Maintenance Post

 Eliza - I hear you!  I bought peanut butter crackers and left them in my car... well.. I ate them, but NOT when I was having an RH episode... 

Congrats on the pant size!!

I need to find a carb that I could barely choke down (like protein shakes are for protein) then it would certainly be easier

Congratulations on the pant size and being able to increase your weights!!  That is great.

It is easier if you don't have to have to carbs.  I'm a carbaholic also and do better if I try to stay away from them.  I do eat 1/2 of a graham cracker w/ peanut butter prior to my runs and usually some fruit like 1/2 banana afterwards.  That doesn't seem to let the monster out quite as bad!!

I don't know what I would do without this group either....probably not nearly as well as I have.

Linda

 Hi Linda!

Victory:  Exercise.  I've started my exercise regimine again and it feels great.  It hasn't shown on the scale yet, but I'm not stressing about that.  I've found a system that works great for me and if I don't exercise, its because I'm just plain lazy..   Another one is getting my vits in.  Another is cooking at home - grilling - yum and not going out to eat as much.  

Struggle:  I am one of those that has been taking sips regularly with my meals.  I need to stop doing that.  I still like my beer and I know that's a major contributor to my weight gain.  I've been cutting it down quite a bit.  Looking up online how many calories/carbs the beer I like has was a good thing, as I now think how long I've got to exercise to burn off one bottle of beer.  

Great job on the exercise Jody!!  Keep it up, it will eventually pay off.  Wow you had several victories this week.  I set my clock to get up and run this morning because DGD#2 is coming this afternoon to spend the night - but I didn't get up and do it - so now I have to try to figure out how to get some kind of exercise in with a 3 year old running around this afternoon and all day tomorrow.  Maybe she will want to go run too-LOL.

Do you like lite beer?  DH switched to Natural Lite and likes it - he has almost stopped now, but boy did he get a sweet tooth since he hardly ever drinks anymore.  He can eat an entire box of ice cream in one sitting.  When I figure out what I'm eating and how much exercise it takes to burn it off sometimes it makes me think before I eat it - sometimes it doesn't matter though!!

Linda

HUGE victory for me: finally a normal BMI!!! And for once,
the weight loss has stayed (usually I bounce up a bit). I am going to write a separate post about this when I get a chance.

Struggle: exercise....i had been doing so good with working
out 4-5 days a week. This past 4 days I was on the road for
my grandmother's memorial service. It was wonderful to honor her and see family AND I didn't gain a thing! It is odd that
I lost weight while not exercising as much. Did just mow the lawn so that is something at least.

Great post!

~~Jennifer

Jennifer - Congratulations on getting to a normal BMI.

Sorry about your grandmother.  I bet some were shocked to see you if they had not seen you in a while.  I would definently count mowing the law as exercise.

Sometimes we will lose weight when we stop exercising or eat a little more and it tricks us into thinking we can do it all the time - which we all know that we can't!!  I think our bodies just need a jump start or things changed up a little every now and then.

Great job!!

Linda

Victory?  I did sign up for the community center but since I went back the headaches have gotten worse.  Makes me wonder if it is because of some kind of disk problem.  I see the pain doctor tomorrow and I'll talk to her.  Also, Sunday my weight was real low and that had me surprised but I changed the batteries in my scale and my weight is showing back where it has been so good to know that I am still stable in the weight.
Struggles are still exercising, health hasn't been the best, very fatigued again.  I'm not supposed to get labs again for another 3 months but if I continue to be so fatigued I may see if I can get them earlier.  I know I have cut back a little on protein because I ran out of my unflavored isolate and I've been using Body Fortress and not as much as before.  I probably get 2 or 3 scoops a day as opposed to 4 or more before because I just don't like it as much and I also don't have a lot of money so I am trying to get more out of food.  My numbers were good last time but I need to make sure they are still good.
I made that casserole and I loved it.  I'm going to make it again when I am done with the frozen dinners I made out of it and I will try with the canned chilies this time since using the fresh ones took a lot of work.  I don't know if it made that much of a difference other then being a bit less money.  It sure came out good, though.

I hope the pain doctor can help you figure out if it is a disk problem and hopefully get it corrected.  I usually always feel better when I can exercise.

I have a little less than 1/2 of a small container of Unijury(?) unflavored protein if you PM me your address I'll be glad to send it to you.  I also have some samples and I think I have some Twisted Cherry that I'm not ever going to use, if you want it.  Do you like the protein puddings?  I have some of those that I get as free samples that if you want you are welcome to them.

I'm thinking about making the dish for my parents while I'm visiting them next week.  I think my dad would really like it.

Take care and I hope you feel better soon.

Linda

Your parents should love the casserole if they like Mexican type food.  I love spicy and it really hit the spot.  It's the kind of recipe I can see playing around with as far as spices and stuff to really make it the way I like, like the taco casserole recipe that I have been eating almost daily for the last 6 months or so.  I have always liked spicy food but I have enjoyed it even more in the last few years.
I would love any of the things you don't want.  I actually do have a bag of samples that I've acquired over the past few years that I have been using, too.  I forgot I had them until I was looking in my cupboards recently.
I will send you my address and you can let me know what the shipping comes to.