Checking In Finally - LONG!!! (sorry)

HI Everyone,

I'm finally checking in. Haven't been on the board lately or on the computer that much aside from work. Been sooo busy at work and home. The little girl has an ear infection and a bit of a cold and the boy's been so busy with the end of the school year and band performances and graduating 5th grade. Where does the time go??? My little girl is almost 2 years old!!! sheesh!!!

Anyway... I've been working on getting my weight off. SO. I have to say before I begin that I have no true idea why things are working out for me as opposed to before. I can only hope and pray that its prayers and faith. God works in mysterious ways and when it's time to achieve a goal, I suppose HE is the one to say... "OK. It's time." thats the best I can explain why I've been sucessful lately. The other reason would be because the hot weather is comming and I want the weight off!

So far I've lost 15 pounds in about 2 weeks. It's a quick loss, but it's slowed down this week. Pretty much at a plateau. Just to get this out right away. No. I am not setting myself up to fail or setting completely un-realistic goals. Truth is, I have no true goals other than to see the numbers reach my mini weight goals that I set for myself. I have no "Food goals" set. No true set "Diet" but just a different way of eating. Basically... the way I did when I got out of surgery. Pretty much. and why I can do this now as opposed to before?? I still don't know that answer. It's strange really when you think about it. I really do think there is a time for everything.

What I've been doing:  NO sweets during the week. AT ALL. now, this does not include fruit. But DOES include fruit juices! No fruit juice. No reason for it anyway. Fruit is better. I have been eating vegetable soup. No meat in it and no pasta (well there is a scant amount as I use lipton chicken noodle soup in a box to flavor. there is no chicken and its powder form and the noodles are soooo small it just doesnt count) Just straight vegetable soup. I have an awesome recepie if you want it. Its sooo yummy. I can eat as much soup as I want and will NOT gain weight. Only loose.
NO CHOCOLATE. It's been very hard. UNLESS its in a protein bar. THEN its ok!! Or if its in a protein drink. THEN its ok.
NO SWEETS. no candy, no donughts or pastries or cake of any sort. No toast no pancackes no cereal no oatmeal or grits... not that toast and oameal is bad for you...its just carby and I don't loose personally. My choice. My preference.
Breakfast consists of maybe grapefruit and protein drink and decaf w/milk or carb free yogurt. or lite yogurt with a banana.
A few ounces of chicken is what I stick to and thats at night unless its in a soup for lunch. But the first week I was on liquid protein drinks and veggies and fruit.
I do not eat bread or pasta of any kind. I now no longer miss it at all. I get my carbs through almonds and nuts and such. Yes. I eat nuts and flaxseed!!! its sooo good for you. Flaxseed I like to munch on the little seeds and has the omega 3s and helps keep things regular.
I have been drinking my protein drinks everyday. Muscle milk and muscle milk light. Is my favorite. I drink it over a huge glass of ice or I make a yogurt/fruit/protein drink at home in the blender. GRAPERFRUIT. i've been eating a grapefruit every couple of days in the morning. But have to be very careful not to eat it within 2+ hours of taking medication or any vitamins because it just negates the effects. Pears are my new favorite. Love them!!! no limit on fruit. Bananas. Love them too and love them blended into my protein. So this is really no new news to all of us. Its the basics and the stuff I neglected to continue to follow as I grew more comfortable with my expanded pouch and seemingly limitless tolerance for sugar. BUT now that I've been on this awhile, I feel my pouch has shrunk a little bit. and find I'm satisfied quicker.
Now, for mothers day I splurged. (just a little) I had a gormet meal that consisted of a little homemade pasta and monk fish and lobster sauce and such. I had a piece of bread and for dessert I had creme brule!!! yep I felt quite a bit nauseous after i downed it in like seconds flat since its my all time favorite dessert and suffered a bit for the hunger it created later on. But that was IT no more. Then the weekend before that I shared a Mr. softee ice cream cone with my 2 year old. Small amount of sugar and that was my treat for that weekend. So im not so completely cut off. anyway... I'm sticking with the super healthy foods in VERY limited quantities. (UNLEss its the soup. I go crazy eating my soup very healthy and yummy!)I still have alot to loose and am not at a weight point in which many on this board are at. So what may seem extreme is a must for me to get the weight off. oh and along with excersise. Walking for the most part for me. Havent gone strenuous yet. Will get there soon though.

Well thats my novel. I figured I'd let everyone know what I've been up to and how I lost so much in such a short time and how I did it. For me personally. It works. At least its working now for some reason. Still baffled over why my brain is able to do this as oppposed to before. Thank God for it though!!!

Kim - my prayers have been with you and Connie too!! Huge Hugs Connie I think of you often!!! Did you get my note on the castor oil for your back? rub on the topical stuff...wrap it in ilke saran wrap and heat it up!!!  1 hour every day! or every other day if you can manage it. Hugs for everyone....Marilyn!!! you're in my boat girlfriend! we can do this! Maureen... hang in there and don't beat yourself up over those m&ms!! Try sugar free chocolate... they have to make sugar free m&ms dont they???
Much love to everyone!! Hugs Pammie!! and Joy!! and everyone else!!! 

Oh, I am sooooooooo happy for you!!! You've struggled for so long but you never, ever gave up hope that you could get a handle on this!!! One day at a time, dear one! One day at a time. YES, YES, YES, POST THE RECIPE FOR THE VEGGIE SOUP!!! You have inspired me. I am so happy to read this post and hear from you - you hold a very special place in my heart.    Maureen

Great post!!!
I have to say that at the end I was alittle miffed cause I was seeing hi to everyone but ME! snif snif snif! but then you saved the best for last! Ok so I know I"m not the best but I was ther and thats what counts! thank you for including me in your thoughts.
Now for the program/diet/eating that you are doing. I think you have the right idea that for now it is what you need. Your getting the food in and it sounds like good food. Your doing the protein drinks so your getting that stuff. Your taking your vitiamins? that ones a question. Just keep an eye on that don't go starving yourself and not get in some chicken or beef. your doing good!
walking is one of the best excersizes you can do.l I read that all the time. I'be been walking after work. only doinjg 15 minjutes at a timje cause i'm still scared that i'm going to get a LBS episode but so far so good. next week i'll up it to 20 minutes. for me its the fears of an episode more than one actually happening. I go prepared with what i need to eat if I should get one but I can NOT let the fears overcome my will. if i do tha then I might as well sit on my butt and wait for the grim reaper.
flaxseed. its a wonderful thing. I've never taken it before until my homeopathic doc told me to try it for the constipation. since i can no longer even look at the boxes of laxatives,...can't even go into the ailse at the store....I who have never had an issue with consitation now feel lucky to go once a week after much grunting groaning and pain. I know I know to much information...Anywho the doc said to have ground flaxseed in my foods. i sprinkle it on my eggs, put it in my tuna, all over the place,. It tastes alittle tiny bit nutty but i like it. I love that i now go pretty much every day. Like anormal person with minimal grunting and groaning and pain. it is all getting better each week.
i was having a problem with retaining fluids not a big deal but it was a pain along with the consipation so now i also drink nettles tea daily that helps alot.
i'm drinking more water too.
the sugar cutting is major lisbeth good girl for cutting that! thats a biggy to give up. i too no longer touch the stuff. too afraid cause it sets off the LBS. geesh seems like just about anythign will set that off! LOL i get what sweet needs i have with fruit. some fruits have too much sugar in them like the banana but that is perfect to eat about an hour before i work out. it helps to balance everything. i found that what we eat when we eat it means something too! imagine that!
i'm still holding between 179 - 180 if i ever go below the 179 i will have a big party and if i should ever in my life get to the 150's again I'm gonna celebrate big time!
we all hvave to have goals and how we get to them is up to us. as long as its healthy i no long try to think of short cuts like that friggin lazatives geesh! i now am thinking the right way watching what i eat and when and excersize. at least i know i'm trying as are you.
HEYT anyone still reading?
love to you all!!!!!
Pammy
O O O Paulie the wonder bird now knows his name He says Paulie Cooper is a crazy bird. and i',m now trying to teach him his address.

Great Post Elizabeth & very happy things are going so well for you!! Keep up what works. That is what we all have to do at this point.
Still looking for work in my world & losing weight slowly as well.
Thanks for the update, I was beginning to think this board was dying after 5 yrs.

Pammie! Of course I thought about you silly! I always have you in my thoughts. You're my facebook buddy too!! :)  I even think about Paulie. So cute he says that now!!! You hang in there. Yes... flaxseed is also awesome for your bod because it has the omega 3s in there. I finally lost 2 more pounds, well I say finally but i've been eating scantily and  had some yogurt and some decaf and finally had my "moment". LOL! I was retaining water too I think. SOOO... last night I also had a plate of fat free spicy refried beans with some mozarella and chunky salsa and heated it all up it was sooooo yummy. had my protein, my pear, I didn't eat all that much yesterday, I wasn't feeling so good. I woke up 4 in the morning with a terrible sore throat. Then that went away after having a ricola. i think it's allergies. today I had a little protein drink. Not all of it. Wasn't in the mood. A light yogurt and some decaf coffee for breakfast then for lunch we went out for a birthday luncheon today to champs they had all kinds of mouth watering food, but I had a cup of french onion soup and a greek salad with herb vinagrette dressing. The soup was OK. not really good so I basically just ate the cheese and left the rest. Then had my salad which was good. For dinner probably have my bean di**** was just so good!!! :)  and a protein shake for snack most likely.

Thanks Maureen!!! you know you have a place in my heart as well. How've you been? I sent you an email. I'm finally glad I am getting here too. Just gonna keep going. My husband is looking for a good exercise program for me. Theres some thing called slim 60 thats supposed to help with weight loss and such. heck any exercise will help with weight loss... but this I guess is extreme stuff I suppose. lol.. anyhoo....

Marilyn!!! Sooo happy you are still loosing. Loosing is loosing whether slow or not...dont let that get you down. My prayers are with you in finding a job. Hang in there!!! ((((big hugs!)))

oh yeah... and yep... taking my multivitamins. I had an issue with my b12 and iron levels.. I am on a prescription b12 nose spray. Yep in the nose!!! it's weird!  and also chewable multi-vitamins and then extra iron. Been taking them faithfully. I have to do blood tests again to see if my levels are better but haven't had the time yet. I'll probably go the end of the month to see how it all pans out. The good thing is that our protein drinks normally contain alot of vitamins too! :)

I'm so glad that you've found a method that is working for you.  Good for you for never giving up.

I haven't tried the castor oil yet because The Man has been in DC for the Top Cops events.  There was a big police officer bruhaha in DC for the last week and he's been there for the whole ordeal.  Cops always take their significant others and I was the only SO of hisgroup that didn't go because I have to save my vacation time for surgery in he Fall.  He was a little lonely, but it just made him appreciate me that much more. 

Keep up the good work and let us know how it's going.

Hugs,
Connie

It is great to see someone posting about success!   We do have this amazing tool.   If we will just use it!   I don't know why that is so hard at times, but it certainly is.   I'm so glad to see you doing so well!