<p>Back from a trip to deliver furniture to D in her new locale. Very little exercising - two days in a Penske truck + stress fracture = lots of sitting. I have resumed weight lifting since we returned home, but I miss my vigorous walking. </p>
<p>I have managed to keep my weight steady. I know eventually the lack of exercise will catch up with me - but for now I am doing ok. </p>
<p>Found a wonderful, decadent item that is actually good for you. I bought Adora dark chocolate calcium supplements. They are so yummy. There is warning on the package that although you may be tempted, they ARE calcium supplements and you are only to take the recommended amount. The supplements are expensive. I got them for $9.00/30 pieces and at my age I should take 2-3/day. I figure it will be a splurge, but a well deserved splurge. </p>
<p>I knew someone else who thoroughly enjoyed those chocolate calcium supplements!</p>
<p>Same here as folks above - I think calorie wise I’ve done ok, but food choice wise too many foods (even in small amounts) that should be off the radar more often. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not going to say “bye bye” to all treats, but I can’t (and apparently my body doesn’t WANT) the increase in carbs and lack of veggies that has been a bit of a pattern for two weekends…I just don’t feel as good!</p>
<p>I have upped my exercise. I started out doing 30 minutes five days a week and now do 45-50 minutes 3x/week and 30 minutes 2x/week. When it gets cooler I’ll try to get in an hour 5x/week (some of this is dependent on the dog, who melts in the heat).</p>
<p>Unfortunately I feel just fine eating carbs or not eating carbs. Since ds has been back from Jordan we’ve had BBQ twice and this week we have anniversary dinner at a fancy restaurant in the city. I’m not going to go there and just eat salad. Instead I’ll try to eat a little less the rest of the week and get a little more exercise and assume this will be a plateau week. That’s okay, because I’m not in a hurry. The goal is to find a level of eating that will keep me at a good weight for the rest of my life. I’m in the “normal” range now, but would be happier another 20 pounds lighter. If it takes a year or two to get there, that’s okay.</p>
<p>oh so glad to see others are also a bit off the wagon as the end of summer looms…the good, I was on vacation in California, managed to exercise three times, yay me. walked briskly across the Golden gate bridge and back, used the hotel gym once, and swam/water aerobics in the beautiful pool another time. this is new to me to incorporate exercise no matter what! the bad–wine with several meals, and with several non meals an amazing dessert, or treat or two. Back home, did water aerobics yesterday and planning on the gym today, as well as resuming healthier eating, (stopping the carb craze/crave that happens when I have sugary treats! haven’t weighed in yet, as I want to be kind to myself and get back on track first, instead of “punishing myself” with a weight gain on the scale. junior daughter leaves for study abroad in couple days, senior son returns home tomorrow from college research internship, so we’ll have a couple days of all of us home/celebrating being together. will try to be reasonable with myself…good luck all!</p>
<p>And all of the above several posts is why it is great to have this thread. To re-motivate us, accept our wrong turns and stumbling blocks and to hopefully without too much trouble, to be able to get back on the horse again. :)</p>
<p>I confess … I am just posting to bump this back up to first page of posts. I try to read this every day or so to keep me motivated (beats the heck out of going to meetings!), and I don’t want us to have to search too hard to find inspiration especially when it sounds like a bunch of us are hitting the point where our weight loss is slowing or reversing a little bit.</p>
<p>Thanks for bumping the thread up, MJSMOM. I rely on this thread, too. I know my problem areas - I have trouble when I’m travelling, with little choice on what food is available, and when I’m busy and don’t have time for preparation. I have identified some changes in habits which seem to be permanent. For one thing, my Coke consumption is miminal (4-6 oz/day). I wish it were zero, but this is a big improvement over the days when I drank 10 times as much. I also noticed, when I was at CVS this morning, that I no longer crave the wonderful soft caramels that they have at the checkout counters. I used to buy a few of those whenever I checked out. I haven’t been tempted by them in a couple of months. </p>
<p>I’m happy with the changes I’ve been able to incorporate into my life. I have a long way to go, though, and I’m looking forward to moving in the right direction with all of you thread-mates!</p>
<p>Had a small boneless pork chop (baked), garden peas and fruit salad. Then went for an after dinner walk. Was down one pound yesterday morning. After having been away from home (and my scales) for six days, I was glad to see no gain.</p>
<p>Trying one thing that has worked in the past for me - but that I got a little out of the habit of this summer…</p>
<p>Each morning I pack a filling but healthy breakfast and lunch to take to work - if I take all my food and have it planned out (whole grain cereal and fruit/milk for breakfast, light snack if needed and a protein filled, low carb lunch) then I am less likely to be tempted by other things - whether “other” is buying extra food items out or in the cafeteria or being tempted by stuff co-workers bring in. </p>
<p>By doing that - planning and knowing EXACTLY what I am going to eat through mid afternoon - most of my day of eating is set and I just need to not falter when I get home!</p>
<p>I think I would have a harder time sticking to my eating plans if I wasn’t at work and was spending more time at home.</p>
<p>Abasket- I agree. It is those afternoons when I have not planned what to have for lunch and I let myself get too hungry when I go off track.
My problem this week is that my family has a lot of carbs sitting on my kitchen counter top. H and D stopped at the jewish bakery on their way home from their weekend away. I now have rugelah, a delicious chocolate type of coffee cake and an entire loaf of fresh rye bread on my counter. Adding to the pile is D has a new friend who works at a cupcake bakery and who thought it was sweet to bring D a cupcake last night. She ate half and the rest is sitting there.</p>
<p>H & I walked to the grocery & bought dinner in the deli so we could sit down for a while before walking home again. ( It’s about four miles roundtrip & my feet hurt even though I had my old lady skechers on)
We both had corn pudding & chicken , & I had grilled summer squash too.
Next year I am planting squash!
no dessert.
( but I had a tiny, tiny bit of ice cream when I got home)</p>
<p>Trying to get back on track. So far so good today. I measured my waist and hips and have lost an inch in each since I last measured 3 weeks ago.
emeraldkity4- It is great that you walked to the grocery and great that you got H to go with you.</p>
<p>So funny on the deli discussions! My mother and brother came down to visit Sunday and brought a ton of deli - including a giant loaf of rye bread! Luckily they didn’t bring any dessert - I know those coffee cakes can be killers! I’m still going hot and heavy on the caprese salads while tomatoes are so good; also fresh melon and peaches with cottage cheese. And I walk right by the bakery stands at the farmers markets. I will admit I occasionally have two ears of farmstand corn as my carb for lunch - doesn’t that count as whole grain?</p>
<p>I’m trying to decide whether to make tomato sauce again this year. I adapt a Marcella Hazen recipe which basically includes cooking and pureeing plum tomatoes, carrots, celery, and herbs, then straining through a sieve to make smooth, then simmering with olive oil. It’s much of a day of work but is sooooo good. Of course, I’m hardly eating any pasta these days (vs my near daily helping in the past), but obviously this sauce would be better than my normal butter and parmesan!</p>
<p>I was a virtual employee for 10 years and it is very hard to be careful when you’re home all the time. I would do fine until about 4 in the afternoon and then the problems started - huge snack, dinner, huge bedtime snack. Now I’m trying to think out what to eat every day and follow my plan.</p>
<p>Marilyn, that sauce sounds WONDERFUL! Make some and ship it my way!</p>
<p>I personally can’t/won’t give up pasta - I just try and use the whole grain and eat a smaller portion then the “olden days”. But you could also use your sauce on eggplant parmesan or spaghetti squash!!</p>
<p>Abasket - I use Barilla’s protein plus and I like it better than the whole grain pasta. It has a better “bite.” If we are home on a Sunday night, pasta is my easy, go-to meal. I add vegetarian meatballs and keep my portion size small. Marilyn - I think I am going to try your sauce - sounds delicious. When I am being really lazy, I use Classico’s marinara. Low in sodium and fat - both important for me. </p>
<p>Last night I made a frittata using red onions, a red and orange pepper, zucchini, small heirloom tomatoes (cut in half), black beans, fresh corn (2 ears), and cilantro. It was so good. I just sauteed the first three ingredients, added the tomatoes, beans, and corn, then added 10 eggs (only 5 yolks), sprinkled the chopped cilantro as it was starting to set up and finished in the oven at 350. It was delicious. </p>
<p>As I am trying to maintain my weight, I am mostly sticking to Dr. Gott’s no sugar, no flour diet. Except for the occasional detour (see Sunday night), it is a plan that is easy to follow.</p>
an amazing dessert, or treat or two. Back home, did water aerobics yesterday and planning on the gym today, as well as resuming healthier eating, (stopping the carb craze/crave that happens when I have sugary treats! haven’t weighed in yet, as I want to be kind to myself and get back on track first, instead of “punishing myself” with a weight gain on the scale. junior daughter leaves for study abroad in couple days, senior son returns home tomorrow from college research internship, so we’ll have a couple days of all of us home/celebrating being together. will try to be reasonable with myself…good luck all!</p>