[Silly]

Yay is right, Charlene!!!! Good for you. I don't have ChaLEAN either but I figure any movement is good movement - I love power walks too because they get me outdoors. Keep up the good work.

[Blesha]

Walked down and up two flights of stairs this morning, and have been walking back and forth between small tasks at home. Tomorrow I'll be walking almost a mile.

[ChristyVW]

Way to go girls! I love to see everyone motivating each other! it's so great!

The girls and I have park dates on wednesdays with a Mom's group, so couldn't make it to the gym this morning. Squeezed in a workout though, by riding our bikes to the park. We are quite a site! We call it the 'train'. I ride my bike, with Regan on a 'Tagalong' (one of the one wheeled bikes hooked on to the adult bike), then Sage rides in a Burley (trailer) hooked on to Regan's bike!!! LOL! I really need to have Paul take a picture. We get quite a few looks! Can definitely feel the burn pulling that up the hills!!

<----need to get some of these in yet today too!!

[MargotW]

Charlene - Good for you! starting with the 2 mile walk. I started with the 1 mile walk she has. Keep up the good work!


You gals are keeping me motivated!

[ScrappingForever]

Oh yeah, Christy! I guess you would be feeling that! Yowzaa! And yes, we NEED to see photos...and a layout of course.

Yes ladies, any movement is good. It doesn't matter what you're doing, just move in some way every day. Painting porches and mowing grass definitely helps, too!

Love all of the energy I'm seeing here!

And Shari! I'm so proud of you! Have I mentioned that before? It is great to know that you're motivating others to do something healthy. That's what this is all about, helping those I care about live longer, healthier lives.

Charlene, so glad we're motivating you, too. I'm sorry if we frustrated you a little, though. Not our intention, as I'm sure you know. You know what I'm thinking about all of this, talk about a warm fuzzy...so many times in life we are influenced by the wrong people, to do the wrong thing. You know how it always seems so easy to get off the straight and narrow and be lazy, not eat right, not exercise, not go to church, any of the things that feel our bodies and our souls the right way and give us the balance we need in life. It is just so incredible to me that I can reach out over this thing called the internet and inspire people to do the right thing. Just by posting what I'm doing every day on Facebook, or Twitter or here. I can't tell you how good that makes me feel.

Can we all have a group hug???

[scrappinchar]

Jan....no, no, no...y'all were not frustrating me.
I was frustrating me. lol

I mean...come on Charlene...you know that eating chips and Little Debbie's and too much food in general PLUS not getting any real exercise is NOT going to improve your health or body size.

That was me talking to myself this past year. lol
It's frustrating to not understand yourself. WHY do I eat too much even though I'm not happy with my weight? Those kinds of frustrations.

So...to see you gals doing your work outs, and knowing I wasn't doing anything...well, I'm just glad that I've been motivated.


And...here's that group hug! lol

[ScrappingForever]

Oh good! I knew there was a group hug smiley, but I couldn't find it! I need remedial smiley training!

[MargotW]

Soooo, Jan.

I'm exercising and mowing the lawn to burn calories and I get calories added on to my basic calories, which I have a hard time consuming. Maybe I should go back to my ice cream in the evening to add to my calories since I'm low in everything but protein? How's that for a great idea? LOL

Any suggestions? It's 2pm and I have 940 calories to consume.

[Shari PV Mom]

I'm so with you Margot! I'm finding it really really hard to get in all my calories! And then finding the right balance between Carbs, Fats & Protein on top of it too! Now, if Jan would just let me eat that cupcake I so desperately want ... then I could get those calories in!

Hey Margot ... go get some low calorie ice cream. I think Breyers has a slow churn type of low cal ice cream that is supposed to taste pretty good. I haven't tried it though. And I've heard that Skinny Cow is pretty tasty low cal stuff too. Maybe you and I should try that!

[ChristyVW]

You guys slay me with your 'not able to eat enough calories' bit!! Are you serious?? I am hungry ALL the time! LOL! If I don't eat, I get the shakes and start to kind of shut down.

On the subject of cupcakes...I may splurge on one this weekend, as a little reward item!! there is a recipe at MFP where you combine a cake mix and one can of diet soda (any flavor) and bake as normal! no eggs or oil...someone said like 83 calories each or something. But, no, Shari! I wouldn't use them to fill up your calorie count everyday!! LOL!!

Charlene, so glad to see you are joining us on the motivated side of the fence!!

[MargotW]

Shari - Skinny Cow ice cream is good but why go low cal when you have so many calories, carbs & fat grams left? LOL

I think we are trouble makers!

I just forced down a FiberOne bar and killed 140 calories!

[Shari PV Mom]

Ooh - you're better than me! I couldn't force one of those down if my life depended on it! Okay, MAYBE if my LIFE depended on it, but that's it! I'll eat a cupcake first! (Which I won't do, because I'm being good! Did I tell you I passed up my FAVORITE cheesecake with strawberries and whipped cream on it last night? I even had 500 more calories to "kill.")

[Laurie in PA]

I weighed in at WW tonight - down 3.4 this week.

And, I came home and tried out my Kathy Smith foundation DVD. DH even did it with me
(and I thought I was uncoordinated) We only made it 15 minutes. My breathing wouldn't
let me keep going. Tomorrow we will increase the time.

[ScrappingForever]

Okay ladies. Back away slowly from the ice cream and cupcakes. That's right. You can do it. One step at a time.

Okay. Good. Now, let's talk food.

First. Food is fuel. It does matter what you put into your body. It really does. If you want your body to run efficiently, and fuel these exercises that you're doing, then you want to fuel it with the right kinds of food. (Yes, you can splurge every once in a while. But make it every once in a while, not weekly. After all, why sabotage all of the hard work you're doing, right! )

Now, I really want you all to start eating every 2 - 3 hours. Eating like this helps to keep your metabolism revved, and therefore, you burn even more calories. Cool how that works, isn't it!

Snacks are the hardest, I agree, so here are some ideas for you. (Some of these come from the ChaLEAN Extreme Nutrition Guide.)
Almonds (1 oz) and fruit. (Emerald makes these wonderful Cocoa Almonds that have practically the same nutritional count as raw almonds! Yaaay!)
Whole grain bread, 1 TBSP peanut butter (all natural preferred) and 1 TBSP all natural jelly
Protein Bars (I'm partial to Beachbody's P90X Peanut Butter protein bars. )
Meal Replacement Shakes (protein shakes)
Smoothies with yogurt, and yummy fruit
Apples and Peanut Butter
Whole Grain crackers with low fat cheese and deli meat (again, preferrably low-fat) Use about 5 - 7 crackers
Mini bags of popcorn are OK, but I'd prefer it if you only ate about half of that mini bag and then included some sort of protein as well.
Shrimp and cocktail sauce. (3 lg shrimp and 2 TBSP sauce)
Mini pizza on whole wheat english muffin, using low fat cheese. Can add 2 oz chicken breast for protein
lunch meat and cheese roll-ups (no bread/wrap, just the meat and cheese with some romaine lettuce.
String cheese with some fruit
Cottage cheese (1/2 c 1%) and 1/2 c fruit
1 stalk celery filled wtih 1 1/2 oz low fat spreadable cheese such as Alouette or Laughing Cow Light

HTH!

[Julie - scrapaholic]

Okay, Okay, how did you know, I was close to the bad food????? I'm backing away.
Seriously, today has been a rough day for me. For some reason, my minor depression kicked in, and I overdid the eating. Worse, I didn't get to the gym. It is a minor setback, and I know one that won't last, so tomorrow is a new day.

One thing I have learned is never dwell on the bad, if you do go off, just hop back on. One day is not going to kill ya.

Thanks Jan for the great snack idea's.

[Vaughnde]

Already been doing most of those Jan; however there is a lot of food I can no longer eat...one is Celery, one is tomatoes, and anything with splenda or aspartame I'm allergic to. However I have to lower my bad cholesterol so I'm working on that one now. My exercise so far this week is walking, swimming and packing!

[Shari PV Mom]

Those are great snack ideas, thanks Jan! I think that'll help. My problem is still that I'm off on my ratio. I'm high on my protein and low on the fats and carbs. Is that a big deal? I haven't put anything bad for me in my body since Friday I'm just putting enough of the good stuff. I'm trying though.

[MargotW]

OK Shari - I guess we will back away from the ice cream! Got to be good ya know! I still have 194 calories to consume and it's 7:20pm. Oh the stress of it all!

Laurie - congratulations on your weight loss!

Jan - thanks for the great snack ideas!

[podiumchick]

Good news--I played 36 holes of putt-putt with my youngest DDs today and the ankle is feeling more normal. I'll pick up on Burn 1 and skip the cardio I was due for tomorrow. Don't think I want to try those little fast steps over the resistance band just yet.

Bad news--food was way off kilter today. I did it knowingly too. Last day of summer vacay lunch and some {whispers...} ice cream at the putt-putt. Guess that does it for my calories for today and fats for the rest of the week! I'll resume my fresh fruit/veggies tomorrow quite easily. And no more cheats until my b-day in 10 days.... I do like Schwans' fudge sticks--50 calories and they have protein and fiber. I don't eat them every day, but boy, when a chocolate ice cream craving hits they are good.

I'm thinking more about that run--kind of like in Bucket List thought patterns now. I think Christy said it--will I wish I had done it when it is too late? This is Anna's last year in MS and Sarah has this and two more.

When we were doing last minute school shopping I found a cute moisture-wicking workout top and got cute shorts to go with. I've been wearing big t-shirts and 15 year old shorts. This is my reward for having done so well so far.

I'm loving this active thread and all the encouragement! Go us!

[ScrappingForever]

Being higher in protein is fine. In fact, for where you are right now, wanting to lose more weight, it's better to be lower in carbs.

Vaughnde, so glad you're keeping at it! Of course, everyone will need to modify their diet depending on what allergies, etc., they may have.

Julie, your attitude is spot on! As Tony Horton likes to say, "Do your best and forget the rest." Not every day is going to be perfect. Some days may be downright awful. But as you said, one day does not ruin you. Even one week doesn't ruin you. You just keep on going, knowing you are going to do better the next day.

In case you haven't noticed yet, one of the most important things in all of this is how you talk to yourself. Chalene Johnson, in ChaLEAN Extreme, does a great job of highlighting this. Always talk positively to yourself. Get rid of that negative talk. Kick it to the curb! You don't need that! You are strong! You are beautiful! You are healthy! And you can do this!

[podiumchick]

Margot, that is better than getting to 9 PM and realizing you still have three glasses of water to drink!!

[ScrappingForever]

LOL. Are you speaking from experience, Kim???

Margot, you need one of my Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies! That's the perfect amount for one tasty sweet morsel at the end of the day. I plan on bringing them to our meet up next weekend, and I'll bring the recipe, too.

[podiumchick]

Um, yeah, that would be from experience. And if I don't get drinking now it'll happen again!

[MargotW]

podiumchick, on 19 August 2009 - 06:25 PM, said:

Margot, that is better than getting to 9 PM and realizing you still have three glasses of water to drink!!

Sounds like you have done that!

[MargotW]

ScrappingForever, on 19 August 2009 - 06:27 PM, said:

LOL. Are you speaking from experience, Kim???

Margot, you need one of my Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies! That's the perfect amount for one tasty sweet morsel at the end of the day. I plan on bringing them to our meet up next weekend, and I'll bring the recipe, too.

Jan - can't wait to try them! I gave up on the ice cream idea and settled for an apple with peanutbutter! Trying to be good since we will be meeting next week! LOL-

[podiumchick]

I love apples and peanut butter, but I want about a tablespoon PB for each slice of apple. Yesterday I had to make a tablespoon last for the whole apple. We survived.

[ChristyVW]

Whew!! Anyone have a Wii? I just finished doing some 'exercise' training on Outdoor Challenge. Man that thing makes me work up a sweat!! The best thing I can compare it to is running in place and jumping rope for 9 minutes at a time. It's kind of fun because you get a score and the competitive nature in me is always pushing to out do myself.

Mmmm...Peanut butter and apples. Haven't had that in a while, but apple season is just around the corner here. I just made my own peanut butter for the first time this week too! Deeeeelicsious!! LOL!

[Laurie in PA]

I bought some PB2 - it's peanut butter powder- basically dry roasted peanuts withe the oil squeezed out.
You can mix it with water or use the powder in smoothies or added to recipes. The company also sells
the peanut oil, so you can remix with as much or as little oil as you want

[PBarnes]

Did a little over two mile walk tonight.

I bought lunch at my favorite fast food place today (Taco John's) to celebrate finishing up a long term mystery shop that I have been doing and after inputting it into MFP, I saw how BAD it really is. I am balancing it out the rest of day and will still be within my calorie and carb count - over in protein and fat though. It will be quite awhile before I indulge in that lunch again.

Great snack tips Jan. I use a lot of those. How about celery sticks and 2 tbs. hummus (home prepared)?

[trishy]

Christy my mom used to make Zucchini casserole. It was just ground beef, cubed zucchini, stewed tomatoes, garlic, salt & pepper topped with cheese. I have made this with ground turkey and reduced fat cheese and it still taste great!

Brown the meat with minced garlic and seasoning salt. In a large pot add the meat, zucchini & tomatoes and cover with a lid. Let simmer for about an hour, then top with some cheese before serving. It is simple, but good.

Also, chicken kabobs with zucchini off the grill would be yummy!