<p>TaiTai - Welcome to our little group!</p>
<p>I forgot - VeryHappy - you strong woman you!!! I bet you felt good today.</p>
<p>And Worknprogress - Yes you CAN get through these weeks without gaining weight. Keep up the good work! You might want to take 15 minutes sometime and prepare some easy snacks/meals that you can just eat at the computer. If it is cheese, cut only the amount you feel is right and put in baggie. Count out some crackers and put in baggie. Peel an orange, or wash grapes and put in baggie, etc. Have it all ready and in the fridge or conveniently on the counter, so it’s easy to just grab when you want to eat. And you may think: okay - I need a fruit, a veggie, a protein, a carb, etc., and just grab it and go. (Just an idea.)</p>
<p>Eddie - you are so right. You see, we have purged our kitchen of junk food. Even the biscotti is low fat, low sugar. The key is having some good snacks around. I really need to do a better job of that. Have the last of the clementines - need a few other choices. Cheese is always good in small amounts. Really, you know I am desperate when I am eating a sleeve of low-fat, unsalted crackers. I don’t think they can be called saltines without the salt. </p>
<p>Anyway - this thread is going to keep me honest. And I am thinking of having DH keep the cokes in the trunk of his car.</p>
<p>I’m happy to report that I’ve been going to the gym to work on weights 3 times a week for 3 weeks now! My D is really keeping me going as my workout partner. Weight is not my issue, it’s toning. I also need to fight osteoporosis that runs in my family. I feel stronger now that I’m working out. </p>
<p>Now, we need to focus on our diets. This week, I intend to go through the pantry. There are some great snack suggestions on this thread - keep them coming!</p>
<p>I’ve been going out on walks on weekdays and yesterday it just didn’t feel right to sit in the house so I made dh put on his snowboots and take a walk with me. It was quite nice - we did a bit over three miles - some of it in the snow. Tramping in the snow is definitely more of a workout than what I usually do. I’m not big on snacking, but I like having fruit around - preferably ones that don’t need to be peeled. Cheese has so many calories I don’t like it for snacking.</p>
<p>Why not donate the softdrinks to some charity or shelter & don’t keep them in your home? Definitely DON’T put them in the trunk, where they could leak & make a huge mess.</p>
<p>Fruit is a nice snack & peeling actually takes time & slows down consumption. Lots of veggies are good. Unsalted nuts are a good source of protien–you can eat some & freeze the rest.</p>
<p>Himom - The workshops will be over in two weeks - they were supposed to be over this Tuesday, but the snow delayed things and that’s why the darn stuff is still in my house. I always give the leftovers to the custodians where we offer our program, along with a pizza on the last night. They are so good to me. You are right about putting them in the trunk - bad idea.</p>
<p>I continue to walk regularly - my pace for training is about 5 mph and once the weather gets warmer I will add some speed work. Last year I had an injury (hamstring) that interfered with training, so this spring I will have at least maintained fitness over the winter. </p>
<p>So today - I will stick to the healthy snacks as I am glued to my office.</p>
<p>^Wow - 5 mph is jogging pace. I do not know anybody who is capable of doing 5 mph. Some even jog at slower pace, like 4.7 mph. Are you like 6 ft with very long legs?</p>
<p>Good luck WIP. I also find it hard to maintain my habits when pressure form work ticks up.
Keeping the bad stuff out of the way is a good strategy. When my s comes home, he always complains about how boring our fridge and pantry is. No junky snacks, no cookies. </p>
<p>That walking pace IS impressive. I’ve been doing about 4mph miles on the treadmill…sometimes breaking into a run at 4.5 mph. And I thought THAT was fast. Good job. </p>
<p>We were with friends over the weekend and that was a challenge. I did OK, but H and I felt a bit uncomfortable when EVERYONE at the table ordered big desserts. We thought about splitting one be we really weren’t hungry. No one said anything but the social pressure is there. We ate out a few times and both of us were real careful about our orders - and got comments about how “Wow, you’re going the healthy route on us huh?”. Didn’t want to engage on that so we just kept our mouths shut (this is how we eat now!). </p>
<p>Anyway, I will be at the club today doing the machines and yoga. And hope to get some sun later today. I keep gaining and losing the same 5 lbs…sigh.</p>
<p>Okay - at the risk of bragging - I was first in my age group at the senior games in San Francisco in racewalking. My personal best was at 32:08 in a 5K last year at a race in Central Park and I can do a mile in under 10 minutes. So, when I say I am walking, it is not your typical walk. My goal is to break the 32:00 barrier, that would be sweet.</p>
<p>There are some women my age who are better than me, but they were at the international competition or injured when the national senior games were being held. But I will take my first place finish anyway I can get it.</p>
<p>wip…very cool! Congrats! can you teach us how to walk like that? :)</p>
<p>Yup. I have been trying to recruit you all along!</p>
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<p>Whenever I do a food purge, I have to do it when my husband is out of the house, and then I have to bag it up and take it to a dumpster. Otherwise, my husand goes through the trash and puts it all back. I’m serious-food from the fridge, that’s been in a hot garage for a day, and he’ll dig it out and put it back in the fridge.</p>
<p>^ I have not had these staff for as long as I remember myslef, even diet soda (I believe that it is much worse than regular) is not allowed, juices either. But I have stacks of chocolate 85% cocoa everywhere, tons of honey, huge bags of nuts and gallons of olive oil, all of which consumed relatevely quickly (I am the only person consuming these, except for olive oil). Fridge primary filled with fruits.</p>
<p>Oh, MP, that would be tough. No, we are at the other end of the continuum here. Recently I was filling out a health survey for the doctor and I realized my idea of “high risk behavior” was having a caffeinated drink and DH doesn’t even do that. When we go out to breakfast his order is oatmeal with skim milk, dry english muffin, decaff tea. He goes wild and has raisins and brown sugar for his oatmeal. I will admit, although he is insufferable at times, I would rather that problem than the other direction.</p>
<p>miami…I agree about diet soda being worse than regular. It’s funny, so many of my friends and family seem to be addicted to diet coke. Even ones who seem to have committed to healthy lifestyles. I told my H recently, that my thinking has progressed to how I used to feel when someone told me that they smoked. I always think (to myself of course) - How can you drink that stuff?? Other things that make me feel that way: Eating at McDonalds. Eating frozen hamburgers ( has anyone noticed how many are affected by ecoli?). I know, I’m extreme, but I can’t help it! At least I keep it to myself; don’t want to make anyone feel bad!</p>
<p>Miami - I am having this image of you grabbing your cocoa and then chugging the gallon of oil. </p>
<p>Good chuckle for the day!</p>
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<p>Last night the kids were out, so I roasted brussels sprouts, cawliflower and turnips - yummy. H ate those (after turning up his nose) but added two slices of pizza!</p>
<p>worknprogress,
"Miami - I am having this image of you grabbing your cocoa and then chugging the gallon of oil. "</p>
<ul>
<li>it is very true image! Myt peice of bread (whole grain) is dripping olive oil (I always fry it in tons of it). We go thru gallons of olive oil. Thank you, Costco for oil, nuts, honey! My food bill would be much more expensive without Costco in town. We do not go out much, very few times / year on very special occasions (primarily somebody is visiting). As I said before, it takes too much time, we both really like to be at home.</li>
</ul>
<p>Lilmom - Aren’t you something. Doing a great job of getting stronger. And it’s so much more fun with a partner, isn’t it? You go, girl!</p>
<p>Mathmom - Great walking. I bet it was beautiful out there.</p>
<p>Worknprogress - I have visions of you walking by my house and all I see is a blurrrr. Wow - that is amazing.</p>
<p>Three dinners out this weekend. Up one pound, but all will be fine. Took those chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter icing to Odessagirl at college yesterday. Her birthday is this week. H & I each had a cupcake with her after opening presents, but left all of the rest at school for her and her friends. She said she will buy 1/2 gallon of milk to go with them.</p>
<p>I am feeling lazy this morning - still in my pj’s sipping coffee.</p>