<p>Congratulations, Marilyn, mom60, and ellemenope! I agree with the comments about this thread. Somehow the vibe here is just what I need - encouragement without judgment.</p>
<p>Journey, thanks for the info about interval training. I walk and I can already think of ways to implement it into my exercise regimen. </p>
<p>I watched a youtube video on the plank and semi plank and tried one plank. My thought: “I’m supposed to hold that position for 30 seconds to 2 1/2 minutes?!!” 10 seconds was a stretch! </p>
<p>Well, start where you are and improve little bit by little bit…one of the mantras of this thread…</p>
<p>Page 3? I mean, PAGE 3??!! Ladies and gentlemen, we can do better than that! :)</p>
<p>true confession here…was off the wagon for last couple of weeks. some of it was vacation, the ups and downs of college s and d returning home then leaving again, and some was some upsetting medical news. bottom line, I was doing lots of stress/emotional eating. up almost 7 lbs. feel frustrated, and a little ashamed. back on track last couple days and back to the gym. think I really need to stay away from carbs…when I get going with sugar it really takes over. any suggestions or support welcome. thanks all</p>
<p>Myturnnow - most of us would tell you that we have def been in the same boat at some point! </p>
<p>I have been doing OK - not great, but ok. I think that sometimes when our routines get off kilter, it is easy to let the food-going-in-the-mouth go off kilter as well. Not an excuse, but seems to be often true.</p>
<p>Have been getting in a lot of walking. I walk pretty briskly so feel good about that. Have NOT been doing as good as I should staying away from carbs/sweets. Haven’t attacked any bags of chips or anything, but need to do some more substituting - veggies for crackers, less bread items - that kind of thing. </p>
<p>Today I had some seafood salad for lunch. It was REALLY good and light on the creaminess. I brought crackers to have with it cause carrot sticks just didn’t seem to do the trick. I looked at the crackers and instead of putting the salad on top of the cracker (who KNOWS how many of them I might have eaten!), I decided to take 3 crackers and just crumble them up in the salad. Still had the taste, still had the crunchiness, but surely much less quantity. Will do that again tomorrow!</p>
<p>Haven’t been “good” most of this week with traveling and other things but did want to mention I am packing cool-weather clothes to take ds back to college this weekend and am thrilled at how some of it is fitting! :D</p>
<p>myturnnow - I’m in the same boat as you. Haven’t been to WW in about a month and have put on a few lbs (~3). S2 is going back to school this week and I’ll be without kids again for a while. I decided not to beat myself up for slacking off a bit and just get back on the wagon once I have both of them off to school again. It seems much easier when I’m back in a routine. Next week - back to WW! But not going to really worry about it til then.</p>
<p>Oh boy! Do I feel validated! I haven’t been doing too badly either lately, but have almost just put the weight loss thing on hold while I survive the hurricane power outage, bed bug debacle and the start of school (for me, as a teacher). My last “kid” is leaving for school tomorrowand it will just be me and H at home with the dog. It will be so much easier to plan meals and schedule exercise once things settle down. I have been trying to watch what i eat and have been doing just okay but I really want to get back on track.</p>
<p>Any suggestions for easy, healthy lunches to bring to school? I only have a half hour to eat so it can’t require to much “on site” prep.</p>
<p>How about lettuce wraps? Just like making a sandwich in the morning except use large leaves of lettuce instead of “bread” to wrap???</p>
<p>Wash and prep a bunch of crudites on Sunday to pack throughout the week.</p>
<p>Any leftover meat from dinner (chicken, beef, etc.) shredded or cut in small bites over lettuce with some cheese and/or veggies. </p>
<p>Seafood salad! (haha this is my current addiction this week!!!)</p>
<p>myturnnow, I have a problem with sugar, too, and I’ve found Kathryn DesMaisons’ Sugar Addiction book very helpful. Her website is radiantrecovery.com. I’ve found that if I follow the first few steps of her program (eliminate sugar and “white” carbs, eat protein at every meal, eat a good breakfast) for several days, the sugar cravings disappear and I feel great - serene and clear-headed. I am not often able to completely eliminate the sugar, though. At the moment I’m dealing with several very stressful issues, and I’ve just returned from vacation, so weight loss has not been a priority. I’m hoping that as things settle down and school starts I’ll be able to get back into the routine.</p>
<p>thanks NYMomof2, abasket and my2sunz~ nice to know I’m not alone. went to the gym again tonight, so pleased I am “catching” myself rather than just throwing in the towel. going to check out the Sugar addiction site. I know in the past once I get on track without the sugar and simple carbs I feel so much more on top of everything, not just eating, so will go in that direction. thanks and congrats to those on top of it now.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No necessity to feel shame in the universe of this thread. All that’s required are positive thoughts about getting back on track.</p>
<p>^thank you ellemenope! it was more of a feeling of letting myself down,you know. but I am already feeling more centered just getting to the gym two days in a row, feel my body thanking me. Posting here keeps me honest too.</p>
<p>So, am I going to be a jerk now if I report that as of this AM I have lost 16 lbs since this thread started? I even finally got my butt out the last two days after work and went walking. I am so excited. The food thing has now become a habit. Now I just need to figure out how to make walking a habit too. </p>
<p>The real reason I am chiming in is to share my food discovery of the week. I made this for dinner the other nite, and have now made it for breakfast or lunch two more times. Filling, delicious, nutritious … just generally awesome. This can also go on our list of things my vegetarian daughter can take to school for lunch:</p>
<p>1 or 2 Ortega whole grain corn taco shells<br>
(serving size = 2: 110 cals/5 g fat / 6 g fiber /18 g carbs / 2 g protein)</p>
<p>Veggie burger</p>
<p>Barefoot Contessa’s “guacamole salad”:
cherry tomatoes, halved
yellow pepper, diced
red onion, diced
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
minced jalapeno peppers (she says 2 T, but I used less)
avocado, diced (add these at the very end)</p>
<p>dressing: olive oil / lime juice / lime zest / salt / pepper/ garlic / cayenne pepper
(and I added some cumin)</p>
<p>You can load all this stuff into the taco shell, or lose the shell and just serve the salad loaded on top of the burger on a plate. </p>
<p>Salad would also be great as a side dish at any BBQ, or add some shredded cheese and roll it up in a wrap. You could also probably turn this into an appetizer in made mini-sized.</p>
<p>Yum!</p>
<p>Wow, that sounds DELICIOUS!!! ^^^^ You could even substitute a leaner beef burger or chicken/turkey burger. Yum.</p>
<p>NJSmom, congratulations! Please don’t be shy to report your success and excitement! We are thrilled for you and it gives us all hope and encouragement. </p>
<p>That salad sounds delicious, too!</p>
<p>Can anyone help me with workout clothing? I am fine with my shorts, but I have racer-back tanks with built in shelf bras that I have a really hard time getting off when they’re damp. I’m afraid I may have to call 911 one of these days. I bought some zip front sports bras but they chafe the front of my underarm areas because they are cut so high. I don’t need much support, just comfort and to be able to remove it!</p>
<p>Zoey, I sometimes find if I buy the racerbacks one size bigger they still do the job (holding up the girls) but aren’t quite sucked to my body (especially w/the sweat!)</p>
<p>Not being a jerk in reporting your progress, MJSMom. It gives me hope!</p>
<p>I’m actually surprised to see how walking daily has become a habit. I download Podcasts of Jim Cramer’s Mad Money (they are a perfect 45 minutes in length) or audio books to listen to as I walk. </p>
<p>It reminds of how our first grade class looked forward everyday to the time after lunch that the teacher would read a book to us. I walk to hear how my favorite detective story is coming along.</p>
<p>My wife walks for about an hour in the morning before it gets hot outside during the week. That’s 20 miles! More than I run weekly.</p>