Sunny Saturday, Soggy Saturday May 1st

Good morning all --

today is starting out sunny but we have a large chance of rain for most of the day........hence today's title --

Brandy and I have walked and I am headed to shortly and then a quick stop at Michael's to pick up some embroidery floss for a new project (anyone's who's into crosstitch knows there is ALWAYS some color you need for the next project you don't have!!) Hopefully I can keep myself out of Ross & TJMaxx which are in the same plaza...........

Xena -- you asked about substitute stuff...........I've used fat-free mayo for quite a while now, I actually LIKE it. Guess I never worried too much about the health concerns or what is actually in it (it was fat-free, where mayo is loaded with fat, so that was good enough for me ). I used to use real mayo but now it tastes funny to me. DH is a Miracle Whip man and he likes the Miracle Whip Lite but not the Miracle Whip free. I am so used to margarine -- butter tastes bad to me. I use Equal in my cereal and coffee, tried to switch to Splenda but dh said he could taste a difference (I couldn't but I'm not going to buy both so I stuck to Equal). I use regular sugar in my baking unless it calls for a sugar substitute. I've never worried too much about the health concerns of using substitutes and will be interested to see what others have to say. Oh yea and I only use fat-free salad dressings.

Shirley -- hope DS's hives are better today!!

Dany -- I saw where there is a new South Beach Diet cookbook...........all recipes that fit the plan (it was #1 on the non-fiction list last week) you might be interested in checking it out if you stick to SBD........and good luck!!

Don't know that I can list 5 MO moments but one is definitely when we're in BodyPump class and I can lift twice as much as a gal half my age................ (AND look good doing it !!)

Have a great weekend everybody!!!


Ann

Good Saturday Morning

It has been such a wonderful week of rest & relaxation... and, it is only Saturday! Well, we have a brand new deck & we are planning just a small bar-b-que with DD & DgS today. They requested fish... so I'll be searching for some recipes.

I have to admit that I really haven't had the challenge much in mind for the later part of this week. But it is a new month, DH & I have a 10 pound weight loss goal in mind... and I am there... focused & ready to go.

Ann... I know exactly what you're talking about with new projects & always needing some more thread... I really need to get back into working on my "projects"... needless to say I have quite a few & haven't really taken the time. Once this bedroom is complete (we're hoping this weekend will be it for the major work), I am looking to spend my time relaxing with my needle & thread.

BSQ... you had mentioned about WW points this week. The points are calculated by the total caloric counts of the food; the total amount of fiber & fat. There is a sliding calculator they provide when you sign up & you use this to help calculate the points. For those instances where you don't have the calculator with you, I was told at the meetings that 60 calories = 1 point. The program is set up for you to eat a max # of points/day depending on your weight range (for me it is 22). They also allow 35 "bonus" points for the week to be used as you like. So you really don't have to feel guilty about a splurge. If you want to move beyond a platueau they suggest cutting back on the bonus points. WW also provides guidelines making sure that you get your dairy, fruits & veggies... actually most veggies are 0 points. Hope this helps...

Xena... I know I've struggled with the quality of foods my family eats... I have a tendency -- not set in stone though -- to try to eat "real" food versus the substitutes out there. I am someone that can really do a smear of real mayo & enjoy the taste. And, honestly, I do WW program & am accountable for those extra calories. Sugar... no substitutes for me. I don't tolerate sugar very well & just use it to bake/cook with -- and it is always the real thing. I had a friend who was into Macrobiotic cooking due to health issues. I actually took a cooking class with her to learn more about eating "whole" foods. That has really stuck with me & I prefer to eat a lot of fresh veggies & fruits... even have gotten to the point where I look for organic varieties. It is more work when cooking but it is something I enjoy (most of the time -- that's where the not set in stone comes into play )

Ok... I remember that someone has just lost 4 lbs!!! but I am experiencing CRS moment.... anyway CONGRATS!!!!

To all who I didn't address... Have A Wonderful Saturday. It's looking to be a beautiful day here.

I'm off to pick up our new patio set & find recipes to choose from...

Sue

It's Super Soggy Soccer Saturday for me. Gotta figure that when our MLS team has a home game it's: a)cold b) snowing c)raining or d) a, b and c.

So far this morning I've had my Actonel and water. Have to wait at least 30 minutes after taking it to eat. I think a scrambled egg with grated cheese sounds good this morning along with a glass of soy.

I use Splenda instead of sugar for my tea. It's also in the sugar free Jell-o I buy. I don't think it's as tasty as sugar but it does make a difference in the numbers on the scale. I used to use margarine and then switched to butter a couple of years ago. It did take getting used to it and now I think margarine tastes weird! I'm also a fan of the low fat mayo, salad dressings, etc.
Ann, I hear you about the embroidery floss. I used to have all the colors but don't anymore since I haven't done any cross stitching in ages. DD wanted to learn a few months ago so I got her started. She enjoyed it and made a nice bookmark.

Thanks for mentioning that SBD has a cookbook. I'll have to check it out. It's been such an easy plan for DH and me to follow.

I'm off to start a very busy day that isn't going to end 'til probably 11:30 tonight.

Enjoy the weekend!

~Donna

Hi all! Just a quick pop-in as I am heading out of town to my nephew's First Communion. I am planning on being OP at the party if at all possible. Water may be sluggish today but I will make up for it tomorrow.

Dany....good luck with the SBD. You will love it! I glanced through the cookbook the other day and saw some great recipes. I am asking for that as a Mother's Day present from my son. He never knows what to get me so I mentioned that book.

Ann, it is sort of a half and half day here as rain is coming later on. Nice MO moment!

Sue, sounds like you had a nice anniversary! Enjoy the new deck. I am jealous!

Donna, your son's soccer games sound like my son's LL games. Always nasty and never sunny!

s all! I am off...........


Emily

and good afternoon ladies! Hope all is going well and everyone is OP.

I'm headed to the gym in a bit for a good session and some aerobic exercise as well. I've got a turkey loin roast marinating in a cuban lime concoction. Smells yummy and can't wait to grill it. Baked yams and grilled veggies to go with it later.

Xena: we are kind of house(s) divided on the imitation/substitute stuff.

As we've gotten more conscience about what we put in our bodies, our preference has been for natural foods. We used a butterlike spread for a while, but decided we prefer the taste of the real deal, and use it wisely. Forever I'd been a nonfat yogurt eater. I mean I love the stuff. But I've switched to eating regular yogurt and getting 4oz containers instead of 8ozs.

I do use Splenda for beverages, but can't bring myself to bake with it. DSw keeps a sugar bowl more prevelant in GA, so I use sugar down there. In CA we use sugar as well.

I buy fatfree salad dressings ... but have come to realize it's not because they are fatfree. It's cause I like the taste of them.

Dany: good luck with your change in strategies. A change in routine might be just what your body needs!

To all: have a BEST day!

time for me to get out n wash the cars.

BSQ

Hi BEST s

Today is a weird day, weatherwise: goes from hot and soggy, to cool and damp, and then back. And there's some mixed in all of that.

We started the day with a family outing to the next city (it's just accross the river... and it's in another province. One of the beauties of this area. They rode, I biked. It's a 30 minute ride, up and down steep hills, and was a great work-out. We then went to McD's for breakfast, and I had a Egg, Bacon on a Bagel sandwich. But I didn't have the potatoes and opted for bottled water as a drink (which I craved, badly, after the bike ride). Then we walked around the downtown shops and I biked back home. Once home, it was lunch time and I had my breakfast for lunch: yogurt and cottage cheese. So, so far so good in remaining OP all day. And I've already got 7 glasses of water down the drain, so I should achieve my target of 10 glasses, easily.

Where the challenge is going, aside from a little side step on Wednesday, I'm doing very good and am pleased with myself. I just have to complete to do, as far as being OP food-wise, to complete the challenge. Then, for tomorrow, it will be being as OP as possible, bike to the next city and back, for exercise, and drink my 10 glasses of water.

I've had a wonderful ME on Thursday: did a wonderful, leasurely, 1 hour of PACE, then met DH as he finished work and we rode home on the bus together: makes the trip so much more pleasant.

As far as the MO goes, I don't know if I can find five things to post about, but one thing that always motivates me is when I look at other 47 yo and realize that I'm the same age as they are: for the most part, they look older than I do. And it's always heartpleasing when people look at me in disbelief when I tell them how old I am

As far as the South Beach goes, the book that MT (the PACE owner) lent me is in two parts: one part has the explanation of the plan and the other part has recipes for every phases of the plan. It also has a menu for each days of Phase 1, 14 days of Phase 2 and 14 days of Phase 3. Guess that's the basic South Beach book. She also leant me another book, titled "The South Beach Diet, Good Fats, Good Carbs Guide". It's something of a quick reference.

I do have a question about the plan, but will ask it on the South Beach Diet thread in Hysteritaville (the one started by (((Emily))) ).

(((Xena))): Where it comes to natural v/s modified, we're divided on this issue. I use Splenda for my stuff, but the kids and DH use sugar. We use margarine for everything, except the home-made garlic butter DH is famous for and a few recipes. And corn-on-the-cob needs butter. My family has been using margarine since the mid-70's, when dad had his first heart attack and was told: no more butter. So, except for when I'm eating corn-on-the-cob, I don't even like butter anymore. I use only non-fat, sugar-free yogurt and even the kids now eat that kind. Since then now have new flavours (there's a yummy "mousse" out on the market), and some use Splenda, it makes it all a whole lot more palatable. Neither DH nor myself are very big on salad dressings and mayonnaise. When we do have it, we have the regular Creamy Cucumber type. Or I'll have the Tomato Balsamic that I also like. I buy the low-fat mayonnaise for my kids and MIL, mostly because both MIL and DS can do without any more fat. They haven't even noticed a difference. And we only buy 1 % or skimmed milk. DS was the one who asked for the 1 %. DH is the only one who complains about this: he would rather drink the wholesome (fat laden) 3.4% milk!!!

(((Ann))): Hope you were able to find the floss colors you needed... and had the control to stay out of that other store: that's always soooo hard to do.

(((Sue))): The way I like to prepare fish, and MIL and DD (she's 8 1/2) love it, is very simple and would be great on the BBQ: I just use filets (love Haddock) and add salt, pepper and lemon. I usually pan fry it in Pam, but I guess it would also be good if you added margarine and did it on the BBQ, papillotte style. Another way to do it, which is, again, tasty and simple, is to wrap the fish in foil, add a bit of margarine, vegetables you like (I like green and red peppers and tomatoes), salt and pepper and, for extra taste, either salsa or Dijon Mustard: again, it tastes great, is easy to do and very fast also.

(((Donna)))): Donna, hope you enjoy your Soggy Soccer game. Been to a few of those myself.

(((Emily))): Have fun at your party and good luck with remaining OP. What I like about events at this time of the year is that you are more likely to find fruits and vegetables than when the weather is colder. Hope you can find a way of fitting in the water.

(((BSQ)))): That turkey loin roast sounds yummy. Reminds me that we haven't even planner supper yet, and it's 3:30 pm... Guess we gotta get going on that, before the kids start screaming!!!

Well, gotta go. Will post again tonight. Have a great, OP day.

Hi Everyone! I'm checking in quickly. We're on the last minute shopping spree for DD's move. (Although DH is grumpy about it because DD is playing at Kings Island with friends today, but I think she needs a day or so of that before moving away for 6 months).
I'm waiting on the cold rain to stop so I can walk. It's very nasty here today.
Food is just watching quantities still. May 10th the moving is done and I can do stuff just for me again. I'm ready for that day. Until then, it's just staying even for now.
's to everyone!

Hi all,

Just a quick post. Yes, DS is better, but far from over the hives and he is pretty darn grumpy about it. I understand totally, but let's just say it's been a tough day. DH is working lots of OT and he's not exactly Prince Charming either. So I am perservering. OPness still not good. Yoga and cleaning today though for exercise.

Big s to all. Wishing you all the BEST,
Shirley