BL Summer Challenge 2009

[mikamah]

It's great to see such a busy thread.

Originally Posted by pjlla

QOTD: Do you have any healthy/low cal picnic/barbeque foods that you always bring along/serve during holiday weekends (like Memorial Day)?

This is a great question, and some of those fruit ideas sound awesome.
I usually bring fruit either a salad or a platter with melon slices, strawberries, and pineapple slices. Fruit always seems to go at a bbq. The other thing I like to make, not so much healthy except for the fruit, is a trifle. I cut up an angel food cake in to little squares, and layer them with a fat free pudding/fat free coolwhip mix, and fruit on top of the pudding, usually strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, and some times I'll add a can of peaches cut up too. It's really tasty when you want a sweet, but definitely lower in calories than any other trifle. Plus it's quick if you buy the store baked cake.

Originally Posted by pjlla

I didn't want this to get lost in my long post, so here it is..

Do you make separate meals for yourself and your family in order to stay on your "healthy" eating plan?

It's just my son and I, but usually I'll make a meat that we both will eat, and depending on the vegies, will sometimes make different vegies for him and I, and also when we have rice, I make two different kinds, which I don't mind doing, because I like to have leftovers. I'll also make chili that I love, that he won't eat, but i'll take some of the ground beef and make him a burger, and then make the chili. Summer seems easier, we both love corn on the cob, and we'll have burgers a lot, and depending on how I've eaten during the day, I'll have a beef one, or vegie burger.

Originally Posted by RangerPooh

I'M pleased with myself today, I'm down over a pound! Now I just need to get the other 2 off
.

Good job!!

Originally Posted by Worfiedoodles

For those of you who do WW -- I remember a few years ago you could "jump start" your weight loss by eating fewer points for a week -- does anyone know what the minimum is you should have? I'm supposed to get 25 pts per day -- I was thinking if I cut that back to 20 for a week, it would be ok? I'm open to suggestions. I usually work out for an hour most days, running or walking. I just need to do something drastic to get the scale moving down. I've been stuck losing and regaining the same 3 lbs for the past 3 weeks.

I don't remember the jump start thing, but was that when you had a range, and no flex points, so it kept you at the low end of the range? I know my leader stresses that we should never go below our daily points range, because you need the food to fuel your body, and keep that metabolism fire burning. I've also heard good things about mixing it up day to day, having a couple low point days, mixed with a high point day to keep the body from getting used to having lower calories every day. I know a pp said if you started with your daily points, it would probably work, especially if you haven't been following. I'm a wwer for many times over the years, and I know if I just follow the plan, and stay within the points including the flex points and activity points, then I lose weight. Hang in there.

Originally Posted by LuvBaloo

And I got a new niece last night, so I'm taking this afternoon off work, to do the 1.5 hr drive to go see the baby. I don't want to wait for the weekend, I want to see the baby in the first 24hours.

Ooh, congratulations auntie. Now you can start helping her mom and dad plan her first disney trip, with auntie to help out of course.

Originally Posted by maznorm

I have been feeling so unhealthy and I have become so unfit that I finally started going to WW meetings. I was doing well and lost 2 pounds a week for the first 2 weeks. Then, I gained a pound. I didn't give in and lost that pound the following week. Then, I was told at work that my job was going to India. The company have redeployed me within the business but with my DH currently out of work and the stuff with my job I just binged on chocolate (my drug of choice) and haven't really stopped since. I have steadily gained 1/2 pound every week since then. I am continuing to go to WW because I know if I stop going I will just get bigger and bigger. I just can't seem to motivate myself to get going again. I am hoping joining this group will give me that push I need so desperately. It really feels as though it is now or never.

Welcome to our wonderful little group. I'm also a weight watcher, and like you, am going to meetings, and won't stop. I restarted last sept, and am only down 7 pounds, playing with the same few pounds, but I know if I stop, I'll go right back up. This group has really motivated me to get back on track, and hopefully to stay there this time. Sorry to here about your husbands, and your work stress. I hope everything works out, and that you can channel some of that stress into exercise. It's so frustrating that we eat when we are stressed. Good luck. You can do it.

Originally Posted by lisah0711

Kathy, sorry to hear that your Mom is sick. That is the pits. You are truly one of the "sandwich generation" between your Mom and your son. Here is some for all of you. Both you and Michael have looked forward to this camping trip for some time. I think that your plan is fine. Just have your cell on so you could come back if things change. If your Mom is in the hospital now, she will probably need more help when she is ready to come home and you will be rested and refreshed after your week-end with Michael. Have a safe and wonderful trip!

!

Thank you so much Lisa. That is so true of the sandwich generation, and it can be so difficult at times. I did go away, and my mom is doing better now. She will hopefully be coming home tomorrow or wednesday, and she said she's been up and walking each day, so hopefully she didn't lose too much strength.

I had a fun weekend, and I did really well sat and sun, but not so well today, so I'm here now with a big glass of water, and back on track. At the campground, I pretty much snacked on fruit, and baked tortilla chips with salsa, and our meals were grilled meats with salad one night, and potatoes and zucchini the other night. I did have some wine, but I drank half wine and half diet sprite, so it lasted longer, and I alternated with water. I had one smore only one night, but today, my son and I finished the bag of marshmallows on the way home, and we went to a minor league baseball game, and had hot fudge sundaes there. I also journalled on sat and sun as I went, but didn't do that today, but just wrote it all down, and when I think of how I used to eat, I really didn't do that badly. In the past, I would have had a hot dog or burger and fries at the game in addition to the ice cream, but we ate ham and cheese and apples, before the game. I also would have had regular chips and dip, i always baked cookies before camping, but didn't this time, and I never stopped at one smore. In the past, I so easily would continue to eat out of control after a couple days of splurging, but I so do not want to do that again. I just ate cereal for dinner, and am drinking my water, and am going to make my shopping list for the morning, and stick to my guns and lose this weight.

Hope everyone had a nice memorial day weekend.

[CruiseBoundnKY]

Do you make separate meals for yourself and your family in order to stay on your "healthy" eating plan?

Not usually, BUT at breakfast we all do different things normally. Then at lunch, I am most likely to fix myself something healthy. Dinner, we all eat the same thing.

I am doing pretty darn good with cutting out the pop. I have had "tiny increments", but mostly water and I'm trying to make the conscious choice to choose water instead. If that makes sense.

I put on a bathing suit today Really hoping that I'll need a new suit by the end of summer.

To those who use Wii Fit, what games do you like to use with them and why? I bought the Golds Gym aerobics, but it's mostly boxing. I have the Jillian Michaels one, but I think its confusing.

~Thanks, Karen

[Sleeping*Beauty]

Originally Posted by pjlla

Do you make separate meals for yourself and your family in order to stay on your "healthy" eating plan?

Nope, but sometimes I do cook things that only I will eat though.

Originally Posted by TammyNC

Hope the meds helped and the allergies calm down soon.

Me Too. I slept really well. But, daytime hasn't been that great.

I went fishing today and I actually caught a fish. It was only a croacker, but anything's okay.

[princessbride6205]

Do you make separate meals for yourself and your family in order to stay on your "healthy" eating plan?
Same meals all around. Weekday breakfast and lunch we are grabbing/making different portable options. Dinners are cooked half by me and half by DH. Before he joined me in our healthy eating, we still ate the same meals, but he would eat a lot more or add cheese, or have 2 hot dogs as an after dinner snack! DH has always had to suffer through my whole wheat tortillas and trying to get him to eat veggies. Now we're both checking calorie counts when we make a new food/recipe. We've also discovered together that it's amazing the variety of foods you can eat as long as you watch your portions. Like last night for dinner we had chicken with homemade herb butter sauce (real butter!) with a pasta/veggie side dish for under 500 calories. Our hobby together used to be dining out - so having homemade meals was already a huge step in the right direction for our calorie intake. Now we're both tracking cals and doing well.

[50sjayne]

Originally Posted by mikamah

It's great to see such a busy thread.
This is a great question, and some of those fruit ideas sound awesome.
I usually bring fruit either a salad or a platter with melon slices, strawberries, and pineapple slices. Fruit always seems to go at a bbq. The other thing I like to make, not so much healthy except for the fruit, is a trifle. I cut up an angel food cake in to little squares, and layer them with a fat free pudding/fat free coolwhip mix, and fruit on top of the pudding, usually strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, and some times I'll add a can of peaches cut up too. It's really tasty when you want a sweet, but definitely lower in calories than any other trifle. Plus it's quick if you buy the store baked cake.


It's just my son and I, but usually I'll make a meat that we both will eat, and depending on the vegies, will sometimes make different vegies for him and I, and also when we have rice, I make two different kinds, which I don't mind doing, because I like to have leftovers. I'll also make chili that I love, that he won't eat, but i'll take some of the ground beef and make him a burger, and then make the chili. Summer seems easier, we both love corn on the cob, and we'll have burgers a lot, and depending on how I've eaten during the day, I'll have a beef one, or vegie burger.

Good job!!
I don't remember the jump start thing, but was that when you had a range, and no flex points, so it kept you at the low end of the range? I know my leader stresses that we should never go below our daily points range, because you need the food to fuel your body, and keep that metabolism fire burning. I've also heard good things about mixing it up day to day, having a couple low point days, mixed with a high point day to keep the body from getting used to having lower calories every day. I know a pp said if you started with your daily points, it would probably work, especially if you haven't been following. I'm a wwer for many times over the years, and I know if I just follow the plan, and stay within the points including the flex points and activity points, then I lose weight. Hang in there.

Ooh, congratulations auntie. Now you can start helping her mom and dad plan her first disney trip, with auntie to help out of course.

Welcome to our wonderful little group. I'm also a weight watcher, and like you, am going to meetings, and won't stop. I restarted last sept, and am only down 7 pounds, playing with the same few pounds, but I know if I stop, I'll go right back up. This group has really motivated me to get back on track, and hopefully to stay there this time. Sorry to here about your husbands, and your work stress. I hope everything works out, and that you can channel some of that stress into exercise. It's so frustrating that we eat when we are stressed. Good luck. You can do it.

Thank you so much Lisa. That is so true of the sandwich generation, and it can be so difficult at times. I did go away, and my mom is doing better now. She will hopefully be coming home tomorrow or wednesday, and she said she's been up and walking each day, so hopefully she didn't lose too much strength.

I had a fun weekend, and I did really well sat and sun, but not so well today, so I'm here now with a big glass of water, and back on track. At the campground, I pretty much snacked on fruit, and baked tortilla chips with salsa, and our meals were grilled meats with salad one night, and potatoes and zucchini the other night. I did have some wine, but I drank half wine and half diet sprite, so it lasted longer, and I alternated with water. I had one smore only one night, but today, my son and I finished the bag of marshmallows on the way home, and we went to a minor league baseball game, and had hot fudge sundaes there. I also journalled on sat and sun as I went, but didn't do that today, but just wrote it all down, and when I think of how I used to eat, I really didn't do that badly. In the past, I would have had a hot dog or burger and fries at the game in addition to the ice cream, but we ate ham and cheese and apples, before the game. I also would have had regular chips and dip, i always baked cookies before camping, but didn't this time, and I never stopped at one smore. In the past, I so easily would continue to eat out of control after a couple days of splurging, but I so do not want to do that again. I just ate cereal for dinner, and am drinking my water, and am going to make my shopping list for the morning, and stick to my guns and lose this weight.

Hope everyone had a nice memorial day weekend.

Sounds to me like you're doing awesome. Really--I mean we have to live y'know, the sundaes sound so good. Hah- I had a big ribeye steak Friday, half a baby back Sat., and Sunday had a big ribeye again. But I have been really trying to do the cows and that has helped curb other eating I think. So far the scale hasn't been too mean anyway. I have a stupidly busy day tomorrow, going to have to eat dinner somewhere after work and dropping off my parents garage door key and before my stewards meeting. Maybe grab something at Target as it's on the way and I make a point of shopping clearance since it's out that way. I dunno though I have to go to Costco too to pick up catfood and it's on the way. I wish they still had the pretzels instead of the dumb churros. Yeah that will work--I'll do Target after.

Sorry can't contribute much to the healthy meal for yourself thing- were on our own except occasional dinners and whatever I want to eat goes. Unless someone else wants to cook (right).

[50sjayne]

Oh crap
I've only got 3 cow points so far lol. I've almost got the water though I think. Think the bladder is beginning to Deal anyway.

[donac]

Originally Posted by 50sjayne

Sorry can't contribute much to the healthy meal for yourself thing- were on our own except occasional dinners and whatever I want to eat goes. Unless someone else wants to cook (right).

Sounds like my house I can't wait to see what happens when I have foot surgery in a month.

I haven't been on much this weekend.

Sat got up early to help dh mow his sister's lawn. Sunday we went up to dm and df's to work in their yard as their 55th wedding anniv present. My brother and all my sisters made it (1 bil did not come) All the grandkids made it too. It was hot and sunny. We got some flower beds weeded and mulched. They layed a paver patio under the deck so their would not be as much mud and they worked on the railing for the front deck. It's not done but the railing that is there is more secure.

We were lucky in that one of my sis in law mowed my fil's lawn or that is where we going on Monday. I did very little Monday. I did grocery shop

Eating hasn't been too bad. I did eat a little too much chex mix my dm made but it was so hot that when dinner came around I ate very little.

How are the COW's coming? They are on posting 157. The first set is finished at midnight on Thursday. Report them to me on Friday. Thanks.

Have to go I have some stories to tell from my trip to my mother's but I will save them for later. All I can say is I kept my mouth shut but I was ready to kill a couple of my sisters.

Have a great day everyone.

[mikamah]

Originally Posted by 50sjayne

Sounds to me like you're doing awesome. Really--I mean we have to live y'know, the sundaes sound so good. Hah- I had a big ribeye steak Friday, half a baby back Sat., and Sunday had a big ribeye again. But I have been really trying to do the cows and that has helped curb other eating I think. So far the scale hasn't been too mean anyway. I have a stupidly busy day tomorrow, going to have to eat dinner somewhere after work and dropping off my parents garage door key and before my stewards meeting. Maybe grab something at Target as it's on the way and I make a point of shopping clearance since it's out that way. I dunno though I have to go to Costco too to pick up catfood and it's on the way. I wish they still had the pretzels instead of the dumb churros. Yeah that will work--I'll do Target after.

).

Thanks Jayne. It is so true, that we do have to live, and learning to eat healthy most of the time, and have our treats in moderation is key. We can all do it. You are making me want to go shopping. I get out of work early today, and I might just do that today if my mom's not coming home. Sounds like you did awesome at the yard sales this weekend. I have a huge pile of stuff in the basement that i want to sell at a yard sale, but just haven't gotten organized to do it yet. I think I should just pick a day and put it in the paper, and that would make me do it.

Originally Posted by donac

.

Sat got up early to help dh mow his sister's lawn. Sunday we went up to dm and df's to work in their yard as their 55th wedding anniv present. My brother and all my sisters made it (1 bil did not come) All the grandkids made it too. It was hot and sunny. We got some flower beds weeded and mulched. They layed a paver patio under the deck so their would not be as much mud and they worked on the railing for the front deck. It's not done but the railing that is there is more secure.

.

What a great idea for a gift, and they must have loved having the whole family together.

I'm working on the cow. Gotta kick up the vegies, but doing well on fruit and water. I'm off to make lunch and go to work. I have an advanced cardiac life support recert course all day tomorrow for work, so I need to study a little too. When I worked in ICU, the recert was easy because I used the skills more often, but now that I'm in endoscopy, we never see it, which is great, but I really need to review for the testing.

Hope you all have great day.

[lisah0711]

Good morning, losers! Glad to hear that everyone had a good week-end, for the most part . . . I was pretty much like everyone else. I did what I should have except for a time or two. But I kept my activity level up and am down 3 pounds from weigh in on Friday so something must be working right!

I think that we all need to be a little easier on ourselves if we slip off plan, accept the stumble, and get right back on track again. That's real life!

Do you make separate meals for yourself and your family in order to stay on your "healthy" eating plan?

Yes, but mostly because DS is very limited in what he will eat. DS and I can eat the same thing but maybe I will leave out the rice or potatoes for myself and add extra veggies. I don't complain about DS eating because someday he will be a teenaged boy and will eat me out of house and home!

Have a great days, losers!

[LuvBaloo]

Good morning everyone!
Just wanted to say that I will get the results posted tonight. I was too tired last night after going to see the new baby to get it done, but it will be done tonight I'm on west coast, so the east coast folks probably won't see it until tomorrow morning.

[pjlla]

This weekend turned out much busier than I anticipated. Sorry I haven't been around much. I did read all of the posts. Seems like most of you DON'T cook a separate meal... which I think is great. This "healthy eating" really does need to be a life-long committment and if you make it part of your normal routine, you are more likely to stick with it.

I modified our meal last night to suit myself, but I still didn't have to cook anything additional. We had grilled pork soft tacos (leftover pork from Friday night's grilling). I modified my portion by adding more veggies (sauteed mushroom plus lettuce), and using a high fiber whole wheat wrap instead of a regular flour tortilla. Plus I was careful about portioning out my meat and I skipped the sour cream. It turned out to be a very filling meal for low points. Too bad I promised DD the leftovers for her lunch today!

I've already had a 3 hour roundtrip drive this morning to the "vet specialist" to drop off DD's guinea pig for her "urgent" surgery to remove a urethral stone (like a kidney stone in another place). And I will be making the drive again this evening to pick her up. Oh the things we do for our kids!!! Sometimes I think I need my head examined. But the good thing is that we go right by Costcos, so I am going to try to swing in to pick up some more fruit. The fruit I bought Saturday is GONE! Mango is definitely my new favorite fruit!!

Today's QOTD:

What "GREEN" thing(s) do you do on a regular basis?

I hang clothes on the clothesline faithfully, whenever weather permits. I even try to hang occasionally in the winter, but definitely all spring, fall, and summer. I do it more for the $$ savings, since our electricity is pretty expensive here, but I also realize that it is a very "green" thing to do. I also wash ALL of my clothes in cold water. We keep our house at about 60-63 degrees most of the winter. We get mighty cold, but have seen a significant decrease in our oil usage, so it is paying off (literally). I am diligent about shutting off everything I can, especially when I am home alone. We put our pool pump on a timer in the summer. These are the things that come to mind first............P

[bobnjenn0828]

Good morning everyone!!

It sounds like everyone had a busy weekend. Ours was too. I also had some overindulges this weekend but tried to do the best I could with the options I had. DH decided this would be the weekend to see how many times we could eat out!!haha. Friday we went to a bbq place in town and I got grilled sausage, which I know is bad but was really good, I only ate about 1/4 of what they brought out. I think they cooked what would be a whole package of it at the store. Also had green beans and a salad. Saturday we went to Wings - I got fish and black beans and rice. I really wanted some wings though. Sunday it was cracker Barrel - had the new pineapple salad with pineapple ranch dressing - yummy!!!

I don't make seperate meals for everyone. We normally eat different things for breakfast and sometimes even lunch, but my kids have always had to eat what I cooked since they were babies. So they know they either eat what we have or don't eat. Now if it is something weird I am trying then I will make an exception - and believe me we have had to make sandwiches after some things we have tried that didn't turn out so good!!!

On Monday my son and I walked/jogged a 5k race. My goal was to finish under 50 minutes (you had to move to the sidewalk after 50 minutes - didnt want to do that). My son finished it in 32 mins (without ever practicing one time) and I finished in 48:55. My friend from work and her dh had ran the 10k right before the 5k and did the 5k with me. It really was a lot of help to have someone encouraging you and letting me set the pace. We ran when I could and walked the rest. I was just really happy to finish. After the race we had pizza and ice cream. They had bananas but had cut them in half and they looked nasty!!

And with all of the talk of yardsaling, we are going to be having our own in about 2 weeks! We have a huge storage building in the back yard with way too much stuff in it and another storage building that we rent that has stuff in it. I don't know where we got all this stuff from. Someone else had totes of toys in their basement and that is probably the majority of ours too!! So if anyone wants to come to our yardsale that would be great. My dh is saving up for his motorcycle and this is going towards the down payment! He is trying to sell our tv's from the house he wants a motorcycle so bad

Hope everyone has a great day!!

Jennifer

[sahbushka]

QOTD: What do I do that's green?

I recycle, go around my neighborhood and pick up trash, use the new kind of light bulb, and try to wash my clothes on cold most times.

So we had a bbq at my moms last night and we had turkey hot dogs on wheat buns for 3 points a piece! Thought that was a great deal! I also had potato salad (vegan), watermelon, berry cobbler (lite) and 1 smore. I only had to use 2 weekly allowance points. I am going out to eat today and have already checked the menu and points values for what I plan to eat! Gotta love dwlz.com!

Hope everyone is having a great op day! I had a horrible cold this morning but the medicine is helping and I need to get in my water for the day. I always have a harder time with it if I start the day with soda.

Sarah

[lisah0711]

sahbushka, hope that you are feeling better soon!

bobnjenn0828, way to do the 5K yesterday! Good luck with getting rid of your stuff at your sale.

donac, I am doing okay on the COW but there is lots of room for improvement

I decided to join Weight Watchers today. I will try it for 90 days and see how I like it. I feel like I need some plan to follow to be more balanced or else I will just eat the same thing over and over and get bored (is there no yawning emoticon or am I just not finding it?). I obviously have a few things to learn about WW as it is 4:00 p.m. and I have 7 points left. Since I am having a glass of wine tonight --it's been one of those days -- that leaves me 5 points for dinner.

Still, I had a good week-end and am only 1 pound away from getting my 10 pound wish ribbon back -- yay!

What "GREEN" thing(s) do you do on a regular basis?

We do lots of "green things:" wash in cold water, use programmable thermostat, recycle (everything but glass because they don't take it here) at home and our office (over 300 pounds a week!), compost and use CFLs.

I'm looking forward to see our first results soon. Thanks, Shannon, our weightkeeper for all your hard work.

Have a great evening, losers!

[DisneyFam5]

Hi everyone. My weight was up a bit today at my work BL weigh in, but I'm not sure why. Sometimes it seems to be up for no reason and then it drops a bunch. My average is still pretty good though, so I'm not going to worry about it. My work contest ends next Monday, but it's a team thing and we don't have a chance. Two of five team members have only lost 2 pounds in 11 weeks. A guy on another team dropped 80 pounds in the first 10 weeks! He's really burnt out though and can't wait for it to end. He's asking what we can't wait to eat when this is over. My friend and I say nothing, because we aren't depriving ourselves! I've been going for 22 weeks now and I'm still plugging along. I guess we are better off making slow and steady progress. He's done this a few times and gained it back. I hope he does better this time. I also hope I keep tracking and never gain this weight back! I'm going to have to keep track of what I eat forever. I think I can do it...