***Tuesday Weekly Weigh-In 9/25/07***

Hi All! It is really feeling like fall here now this week after the storms we got here last night. The leaves area already turning/falling. I have been busy decorating for the season putting mums, pumpkins, cornstalks that are dried outside. Such a neat time of the year! So this brings me to my question of the week... Do you celebrate Halloween? If you do, are you planning on handing out candy this year? If not, what are you choosing to do instead? Are you having a party, if so what will you be serving and will things be different this year dietary wise? After really debating about this I am going to give out the candy to the kids. We are kinda known for having the best decorations in town as my husband does the whole strobe light and smoke machine thing (living with a DJ has its advantages I spose in that way!) I also make up candy "bags" with about 10 pieces of candy (yes I spoil them!) so for me to go to handing out "toys" or apples.. I donno.. I guess I should but I chose not to for fear my house might get teepeed haha! I also thought about making lots of minature popcorn balls but those still have sugar so does it really matter? Plus they are a lot of work. For the party I am making a roasted red pepper dip that I got a recipe for here on OH that uses FF sour cream and cream cheese and having veggies. I am also making chili for the main course and will make regular cupcakes for those that want it and regular hot apple cider (i have my sugar free one for me) and will make a sugar free dessert too of some kind for the diabetics in the family. Also making popcorn balls for them b/c they love those. I did find 3 yummy dips you guys by WaldenFarms.. they have a wesbite I believe it is WaldenFarms.com, Susan Maria carries a lot of her stuff at Bariactriceating.. this stuff has NO cals, NO fat, NO carbs, NO Sugar Alcohols.. it does have splenda. How do they do it? They have dressings, sauces, you name it.. I bought a caramel apple dip at the store last night. They also have marshmallow and chocolate dips as well. Lots of pancake syrups they have, ketchup, bbq sauce.. not sure how any of it tastes but we will see. I also bought some Ceasar and Zesty Italian Dressing. I will let you know. HW: 329 SW: 280 CW: 152.6 LW: 153.6 (still down from last week but up from my low of 150.5... byebye normal BMI , I hope its because of Aunt Flo coming soon but part of it is my own problem with not staying on track as well.. but overall I do feel I have done pretty good other than a really high carb day here and there for me.. I may do a modified version of the plateau diet this week even though I am not a fan of it, need to kick the carb monster to the curb, too much popcorn and get rid of the cravings). How did you do this week?

Speaking of Aunt Flo.....she has kept me off the scale today......i feel so bloated that i dont want to step on and be disappointed........ I LOVE HALLOWEEN....i am not much of a treats giver I usually go to my sisters house because of my 2 neices ----(ages 7 & 4) i enjoy watching them in their costumes and seeing the kids come to the door.......... i love the fall! we dont have much of seasonal changes but i still love the season....

Hey guys Yes Fall is one of my favorite times of the year also. As for Halloween I usually go to my friend's house (she lives in a subdivision and I don't) and help her hand out candy. I just love seeing all the little kiddies in their costumes and the excitement on their little faces. HW: 340 SW: 330 LW: 218 CW: 217 Have a wonderful week Mini Me

Do you celebrate Halloween? Yes, we normally go to the mall with the kids in their costumes. If you do, are you planning on handing out candy this year? My son's daycare usually has a halloween celebration so I buy lots of stuff for that. I try to throw in something healthier than just straight up sugar, like mandarin oranges or fruit cups, that kind of thing, because I dont let my son eat all of that candy, I let him eat it in moderation. If not, what are you choosing to do instead? The mall Are you having a party, if so what will you be serving and will things be different this year dietary wise? This year for me, I have to stay away from the chocolate. It really has to be a consious commitment for me to step away from the junk. I don't dump real bad, but will get a little warm when I have too much straight sugar so that is usually enough for me to stay away. I do eat the hersheys 100 calories candy bars and that satisfies my fix for sweets. I will also eat fruit or yogurt if I want something sweet. I also buy the hard candy from snapple, I think, its sugar free in the candy aisle and good for a quick fix. Onto my stats: I did not weigh today, I know I am extremely bloated with fluids from my surgery and plus I have this pain pump attached to me and my drains so I know they weigh about 2-3 pounds. I am taking the week off from weighing. I did reach an all time low- I took a fluid pill on Saturday because my fingers have been swollen and that got rid of a lot of water weight that I have been carrying around: HW: 241 SW: 233.6 CW: 145.8 (yesterday) LW: 145.8 (yesterday) Goal weight: 130 Height 5'2 Angela

Hi! Just bopping in here really quickly to post weight and then have to get back to work. Company coming for supper in around two hours and I'm so not ready! Am serving them braised short ribs, steamed veggies, cornbread and cobbler (sugar kind) for dessert. Have no idea what I'll eat...I don't think I'm ready to attempt ribs, even braised ones. Don't have time to think about it now! Weight is back up again. I just can't maintain that 134 and now I'm starting to wish I could. Dumb, I know... HW: 268 SW: 230 LW: 136 CW: 136 Hope to have time before going to bed tonight to check in on the messages and see what you all have been up to today. My food intake has been very good today with the possible exception of a mini bag of popcorn but that is allowing me to 'snack' while I'm darting around the house from project to project and at least the calories are controlled. TTYL! Molly

I wi**** started to feel like fall here, it's still summer and its going to be like that for another two months. I love fall, but I also love summers...... Yes, I celebrate hallowen. It usually consists of a few decoration for the house and then on hallowen nite I take my son trick o treating around the neighborhood with his friends. Its fun to see the kids and their customes but believe me, it gets to be so hot and humid that it's not even funny. Last year, I was drenched from all the humidity. HOWEVER, this year I will NOT dig into his candy basket and take all the chocolates away. They will stay so far away from me, I will not touch them. My weigh loss has definetly slowed down, only .5 lb this week, oh well... SW:320 LW: 197.5 CW: 197 Beatriz

Oops...I was in such a hurry I totally forgot to answer the questions. Yes, we celebrate Halloween but not as 'big' as we used to when we lived on base and the kids were younger. My closest neighbor is so sweet and dear (in her 80's) and the type of Christian who does not celebrate Halloween. So I keep the decorations toned down until right before the 31st...it is mostly just fall decorations. My son usually wants to install a graveyard in the front and all but I don't want to upset my neighbor. We definitely do the candy for the trick or treaters, they are so cute! We get a fair amount but nothing like it was when we lived on base. Halloween on a military base is just like what you'd imagine a 1950's Halloween to be...tons of kids roaming around freely...liights on all the houses and such a safe feeling. The military police are all out in force patrolling base housing and everybody has a good time. It will be no problem for me staying out of the candy. That is just out of my life for good! I have my own 'legal' sugar free candy and know my limits with it. We won't be having a party or anything, just enjoying the trick or treaters. It is my own tradition to watch the Charlie Brown special that night while I'm answering the door. Molly

Hi guys, happy fall, still in the 90's in AZ but feels great out here. Yes I will pass out candy this year. I have 2 kids so I have to go trick or treating with them too. I might allow myself some candy, but not too much b/c I'll dump(my daughter just reminded me of that!!) I am down a little this week 2 lbs but better that the plateau I was on. I hope everyone has a good stress free week!! HW:280 SW:276 LW:177 CW:175 loss of 2lbs

Both my boys (12 & 13) have decided they do not want to TorT this year. They want to hand out candy and scare people. LOL This should be fun. Ugh, I am back up a bit this week. I have to get back on track all the way around. I have not been eating very well and today the scale really showed it! I am so tired of not being able to exercise! Hopefully I will be able to get back to that soon. Tomorrow will be three weeks since my surgery and the Dr said if I felt like it I could resume light exercise at that time. I think I will start slow on my elliptical and resume my neighborhood walks. SW: 246 CW: 179.5 LW: 177

Hi, All! I've been on an emotional rollercoaster lately, but I'm the one who got on the ride so I'll just have to compose myself this week. If I lost any weight, it is probably minimal. I have been bouncing around and eating. I felt better after "trying" to dance last night with DH and friends. Today (Wed) I lowered the calories so that the week won't be horrible, when I figure out my weekly average. I feel calmer, which is a Good Thing. For the past 12 years, we've given out "Air Heads" on Halloween. I am not tempted by this candy and the kids love the "candy store" set-up...and that they can choose 3 (or more, if it's a slow night) flavors of their choice. It is really funny to hear the kids say, "Oh, This is the Air Head house!" Amazing that the kids know us so well. LOL Ro