March 20 - TGIF: Spring has Sprung!

[gitfiddle]

They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.
Andy Warhol

Good morning! I haven't noticed Time do anything for me except make me older. If I use Time wisely, I get older and better. If I don't, I just get older.

Breakfast will be a protein shake, lunch will be the Special from the cafeteria. I planned it when I read it a couple of days ago, but I don’t remember what it is! :rolleyes: Dinner will be a bunless wonder from BK. I’ll be pressed for time tonight between the gym and the jam. My contribution to the snack table will be Mary’s Gone Crackers with garlic hummus and a feta cheese spread.

Enjoy your first day of Spring! :)

[BeccainSC]

Morning Everyone!

The first day of Spring finds me sneezing my head off :( Ahhhhh pollen...... I've begun to suspect my allergy pills of causing the headaches lately. I know when they were prescription and I took one every day - 365 - that I would get headaches. They went OTC and the doc said to take "as needed". So if I wake up sneezy or with watery eyes I take one. And it seems I get a headache later. May or may not be related. I'm going to suffer through the symptoms today and see how it goes.

The scale has shed some of the weight I put on after Tuesday's slipup. I'm back in the range I held for most of the month, and only 1.5 pounds to go before I'm back where I was Tuesday morning.

Breakfast will be a shake, lunch is leftover Italian chicken, dinner is seafood night which for me means salmon patties, and as always tuna and almonds :)

'becca

[Puddin]

Definitely a good quote which I can identify with. Time has only given me some laugh lines, some extra pounds...but to be honest with you all I think that I wouldn't change my age with younger ones for anything in the world. Seems that time has also given me some 'horse sense' which I had to develop on my own earlier but is now growing on me (or is it better in me) for the last 9 years. Of course, I could also say that time has lowered certain areas of my body. Seems that gravity gets heavier as you get older so that the Playtex company earns more moneyas the years pass. But that is just normal. Even that I wouldn't change for younger ones...I would have to have to have the horse sense I have nowand we all know that is im possible:lol:

After the hard work and consultation which Max has given me I have finally begun to understand why I wasn't losing weight. Lard, which we eat here as a salami type meat is actually a 765 calorie bomb for 3 oz. Hey, guess that really blew me away so I know not to buy it anymore. Logically I will replace it with lots of other wonderful meaty deli which, as Max reminded me, in Italy there is tons. :thumbsup:

He also mentioned something which I think those of us who are trying to lose pounds should think about. Scones and such wonderful snacks are really emotionally satisfying but if you check the protein quantities per piece they are not nearly as good as a nice piece of ham, hard boiled eggs, or even a big slice of turkey. Which, as I mentioned to him, are physically more filling. I buy a kind of ham here which is called SPECK. It is almost like a jerky because it is dry but moist. I buy a 1 pound piece which I then cut. If I eat 100 grams ( let's say 3.5 ounces more or less) I get a lot of meat and 28 whopping grams of pure protein + some fat if I eat the layer of fat on the skin side (skin must be cut off because too hard to chew). So I am going to try Max 's recipe for a while and see what the results are for me. Logically the supply of Flax seeds can be given to the canaries;)

Will weigh myself in a while!

Breakfast - pudding (which I will also eliminate and eat eggs) and ham
Lunch - roast meat and salad, 1/3 avocado
Dinner - don't know but probably meat and salad
Snack - ?

[Ammy]

LOOOOOVVVVVEEEE the quote!

I walk into work today and there is an odor. Can't quite put my finger on it, but it's food of some sort.
I walk into the kitchen and there is food everywhere. Seems the girls (there are only four of us and the other three are constantly bringing in massive amounts of food) brought food in to celebrate the new guy.
So far I see meatballs (yea!), and lots of Asian items...egg rolls, wontons, etc. One of the girls is Asian and knows the owner likes her food so she brings it in a lot.
argh...
I have been craving Asian cuisine but fighting in, and now it's in my face.
My best bet would be to eat my normal breakfast...and maybe later have a meatball...but maybe I won't participate at all...
I hate having to think through these things when I'm hungry!

Here is my ORGINIAL food plan:

8am 4turkey bacon, egg souffle, diet v8 juice (I'm really enjoying this)
12p chili ebon with s.cream/cheese, cuke
3pm 6oz yogurt, 15 almonds
6pm 6.5oz corned beef, 1c sauerkraut

Pro: 124.7
Ecc: 35.8
Fat: 134.5
Cal: 1912

so I do have some room for a meatball if I want to have one or two...they look like pure meat, not bread (or not much anyway)...
We'll see.

[gitfiddle]

The scale has shed some of the weight I put on after Tuesday's slipup. I'm back in the range I held for most of the month, and only 1.5 pounds to go before I'm back where I was Tuesday morning.

Good job, Becca! :)
Scones and such wonderful snacks are really emotionally satisfying but if you check the protein quantities per piece they are not nearly as good as a nice piece of ham, hard boiled eggs, or even a big slice of turkey.I, for one, can't do pseudo baked goods. I have a hard enough time with 1-ecc crackers! :frown:

I have been craving Asian cuisine but fighting in, and now it's in my face.
My best bet would be to eat my normal breakfast...and maybe later have a meatball...but maybe I won't participate at all...
I hate having to think through these things when I'm hungry!
Spoken like a woman with experience! I don't think well when hungry, either. I think your plan is solid, Amy.

Out of curiosity, because I haven't done it in a while, I checked my BS two hours after my shake and was happy to see it only raised my numbers by five points. :) I read the cafeteria again and lunch is pork loin. They make it very moist and tasty, but a little too salty. I love it--once in a while.

[Karole]

Nean on the wontons and egg rolls AmmY!! Meat balls are probably doable but you'll be glad that you passed on that other stuff.

Doesn't it seem that each and every day tends to bring something to the fore that we have to deal with. There is some type of "celebration" going on every day--be it birthday party, going away party, welcome party, party party or what ever. They add up if we let them so I'll be pulling for you gal !!

[Ammy]

I just learned that along with the meatballs is a vegetable stirfry...with maybe some meat in it as well.
Sooo, I ate my 4 slices of bacon, and will have some meatballs and veggie stirfry.

But I'm getting pretty hungry and it's still cooking. :(

But you're right...NEAN on the "wrapped" items. She has fried some and baked some, but either way they are covered with "carbs" so none for me...


I can do this!

[Jackie]

Scale is up and I am very frustrated, I ate right according to plan for the last few days and really hit the water hard yesterday (had a good clean out day) and the scale was up 3lbs????/ What the heck?????

I plan to be on plan again today, so hopefully those 3 pounds can take a flying leap off a tall building!!! LOL

Have a great day all. I will post my totals at the end of the day.

Breakfast will be a coffee shake.

[Shadow]

Scale is up and I am very frustrated, I ate right according to plan for the last few days and really hit the water hard yesterday (had a good clean out day) and the scale was up 3lbs????/ What the heck?????

I plan to be on plan again today, so hopefully those 3 pounds can take a flying leap off a tall building!!! LOL
Jackie - Just consider it a fluctuation :). I'm not sure it's possible to actually gain 3 # (be it muscle or fat) in just 24 hours ;). Water retention, yes. But anything permanent is kinda hard to believe.

[maxlharris]

Fleetwood Mac assures us that Time makes you Bolder. I suppose. I'm bolder in a better way that when I was younger.

Two days ago, in the end of winter, we saw 65. Today, on the first day of spring, I saw 28*. These labels are really ruining my enjoyment of things.

Days to France: 4.
Work days to france: 2
Work pace of those 2 days: Infinity and beyond.

Stupidly started a major cleanup project yesterday afternoon. Email box is now overflowing with requests. Dummy me.

Today's goals for work:
1- Answer incoming complaints about cleanup.
2- Work duties as usual.
3- Cleanup Chicago/KC and send it to Citibank.
4- Mail the Offset notices.
5- Leave at 4 with the wife who is coming.

[Feelix]

Checking in - Hot wings for lunch - I am eating a salad with them instead of the cheese fries.... Then we are going on a 4 mile walk. Its a beautiful day here and I can't wait!

[Ammy]

Hey Max...it will help those last 2 days before your trip FLY by!!

So...the food a coworker brought in wasn't being offered so I finally broke down and had my egg souffle...
It's 11, there is talk of it being offered "shortly"...

A meeting this morning made her change her mind and offer it as lunch instead of breakfast. So happy I ate MY food, I'd be one crabby B by now and probably do something STUPID like snarf egg rolls!!

whew

[gitfiddle]

Hi, everybody! My pork loin came with stuffing, which I didn't eat. Then I find out the lovely orange flavor was made by carmelizing onions with orange marmelade. I don't think there was much, but I forgot that our gourmet chef sneaks sugar into many things you wouldn't expect. :p

Sheila, are you over your sniffles? I miss you!

Who else do we miss?

Feelix, you are on a very healthy roll today!

Max, I feel your pain....:frown:

Hi, Shadow! :) Jackie, Shadow knows.

Amy, I'm glad there's something there you can share in. Hold tight!

Karole! You sure know your parties! ;)

[Puddin]

I'm trying to figure out why it is that in the STates you guys party so much! Here we tend to be pretty serious.....;)

Wrote this in my journal but I guess it is better to tell you all here too. If I don't show up for a few days it's because I am going to the Opthamologist this evening cause my right eye is troublesome again. Sort of like looking out of a cellophane bag. Not all the time but sometimes and it is really not comfortable. Probably nothing but she said to get there this evening to check again. Always something. Computer is not so good for my eyes at the moment but I just know that I will miss checking in.

[maxlharris]

We party because we work 40 hour weeks, minimum, eat crappy processed food all the time, and generally lead lives of small enjoyment relative to the continential Europeans I have known. The constant partying or celebration makes up for the eat as fast as you can meal plans, the inferior wine, and the relative lack of conversation skills (largely brought on by TV, I think).

[Karole]

I can do this!

Yes you can. Good for you.

[Karole]

Karole! You sure know your parties! ;)

Unfortunately I do. Their name is Legion !! There's always something lurking around to sabotage our good intentions isn't there.

[itsjustmelm]

Wrote this in my journal but I guess it is better to tell you all here too. If I don't show up for a few days it's because I am going to the Opthamologist this evening cause my right eye is troublesome again. Sort of like looking out of a cellophane bag. Not all the time but sometimes and it is really not comfortable. Probably nothing but she said to get there this evening to check again. Always something. Computer is not so good for my eyes at the moment but I just know that I will miss checking in.


Hope everything goes okay. I had a similar symptom in my right eye off to the side - kinda shimmery like when you stand beside a pool with the sun bouncing off the water. Turned out I have a tear (as in rip) in my retina but in the 21 years since it was diagnosed, there's been no further problems. Finally got used to the shimmery effect (it's neverending). Oh, and I had cataract surgery at the ripe old age of 35, which my beloved opthamalogist said was a quirk of nature.

I'm half-Italian (family is from Sicily). We've been to Italy twice and because of that, our home is becoming quite Tuscany-looking!

Again, best wishes with the eye situation.

[Ammy]

Hey all....here to report I survived.

Now mind you, there is still a mess of fried egg rolls/wonton's in the kitchen, but I haven't had any yet and have no desire! Wipee!!!

I did enjoy 6 small meatballs (they were literally meat/onion/seasoning, no bread, but there was that seasoning that makes asian meat red-it's a touch sweet, but no sauce on the meatballs).
I had two tiny (2inch long) slice of pork, one peapod, and one noodle (accidentally grabbed it as it was part of the pork/peapod.
But one little noodle will not kill me.

So...I survived...and I feel great!

[gitfiddle]

Good luck, Puddin! :tear: They can repair a torn retina.

Good job, Ames! Don't volunteer for kitchen duty. ;)

I will try to get back here after the music jam tonight, if for no other reason than to get the weekend thread started. :D My weekend starts in five minutes. First, the gym, then the party. After that, it gets busy.

[Feelix]

I survived lunch and have been so full I haven't snacked! private victory as I usually am a snacker. Watching a movie this evening... and enjoying my almonds for snack.

[BeccainSC]

Scale is up and I am very frustrated, I ate right according to plan for the last few days and really hit the water hard yesterday (had a good clean out day) and the scale was up 3lbs????/ What the heck?????


As Shadow said, consider it a fluctuation :) I had a 3 pound gain this week after my fall off the wagon then another 1.5 pouds up the very next day. Based on my DDs and the fact that I'm cramping today I'm gonna chalk a lot of it up to hormonal bloat. This too shall pass.


Wrote this in my journal but I guess it is better to tell you all here too. If I don't show up for a few days it's because I am going to the Opthamologist this evening cause my right eye is troublesome again. Sort of like looking out of a cellophane bag. Not all the time but sometimes and it is really not comfortable. Probably nothing but she said to get there this evening to check again. Always something. Computer is not so good for my eyes at the moment but I just know that I will miss checking in.


I hope all goes well. We'll certainly miss you, but you have to take care of yourself!



So...I survived...and I feel great!

Great job Amy! And I'm sure that one wayward noodle will be fine.

I will try to get back here after the music jam tonight, if for no other reason than to get the weekend thread started. :D My weekend starts in five minutes. First, the gym, then the party. After that, it gets busy.

Sounds like a fun night for you!


My day was brutal, as expected, and I left work at the worst possible time. Took me over an hour (yet again) to get home. :( Part of it was simply timing (rush hour/Friday) part was an overturned dump truck on the interstate - opposite direction, but still causing all sorts of problems EVERYWHERE. I just kept reminding myself that I was so very glad to not be on the other side fully stopped. It was backed up (as in a parking lot) a good 5 miles that I know of (since it went past my exit). What a mess! Stopped at the grocery store (seems the kiddos ran out of milk and didn't tell me they were low - they can't seem to realize I don't drink it, I don't pay attention to it) and there were 5 local police (which I always think is the entire force) cars out front and pretty much dismantling another car and had someone in the backseat of one of the patrol cars.

So I'm home, with another headache so the no allergy pill didn't help :( Think I'm just destined for nightly headaches. I have to get up EARLY tomorrow and have DD2 to school before 6:30 for a science team competition. It's grocery/bill weekend and the usual chores so I will be a busy girl!

My totals for today:

Protein: 164
Carbs: 50
Water: 112
Supps: yes - with extras of a few things
Exercise: nope :( I have given up that goal for this week. (don't tell Shadow)


'becca

[Jackie]

Thanks Shadow and Becca, I hope it is a flucuation. Well it has to be:confused: !!!!

Today was a good day, found out I am the only applicant for another term position with the school division and it happens to be in my school of choice. Whooo Hooo!!!

Spring Break is around the corner and we are planning a little family getaway. Compromise one night at a spa and one night in the city with the trip to the IMAX and science center for the kids. I will also spend alot time prepping for the job I hope to get. I am the only applicant????? So unless something completely goes VERY WRONG I should get it!!

Food
Breakfast: coffee shake
Lunch: ham/cheese/onion omelette (6-7 onion rings)
Snack: 1 hard boiled egg
Dinner: cauli/sausage casserole

Counts:
Cal:1460
Fat:104.5
ECC:27.6
Protein:99.5

I got most of my water in today and did the exercise thing, hopefully the whoosh fairy comes and takes away those extra pounds.:D:D

[Claudette]

Hi, y'all,

Whew, today was sooo busy.
Got home late, but so excited as the scale says I am down 3.2 lbs this week! :)

Carol, great quote. I have changed alot since my early 20's, more assertive, compassionate, less rigid, ceretainly more easy going about things in life. I wish I was still as skinny as I was then untill the last few years. I used to never give food or weight a thought.

Puddin, hope all goes well at the Opthalmologist.

Ammy, you can do it!

Today was:
b- isopure whey protein in hood lc milk, tea, fibersmart, 1/8th cup of long cooking oatmeal.
l- left over dreamfields pasta w/ alfredo sauce, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, tossed green salad w/ lc dressing, sf jello
s-boar's head low na ham, slices of bell pepper rings
d- homemade chili, tossed green salad w/ lc dressing, two of DH's large steak fries (he loves them, I just don't eat them, except for a taste).

Did 1 hr. exercise this am before work: 30 minutes cardio, 30 minutes toning.

Well, off to study.

Claudette