So....how bad WAS it??

Tia:

I know you are right.  I feel hungry a lot of the time.  I keep asking myself, "is this real hunger or head hunger?" unfortunately most the time I answer myself it is real hunger.  I think it's the carbs talking.  I was going to do the 5 day pouch test and started off just with the shake this morning, but I couldn't make it through lunch.  I told myself that it is okay that I have food, I just have to make it the right food.  So I ended up with the protein lunch I just described.  I know I have to drink more, but it seems like I'm always eating and there is never the right time to drink when I think about it.  I'm going to get better at this and the new mantra for next year is something that I heard on "Ruby." 

Is this food more imortant to me than reaching my goal?  Not as catchy as yours, but so truthful and really strikes a nerve.

Hey Lis!

I've heard lots of pros and cons about the 5 day pouch test.  Really, it's nothing more than going back to basics, but what we (all of us) need is to concentrate on eating "normally," but with limits.

I KNOW it's hard to get your fluids in - are you doing the 30 minutes before/30 minutes after?  If so, check with your doctor - maybe you can skip the 30 minutes before.  You will ALWAYS have to adhere to the 30 minutes after though, and of course, no drinking with your meals.  The after is the hardest part for me!!!

If you're chained to your desk like I am, line your water bottles up like good little soldiers, and have at 'em - they'll go quicker if they're staring at you!!!

Hang in there, honey!  You've done an amazing job and you're only 7 months out!!!!!!!

Love ya,

Tia

Remember tia, Lisa and I both have Dr. K and his nut tells us 30/90 on the drinking before and after meals.  i fluctuate between 30 and 60 minutes after I eat so I can get in about 120+ ounces of fluid a day.  Lisa, change up your drinking rules......drink more and you'll be fuller.  make sure it's non-calorie though because that'll put weight back on if it's got calories in it.

Hey Aaron:

I remember 30/90.  I'm really good at my choice of beverages, but I just don't get them all in.  Now that you just said something, time to drink!!!

good girl! BUT DON'T TELL THE NUT THAT YOU CHANGED YOUR TIMES!!!!  LOL

Yes, now I do remember.  I still think 90 minutes after is excessive - I remember it became easier for you when you relaxed the after numbers.

Lisa, as you get further out, it WILL get easier!!!!

Tia

Can you come and get the following out of my fridge:

Pineapple bread pudding
baked mac and cheese
spaghetti and meatballs
manwich
stuffing
chocolate pie
and
tropical dream cake (IT IS TO DIE FOR)

Okay, I'll see you all that, and raise you:

THREE kinds of stuffing - two with sausage, one with "just" bread
baked mac and cheese
sauerkraut and kielbasa
lemon pound cake
almond pound cake
chocolates
cookies

SIGH.  Okay, so here's what you do.  Freeze what you can, learn to make the bread pudding, manwich and chocolate pie s/f, eat the meatballs and sauce, chuck the spaghetti and for the love of God, give away the tropical dream cake!!!! 

This was just an aberration - this is NOT how you eat all the time now!!!!

Hugs,

T

I've got to start to learn how to cook "smaller."  But with the Zeigler's you can never have too much.  That's how I was brought up too.  Excess . . . especially around the holidays.   I forgot to add the following:
escalloped corn
about 5 doz chocolate chip cookies
gingerbread men
chocolate
shrimp/macaroni salad

and the tub of Fisher's caramel corn sitting outside my office, the box of Whitman's and the tin of shortbread butter cookies. 

Can't we all just get along?!

I can honestly say that being not long out of surgery on Dec. 24th I had steamed dumplings(4). I worked christmas day and they had crabcakes and filet mignon so I cooked my crabcake on the grill (made with lowfat mayo) and took the smallest filet we had it was about 4 oz. like the crabcake. No sweets at all except S.F. pudding and unsweetened apple sauce. No alcohol and I lost 4 lbs. over the 4 day holiday. So all in all i am proud of myself. I did get some chicken salad stuck yesterday and i had to use water to break it up.