Thanks maddy and IAKG ... and everyone for your positive thoughts and examples .... I've made it through today with a couple of hundred calories to spare, so I'm back on track and ready to start another week. Good luck everyone on the coming week!!!

Just a warning on the turkey, unless you use the stuff with 100% white meat it's not lower in fat than lean ground beef. Regular ground turkey can run as high as 15% fat.

This week has been a doozy. My students and I will suffer through state assessment testing over the next two weeks. I am down 1 more this week. So far 17 altogether. Slow and steady wins the race, right??????

Here's something, following Lil's lead, that might interest you on turkey v. ground beef:

http://experts.about.com/q/Nutritio...nd-turkey-2.htm

From that and some other things I've seen on the 'net, it seems like the basic advantage to ground turkey is less saturated fat. I have simply found that I ENJOY the turkey better than the beef a good percentage of the time.

As frustrating as it is, slow and steady is the way to go. I know I'd like to be at the end of the weight loss journey and be in maintenance mode, but I try to focus on day-by-day and not the road ahead too much. ((Lil)) for your week ahead--I'll send positive thoughts your way.

I would also have to add that you can't get mad cow from a turkey...











yet :p

I must admit I learned all this about turkey yesterday as I was attempting to determine the point value AFTER I ate it. I found that the package did describe it as lean and there was no mention of it being specifically ground turkey breast but there was no mention of it containing dark meat and skin either. So I resorted to the NI on the back of the pack and found each pre-made burger to be 180 calories with 8g of fat. That's about the same as the lean black angus ground sirloin (173 calories, 9g of fat) that I use when ever I'm going to have beef. Next time I will be more attentive to the content of the turkey - but all in all I did enjoy the turkey burger and will be adding to my mix of things to eat. And at a minimum I can say it's at least as healthy as the beef I'm eating.

Now on to other things - the scale. I suspected it would not be a good week for me only because I watched the scale be less than kind all week, but I kept moving on doing the same things. I lost .5 lb this past week. I think it's because of my intake. I was below points everyday but two (2-4 points - plus 2-3 APs). I'm going to be striving to get my point intake up this week (how funny is that? I need to eat MORE!). I've been doing a lot of reading on this and think I've found some solutions that will work for me.

maddy, it sounds as if maybe your body started to go into "starvation mode" this week, reducing your metabolism to correspond to your food intake. A loss is a loss, though--just remember that. ((maddy))

Starvation Mode - exactly! And I need a good old fashioned ass kicking as I know better than to do that. Old habits die hard I suppose, it's the "if I eat less I'll lose more" philosophy that doesn't exactly work. But I do know that I wasn't "starving" as I left the points on the table at the end of each day and wasn't going to bed hungry.

I am going to be much more dilligent about it this week - so my body doesn't completely fall into starvation mode.

Well, down 2 more lbs, but I think it's lack of appetite. I've been walking a bit, but not doing any form of normal exercise since Thursday thanks to my cold/flu/viral invasion.

I'd rahter be working out -- I feel so much better when I am doing so.

That makes me a total of 7 lbs, and the underperformer of this group. :(

When I feel better, I'll be more diligent in catching up with the rest of you.

osuche~Keep in mind that, I believe, you started later than the rest of us. You've also had some physical challenges as of late. Don't be so hard on yourself. As I told maddy this morning, a loss is a loss.

What she ^^^ said. A loss is a loss... and everyone loses weight at a different pace due to many different factors of family schedules, job schedules, HEALTH!, and perving practices. ;) What matters is that you stick to it and keep doing what works for you.

((((osuche)))))

Since I'm home today I hopped on the treadmill earlier than normal - and I really didn't feel like doing the laundry. I had to pick up the pace today to stay within the heartrate range... that's a good feeling (I think!). I managed to do 2.1 miles. Also, I have a habit of snapping my fingers when I walk - I managed to split my finger open in the process :(

Thanks Aqua and IAKG....I've been forced to concede that I need to relax a bit and that the illness is my body's signal to lay low. I'm going to be more dedicated after I get well, though.

Maddy...bummer about the finger! It's harder to snap with bandaids on. :D

Yea Lil on your loss ... a loss is a loss and anything that isn't a gain - in my mind, is wonderful!!!

maddy, the lack of loss may also be that your body is gaining some muscle with the added activity, that will slow down soon, the first couple weeks of a workout program (when you haven't been on one) is always a muscle building time. Congrats on your ongoing success with the treadmill ... you are doing so great at that!

osuche, 7 pounds lost is wonderful!! congrats on doing that, I don't have a clue on my numbers lost because in all honesty, i don't have access to a scale that weighs in high enough numbers, though I did awhile before starting, so I know approximately what my weight was when I started and if I'm able to stick it out long enough, then eventually I'll be able to weigh on a regular scale ... that week (when & if it comes) will be a very big number to report, but until then, I'm going exclusively on changes in my body and how I feel, how my clothes fit, etc. Each of us starts at a different place and has different goals, but as mentioned before, a loss is a loss and that's a VERY good thing!


IAKG - thanks again for the information and encouragement you always bring.

and Aqua, we love you! thanks for being with us!

I made it through another day ... it's good to be on track! :)

fzzy I'm really proud of you and can't help but think how good it's going to feel the day you can step on a scale to proclaim your weight. Instead of thinking it's a big number just think of all the bigger numbers it will not be.

I'm hitting a decade mark. You know those increments of 10 that you just can't wait to enter a lower one. I fear I'll hang around on the periphery forever. Maybe next week will be the week. Thinking that helps me to stay focused.

Just wanted to say - I'm having the best strawberries in my cereal this morning :p . My grocery has had them on sale for three weeks in a row buy one get one free for a container (quart?) - and this week they are the most beautiful red nearly all the way through and are so incredibly flavorful and juicy.

I had heard on the radio that it is strawberry season in Florida (though I think these are from South America) and that it's going to be a good crop coming from Florida.

maddy...you've just made me crave strawberries madly. If I could see to drive, I'd be headed to the store even though it's 4 am here.

I'm glad you're enjoying them...especially since I know you didn't use to be a fruit person. :)

I know exactly what you mean, Lil. I'm coming up on a "double"--close to 20 lbs. lost, plus down a "decade" in weight. I don't think it'll be at this Friday's weigh-in, though, but I'm hoping for next Friday.

osuche brings up a good point--it's amazing how, when we're concentrating on what's "good" for us, our tastes and preferences change.

Well, Lil, considering the reservations you had about the past week...a pound down is awesome. "Better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness." eh?

Fzzy...you are amazing. That's all I have to say to and about you. Your progress is inspiring and your attitude is great. Ok, so I had more to say. :D

osuche, you have no catching up to do at all. You'll lose at a rate that your body can handle. No worries, mate. ;)

NHKG - Enough with the turkey burger breakfasts! I got a stomach ache just thinking about it! :p But hey...who am I to argue with your obvious success, right? Good job! And good idea to dump your drink down the drain! That stuff isn't near as worth it as scotch! :D

Maddy...I'm glad you're putting your treadmill to good use. At this rate, you'll be toned up and ready to tackle a good walk outside come springtime. Your body will be fit so your mind can focus on the delights nature will offer instead of trying not to fall over!

As for me, well, Sunday night was a late night for me. Mrs. WI and I were up until almost 1:00am and I was really feeling the effects of it last night. I slept ok, but not near long enough. I needed real coffee so I brewed a pot thinking that a cup would open my eyes and perc me up. Well...I can't make real coffee at home because I'll drink the whole thing, which is exactly what I did. I can't believe I drank the whole pot of coffee in like 20 minutes. :( I was so mad at myself that I threw all the real coffee down the garbage disposal. Somewhere in Columbia, I heard Juan Valdez kick his donkey.

I think seeing how bad I lost control was more of an eye-opener than the caffeine.

Take it from someone who has a *lot* of experience pulling all-nighters....do NOT trust yourself to have any type of judgement about what to eat/drink/say the next day. Nothing impairs judgement more than a sleepless night or two!

I'd approach this as a special circumstance and forgive myself for it. Don't be so hard on yourself!

Of course, if you threw away allt he coffee beans (why didn't you send them to me?) you've removed the temptation. :D

Which means we can both celebrate by drinking some scotch together. Just bought a new bottle of 18 year old Glenmorangie Sherry Wood....want some?

Maddy pointed me to a WW online support site last night--www.healthdiscovery.net. I was kind of looking around there, and I found an interesting thread on their message boards about pant sizes. Someone was wanting to know about a formula to correlate weight/pants size.

One of the first things mentioned was determining frame type, which I'd seen before (and which, interestingly enough, puts me as a "large" frame):

How Do I Determine My Body Frame Size?
Small, medium or large. Frame size. Which size are you?

If you are left-handed, extend your right arm. If you are right-handed, extend your left arm.

With your free hand, wrap your thumb and middle finger (yes, the one that some people use in heavy traffic) and wrap those around your extended wrist. Be sure to wrap it around the SMALLEST section of your wrist - very close to where the old hand sticks out.

Small Frame: If your middle finger and thumb overlap, you have a small frame.

Medium Frame: If your middle finger and thumb touch, you have a medium frame.

Large Frame: If your middle finger and thumb do not meet, you have a large frame.


One thing, however, that I HADN'T seen was a formula given for the pants/weight correlation. I'm interested to see if it works for you all--it was fairly accurate for me:

(.118 x weight) + (.059 x age) - (.298 x height in inches) + 11.11 = size

IAk I know you love ginger dressing like I do. I love this bottled kind Makoto honey ginger. Here is a recipe to make a similar kind at home http://www.recipezaar.com/60315

I have heard of a website you ginger lovers may like... I Love Ginger

Interesting find IAKG - the wrist thing would claim I'm a medium frame and I've always claimed to be "big boned" perhaps it's one of my many weight lies.

And the size thing seems to be accurate for the size I'm wearing today - but I also can pull them straight down my hips with a good tug.

Newman's Own has a sesame ginger dressing that I have heard is really good (I think I might have bought it and have it in my cabinet even).

Lil ... thank you so much ... I'm proud of all of us, some days we struggle a bit more than others, but we're still here checking in and giving each other support as well. I think it's great that you're closing in on a marker number!!

maddy, glad you're enjoying healthy foods! That is such a great accomplishment.

osuche, hope you get feeling much better very soon!! and congrats on continuing to do so well even when you're feeling unwell.

IAKG -- congrats on your upcoming marker number as well!

WI ... like the rest of us, you had a day when control didn't seem so easy to find, when's your visit to the hut .. can you blame that?!?!? :D Speaking of which, maybe I'm a bit emotional right now, but between you're comment and Lil's right together almost ... I got teared up - thank you for your kind words!

and for all the information from each of you on various topics and thoughts ... thanks!!! you guys are the best!

Well, seeing as how I spend more time in the hut thread than any female...it's possible that I'm experiencing physical manifestations. The "I feel your pain" syndrome. :D

Truth be told, if given enough free range I can justify almost anything in my mind. That's why I can't keep coffee in the house. I'll figure out, like yesterday morning, a reason why it's ok "just this one time". And it's a downward spiral once I start thinking. (No comments from the peanut gallery!) So, I won't keep regular coffee around. I'm fine when I'm out because to order coffee...I'd have to say it out loud. Hearing myself say "Decaf please" is more of a positive affirmation than a sentence of punishment, so it's ok.

At any rate, thanks for the encouragement all.

This thing is all screwed up. It says I should be wearing size 14 pants. :eek:

Ha! I'm totally a size 7. :rolleyes:


:D :p

I round up to a size 11...that's handy to know for when I go shopping for skirts. ;)

The damn pants calculation says I'm a size 15...which doesn't exist. :p But maybe why that explains why I try on 3 size 14 pairs of pants and *one* will fit. :p That's the magical size 15. LMAO

My accomplishment for today is sleeping a whole 8 hours last night -- first time in about 5 days. :) Now...it was broken into 3 chunks thanks to some coughing fits and eye issues, but I still slept 8 hours!

BTW...did I mention I could use a nap? :p

size 15s are available in the Jr dept of most department stores. It was not accurate for me but I have found the larger you are the less likely general rules apply.

Just got off the treadmill - I really pushed myself to do 45 minutes and stay in my target heartrange tonight. I had a treat that needed to be worked off. I walked 2.4 miles and am incredibly pleased with my accomplishment.

WI- I'm glad you know what you need to do to resist temptation...I think those of us with other goals can agree that we have had to do some of the same as far as removing triggers.

WI - maddy has it right, I don't have any of my triggers in my place, or at work ... am so concerned about how weak I am regarding many of those triggers, that I've worked out various ways to not have to go shopping at places that have them, etc. I wouldn't make it if I had any of those things within reach.

You all are too funny with the weight/pants correlation calculator. It was fairly accurate for me, although it had me right over a 14, and I was wearing 12s yesterday and today.

Thanks for the heads up, too, on the ginger...you all KNOW how much I love it. I tried to be as good as possible last night at the Japanese restaurant and did pretty well, considering.

This week is just going to be a tough week overall for me as far as any loss, with my whole life out of whack between the kids and my S/O both out of town and my boss preparing for a big, five-day trial. My stress level is high, so I will be happy with maintaining the status quo from last week but am gearing myself up to be slightly disappointed.

I told you that pants thing was making me crazy! I thought it was just non-girl me that dd it but I'm supposed to be bigger than the 10/12/14 that I am!

LOL Steph!!

Just stopping in to say I made it through another day staying in my calorie range ... it was kind of a hectic day for me, tomorrow probably will be as well, so off to bed I go! :)

I overdosed on mashed potatoes tonight. That's probably not something I needed a double helping of, but it was there and I took it.

I also got off the treadmill a bit ago and walked 2.5 miles. I've started keeping a spreadsheet (geek!) of all the walking I've done. Tonight I hit 10 hrs total.

Actually, as you know, maddy, journaling is something WW encourages. Talk about geekettes...when I can remember (I'm getting better about it), I put my weight daily as well as miles walked into my Palm Pilot. :D

It's now 8:30. I worked until just about 7:00, a 12-hour day, and had to stop at the grocery after that. I'm hoping to get dinner soon. I hate to eat this late, but I'm also starving.

I drank my calories in mudslides :D

They go down easier that way, don't they, Lil? :D

I'm NOT going to tell you, then, that I found a site yesterday listing the five best and worst drinks for people on diets, and unfortunately mudslides were on the "naughty" side of the coin. :rolleyes: