of us are really having troubles today. Must be something in the air - wonder if it's a full moon or something? I just find not having what I'm craving tonight, much harder than the past few nights. I even gave in to eating out at lunch and had Vietnamese. At least it was easy to fit that into my calorie range.

I really find that just thinking about that one meal really helps. I can not eat what I want right now, tonight because I know tomorrow is another day and 3 more meals. I have told myself that I can have one of the 3 things I'm craving tomorrow after dinner.

Tonight for dinner I had wild alaskan salmon that I got at Trader Joes - I've been looking for frozen salmon filet's that were wild alaskan. I see wild lots of times, but its not alaskan. I was so excited when I found it. I cut the package in two and put the other filet back in the freezer. Thawed it in the microwave, put a teaspoon of olive oil in the pan, put some organic lemon pepper on it and then doused it several times with organic lemon juice. It was so good and tasty - and only took 15-20 minutes before I was chowing down.

I also agree with Jen about trying to fit in your favorite indulgences once in a while. Otherwise your going to binge - or Vija, when you finish the 100 day's you will feel like you must eat it. Go ahead and let yourself have what your craving with the instructions that after that meal you move on. Everything in moderation. I've been very proud of myself these past 3 weeks. I haven't limited myself to anything I'm craving. I've eaten out many times (3 times to Sushi, 4 times to Vietnamese, and 1 Thai). I've had cheese and crackers 3 times. I've been eating healthy banana, chocolate and peanut butter smoothies and I even had one serving (28g) of peppermint bark from William Sanoma.

What I have been telling myself is that since I'm logging in the calories and building it into my day (even if a few days were over my allotment) - once my indulgence was over - it wasn't a license to say I'm off my diet.

I'm also planning to go to Maggiano's Little Italy on 1/31. I plan on splitting calamari with hubby, having mushroom ravioli and splitting tirimasu with hubby. I've been craving this meal and I know if I don't have it when we go - I'll still crave it later. I will just work as hard as I can to keep all the meals around it low, and exercise around it too. And I plan on not feeling guilty about it!! I think the difference will be that I don't go home and binge the rest of that day and the next because I blew my diet. I'm not on a diet - I'm living my new lifestyle.

 

[mikamah]

If you can try waking up 45 mins earlier and get in a 30 min workout. This used to be my time to workout, when my kids were younger. It seemed like doing first thing before I started my day was the only way I could fit it in. And it worked. Now my kids are both teens and don't need "mom" all evening to keep them occupied. So Now "my time" is from 7pm - 8pm.

This is the only way I can get my exercise in too. My son is 7, and I love when I am up before him, and can do my watp tape uninterrupted. Often there's balls bouncing around and ninja turtles flying about the room.

Thursday QOTD:

What is your next event that makes you nervous about staying on track?
What is your game plan to get past this event and stay on track/OP?

I just finished my event. We got back from disney world last night, and did the dining plan for the first time, and I definitely indulged. My plan was to get right back on track today, and not to let vacation continue for another week. Today I started journalling my points, and drank my water. I was wiped, and didn't exercise before work, but will be getting up tomorrow to start. I was definitely successful in the eating dept today, and tomorrow i'll add the exercise. I stepped on the scale last night, and it looks like I"m up a couple pounds, so I've been drinking my water, and I'll take what tomorrow's weighin brings. We had a fabulous trip, but I'm back and going to be a loser again.
Looking ahead, I don't really have any big challenges coming up, it's just the day to day ones. I am committing to journalling again, and have found for me, it's the only way that keeps me on track for more than a couple days. Even if I've eaten all my extra points for the week, so long as I keep writing down all I eat, I don't eat as much as when I completely stop tracking, and spiral out of control.

It's been wonderful being the WISH Biggest Loser 7 Coach for this past week.

I'd like to welcome ohMom (Molli) as the new coach for a new awesome week that we will all ROCK!!

Thanks Molli for being our new coach!

Thanks for coaching. I missed most of your week, but did go back a read the past few pages.

Good luck tomorrow, fellow losers.

 

[disneychrista]

I so want to eat something else right now

Do you have any herbal tea's? Sometimes this helps me a nice hot cup of herbal tea to get the edge off of the munchies. Another trick is to workout, put in a tape, walk around the house etc. Just get your mind off the munchies.

 

[My2E's]

I made a new meal tonight and it was great! It is in the Feb. Southern Living magazine in the Healthy Living section. The name is Skillet-Grilled Burritos. Basically it's wheat tortillas with chicken, black beans, mexicorn, 2% shredded cheddar cheese and a creamy cilantro jalapeno sauce (made with light sour cream). You wrap the mixture up and brown them in a skillet sprayed with cooking spray, and serve with salsa and extra sauce. It was excellent but I'm afraid I feel a little full. I hope I didnt eat too much and mess up my weight in tomorrow!

 

[MelanieC]

I made a new meal tonight and it was great! It is in the Feb. Southern Living magazine in the Healthy Living section. The name is Skillet-Grilled Burritos. Basically it's wheat tortillas with chicken, black beans, mexicorn, 2% shredded cheddar cheese and a creamy cilantro jalapeno sauce (made with light sour cream). You wrap the mixture up and brown them in a skillet sprayed with cooking spray, and serve with salsa and extra sauce. It was excellent but I'm afraid I feel a little full. I hope I didnt eat too much and mess up my weight in tomorrow!

OMG that sounds great - Do you have the exact recipe you can post?? YUMMO!

Do you have any herbal tea's? Sometimes this helps me a nice hot cup of herbal tea to get the edge off of the munchies. Another trick is to workout, put in a tape, walk around the house etc. Just get your mind off the munchies.

I have some roasted dandelion tea - I need to get some new ones. I have tons of green tea, but I can't drink now since it has caffeine.

I actually went down and had 10g of peppermint bark (it was just a little piece - but only 49 calories, and one ginger chew that is 10 calories - these are spicy and very chewy - so the combination of those two have really left me satisfied for only 59 calories. That puts me at 1596 for the day - I can live with that.

It will be interesting to see what I lose this week. I've had more higher days than lower calorie days this week (1693, 1696, 1297, 1414, 1349, 1579, and 1596). As of this morning I had lost, let's hope It's still reflecting that in the morning.

I just finished my event. We got back from disney world last night, and did the dining plan for the first time, and I definitely indulged. My plan was to get right back on track today, and not to let vacation continue for another week. Today I started journalling my points, and drank my water. I was wiped, and didn't exercise before work, but will be getting up tomorrow to start. I was definitely successful in the eating dept today, and tomorrow i'll add the exercise. I stepped on the scale last night, and it looks like I"m up a couple pounds, so I've been drinking my water, and I'll take what tomorrow's weighin brings. We had a fabulous trip, but I'm back and going to be a loser again.
Looking ahead, I don't really have any big challenges coming up, it's just the day to day ones. I am committing to journalling again, and have found for me, it's the only way that keeps me on track for more than a couple days. Even if I've eaten all my extra points for the week, so long as I keep writing down all I eat, I don't eat as much as when I completely stop tracking, and spiral out of control.
Thanks for coaching. I missed most of your week, but did go back a read the past few pages.

Good luck tomorrow, fellow losers.

Great job on getting back on track!!

 

[tink1963]

Thursday QOTD:

Well, funny you should mention this... I was thinking about this, this morning before I saw your post.

I SURE COULD USE SOME SUGGESTIONS!

I am worred about 79 days from now. I have given up McDonalds and chips for 100 days, I am at 22 so far, but what happens at 101 days? I am so worried about falling back into the pattern of eating chips by the family size bag full, and McDonalds mutliple times a day. I have given this stuff up for 100 days before, only to QUICKLY fall back into the previous destructive patterns. I don't want to say I can never have them again, but neither does "have it in moderation" work, because I KNOW me, I start with one chip and it snowballs, I can't seem to be able to resist that temptation. My one thought was that for 1 day, say at 101 days I can have the chips and mcDonalds and then start another 100 days challenge on the very next day.

I just don't know what to do.

I was once where you are. I started WW in sept of 06. My DH does the program with me. One of the things we decided we would not do was eat at McDonalds. And we ate there A LOT. gotta love those happy meals. And I am happy to say we still have not given in and gone there. Now its a matter of how long we can say its been since we haven't eaten there. We don't want to break the streak. And believe me I would love to go and try one of the Angus Burgers. And I do have a love affair with the McRib.
My advice would be that once you get to 100 days, tell yourself 10 more days and so on and see how many days you can go mcdonalds free.

 

[lisah0711]

Thanks MelanieC for being the coach this week!

 

[LuvBaloo]

MelanieC - thanks for being a coach. Can you tell me what's in your peanut butter, banana, chocolate smoothie? I love banana, peanut butter, and chocolate so this sounds yummy!

 

[corinnak]

MelanieC - thank you for your week of coaching - I thought it was great!

I am so glad we were talking about challenging situations earlier today. Tonight was like a Biggest Loser Challenge on the TV:

I went to rehearsal tonight (I'm stage managing) and it was the birthday of one of the actors. Not one but 3 people brought birthday treats - cupcakes, cake and a giant chocolate chip cookie. They set them down on my table (MY TABLE!!) Right under my nose. And you know what? I had the points for it! And do you know even more what? I decided that cake-mix cake and grocery store giant cookie were not worth my points! I moved and sat somewhere else so I wouldn't have to smell it and look at it. At break time, someone even asked "Aren't you going to have some?" and my response was "Believe me, it's better if I don't even start" Of course tomorrow's weigh in was on my mind as well.

 

[Debbie]

Good morning, Everyone! I've been MIA this week, although I skimmed posts each day. It's getting to be a busy time for me so quick check-ins are all that I'm going to be able. Pleased to say that I lost a bit again this week, so I am 3 for 3.

Thanks Melanie for the coaching. Weekends are hardest for me for water AND veggies, so I will need to work hard on that. Stay warm. Stay strong. Stay true. And just put one foot in front of the other!

 

[donac]

This is going to be quick since I have to get ready for the school day.

Thank's Melanie for being coach this week.

I lost 4.2poundsI guess I did some things right this week. I am excited to be able to keep this up. I know that the COW had something to do with this. I wanted to get a perfect score again this week so it kept me on task with my water and veggies. Give it a try. It will help.

Good luck to everyone else.

 

[mikamah]

MelanieC - thank you for your week of coaching - I thought it was great!

I am so glad we were talking about challenging situations earlier today. Tonight was like a Biggest Loser Challenge on the TV:

I went to rehearsal tonight (I'm stage managing) and it was the birthday of one of the actors. Not one but 3 people brought birthday treats - cupcakes, cake and a giant chocolate chip cookie. They set them down on my table (MY TABLE!!) Right under my nose. And you know what? I had the points for it! And do you know even more what? I decided that cake-mix cake and grocery store giant cookie were not worth my points! I moved and sat somewhere else so I wouldn't have to smell it and look at it. At break time, someone even asked "Aren't you going to have some?" and my response was "Believe me, it's better if I don't even start" Of course tomorrow's weigh in was on my mind as well.

Kudos to you for resisting all three of those challenges. It would have been so easy to just have a little bit, but it was so smart to save those points for something healthier.

I am thrilled to be down .2 this week after a week in disney. It definitely motivates me to stay on track now, and I love seeing my notes to myself from the first week of this challenge around my house to help keep me on track. One of my goals is to lose 15 pounds total, so 3 down, 12 to go.

Have a great losing day everyone. Hang in there if you are struggling. You can do it!!

 

[ohMom]

Good morning losers!! Melanie, thanks again for coaching last week. I hope you all are patient with me, i've had a hard time keeping up each week, but i will do me bestest!

QOTD: What is your strategy to stay on your healthy eating/exercise plan THIS weekend??

for me - my hubby and I commited to return to Sat a.m. workouts at the fitness center. Sunday is hit or miss for me on excercising, I usually plan me week and decide if I need Sunday or have enough time during the week to get all my workouts in. Tonight we are going to "happy hour" after work at a local pizza joint to bid farewell to a co-worker. i've got to keep it slim on the calories during the day, so i'll have low cal soup for lunch. At the rest. I'm using Melanie's strategy by planning what i'll eat and sticking to that- small portions. I love this pizza so i'm going to allow a small portion. that's the ticket. rest of weekend is pretty normal, i'm roasting a turkey on sat. i have salad in the frig and everything else i need to stay on track!


WI -- i remained the same as 2 weeks ago (didn't WI last week) so what does this tell me? i need to be more accountable and journal consistently. it's helped to read the confidence in alot of posts prior.....thanks for sharing it all guys

vija -- i think only you can decide what truly is the next step after your 100 days. for me it would be best to then decide foods I can substitute for those tastes i crave. hamburgers at home -- truly sooo much better than fast-food! i promise you. the lean ground beef is awesome -- if you are adventerous add some goat cheese and sundried tomatoes to the meat -- awesome! as for chips -- what about baked chips in single serving bags? that is the strategy at my house and i've noticed it helps my kids stop at one serving as well. for me, i would try to find a healthier choice chip that i like.

i would love that recipe too for the burritos! yummmy!! especially the sauce!

 

[pianogirl73]

I am happy to say that I lost 1.2 puunds this week which is a total of 3.1. Thanks so much for all the words of encouragment last week. I was so frustrated, and without all of those words I would have been frustrated all week instead of renewing my efforts. I only have about 10 pounds in total to lose and now I believe it when they say the last 10 pounds are the hardest.

Congratulations to all of you for all of your hard work!

 

[LisaNJ25]

Hi Everyone! I forgot to send my weigh in last week. Last week I was still the same.. an 8 pound loss. Today I am down 2 more for total of 10 pounds. I wont lie.. I thought I would be further long by now.. but averaging 3 pounds week hopefully will help keep it off in the long run.

I really need to increase my exercise and water intake.

 

[karebear1]

Well,..... I'm down 1 lb. from last week, which makes my total loss come to 3 lbs. Now, some people lose that in 3 days, but for me.... it is a miracle! I have a very difficult time getting weight off, so I guess this little bit of weight coming off is a real gift. My Dr. said he'd love to see a 10lb loss by the time I go back to see him in 3 months. If I keep up this rate, I will have lost about 13 lbs. He would be so happy (as would I) with that loss!

 

[TammyNC]

Thanks MelanieC for the coaching last week...I wasn't on quite as much but did pop in when I could.

WI this week was down 1 lb this week, not surprised since I didn't get in my walks like I would have liked (weather was an issue). Hopefully this upcoming week we'll be able to return to our walks at the track.

QOTD: What is your strategy to stay on your healthy eating/exercise plan THIS weekend??

I am asking for smaller portions, drinking my water and will be getting a couple of walks in while I'm away. So far so good, made it through dinner and breakfast this morning.

Have a great weekend everyone!!

 

[kt_mom]

I'm down about 1 lb from last week for a total of almost 3lbs. I too thought I would be further along by now. I've cut over 500 calories a day just cutting out the regular sodas I was drinking. Probably closer to a 1000 for the sodas. I know that's horrible, I was drinking probaby at least 6 cans a day and no water ever. And no excercise. Now I'm keeping my calories around 1200, drinking 64+ ounces of water a day and I've done 30 minutes on the treadmill 4 days this week but only 2 days last week. I really thought I would have lost more in a little over two weeks. But 3 lbs. is better than nothing and I'm determined to keep going.