Well, I can always use my all-purpose fat-free shredded cheese, too. Man, Lil, you're making me hungry!

I'm stuffed and staying well under my calories today. I am drinking water like a crazy person.

for sliced cheese I far prefer the 2%. I've just discovered Cabot cheddar 50% and 75% light - I can only find it in the blocks currently. I have a "chunk" of one ounce as a snack when I need to use up points at the end of the day. I know this is a luxury I will not always have.

I can bring up the site with the recipe as well, so it must be available to all ...

As most weekends, I've been on the high side of my calorie range, but tomorrow is another day. I checked out my smaller sizes underwear drawer this weekend, have some of everything that will be fitting very soon and more to go down for a ways. I also have a couple of outfits that I fit into again and can add to my current items ... though not anywhere near enough to replace all of the items that are bagging BIG TIME on me now ... but they are still wearable for the moment, so .... things are good.

I've reached a stalemate with the scale. No loss :( no gain but no loss this week :(

Well, I survived a week of sickness and starting today I will be going back to the gym AND working on my diet. I'm still not quite "well" -- but I am significantly better and I want to get myself back into good habits.

The past week I've managed to control my calorie intake (thanks to being sick) and have gotten used to eating smaller portions...my average daily intake for the week was about 1750 calories...well below my target of 1950. I'm going to try and stay under 1900 all week this week, and target an average of 1800, knowing I'll go over on a couple of days.

I'm going to start the workout slow today, only going to do about 20-25 min on the exercise bike and maybe 150 sit ups. I'll get more aggressive as I get my strength and health fully back this week, and plan to start lifting weights again by Wendesday.

One more accomplishment I want to mention...I took myself off of my *last* remaining arthritis medication three nights ago and haven't taken more than ibuprofen since then. :D This is the first time since I was 19 that I can stay that I am perscription medicine free (except for the birth control). :D As of last year, I was still taking two mediciations -- sulfazalazine and indocin -- and two years ago I was taking 4 -- the previous two, plus methotrexate and prednisone. Part of the reason why I gained all the weight in the first place was the steroids and other meds.

So...I'm going to try and stay drug-free as long as I can....which means getting HEALTHY and eating right!

Try an extra shot of exercise every other day this week Lil. Not positive it will help, but I doubt it will hurt. Just an idea. (((((hugs))))))

((((osuche)))) I hope now that your getting over being sick you can get right on track and be med-free and healthy.

LOL I don't exescise :D It's against my religion:D

I've had a bad day emotionally. The scale really upset me this morning. I lost 1 lb, when I was really expecting it to be more like 2-2.5 (based on Saturday and Sunday morning checks). I know that I should be happy that I am losing, but I am slowly losing my patience. I don't like seeing the scale go down by only .5 or 1lb after a whole week of walking on the treadmill and eating within my point range.

And the only redemption I have for these emotions is that tonight when I weighed after work I was .5lb lower than this morning - and I am consistently about 3-4lb heavier at the end of the day.

I'm eating on track today - but let my water go right downhill - I've only had about 20 oz all day - and there hasn't been any other liquid intake to compensate for the lack of water. I had it on my desk all day but never had a desire to sip it.

I'm not giving up - but just had a lousy day.

((((maddy))))

Lil and maddy ... glad you're still with us .... some weeks, especially once into a healthy lifestyle plan just are like that ... I keep reminding myself, it's a cumulative thing, even if there is a week here or there with minimal (or no) change in our measuring tools, over the course of a number of weeks, then the changes add up.

I always have kind of a down week when I'm in the hut ... my emotions are more easily on the negative side and my body isn't responding as well to the efforts I put in .. so last week was like that for me, didn't feel like I was making any progress, even when I could recognize where progress has been happening, I didn't feel like I was progressing ... but over the course of time, I've learned that the week after that is always an up week, I see the progress, I feel more upbeat, etc. So today, I could see changes in the way my clothes fit and how much looser they are, etc. I could also feel some differences in the way my knees are ... less pain with each week that passes.

Sending healing thoughts and hugs to osuche ... hope you get back to 100% very soon!!

Just glad to have you all as a part of the group so we can share the ups and downs .. It makes a huge difference for me and I appreciate you all ... thanks!!!

By the way, reporting that I made it through another day and am off to bed now. :)

I had a bad one yesterday too so bad I didn't really eat. I woke up this morning to a sudden drop in weight but I know it won't stay that low.

maddy ~ tomorrow/now today will be a better day ((hugs))

(((Lil))) ~~ didn't mean to get you sick, too. :) I hear the first year teaching is hell ont he body, and it seems you're suffering for it. Also, sorry to hear about the little boy. You do know...don't you...that the kids are better off because you have the ability to be tough? Thank you for being you -- we need mor eteachers like that.

Maddy, I hope today is better -- I understand about the weight loss in small increments. Such is my life, and it's always pissed me off that weight drops off of other people in whole pound increments and it dribbles off of me. If oyu find a good solution, let me know -- I've always suspected that I'm not eating precisely the right foods for my body and that's why.

fzzy...glad this week you're more positive. I could *feel* your struggle to remain positive last week...but you have come so far! You're feeling better and have a LOT of signals that your plan is working.

IAKG...hope you're celebrating with that man of yours. Did the VS stuff arrive yet? ;)

Aqua...I need a report on your progresss as well, my friend. :D

As for me...I broke my calorie rule last night. Came home and fixed shrimp pasta...it tasted so GOOD and I've had such little appetite this past two weeks. I went mad and ate two plates of it, and drank a glass of wine. Then I had 2 Swiss chocolates. I'd been "good" earlier in the day, so the splurge ended me at 2150 calories for the day -- which (given that I worked out a bit) is still OK. But today I'll be more diligent about my goal.

Woke up with some stiffness and took a shower...but last night was night 4 without arthritis meds. Two years ago my rheumatologist told me that I might never have kids because the meds I was on would cause birth defects. That I'd have to be off of them for 18 months before I got pregnant, and she didn't think that would be possible for me to do. Well....here I am....off of the drugs for 4 days straight! 18 months to go and I can have babies if I want to.

To me, the goal of remaining arthritis med free is *almost* as important as the weight loss. I am sure they're entwined, but this is a big accomplishment to me. Something I've been working on for about 2 years, which is finally completely successful. Let's just hope I don't back slide.

^5 osuche!

Wishing you luck and continued success in your quest to be med-free!

TYVM. :D I really *am* proud

How about you, WI? How's the quest to remain coffee-free going? :)