Group LLC Holiday Challenge!

mom216

Hello everybody!!!!

Hope all is well. Thank you for the info on "how" to deal with the upcoming holidays. My family is already planning a few days of huge meals, lots of drinking & more eating. They have even started decorating the house. I am looking forward to seeing a few family members that I haven't seen in several months.

Well to all - have a wonderful day!!!!!

tatiana_13

Hi all!

VJ-hope you enjoy the cruise!
Mom216- I'm glad the advice seems like it might be helpful

I'm back from the conference. I actually did pretty well while I was there. But a weekend of de-breading sandwiches at conference events sort of made mr angry...and I sort of went off the food deep end once I got back. I did successfully stay away from wheat (I'm intolerant, and it's been a HUGE struggle) but I pretty much nibbled on everything else! I'm human and I faltered...which I can pretty easily accept (I've had lots of practice with this one!)

What I struggle with is getting back on track. Leaving behind the last 2 days and pulling myself back in line. Once I "let loose," it seems to take a lot to stop...which is why I hate letting loose. Sigh. There's no magic to it...I just have to do it. But I just needed to whine for a minute or two. Thanks for listening.

profjan6

How's everyone doing? I've been in a funk these past few days. Family/personal stuff and it just makes me NOT CARE at all about what I eat. I will try to get back to it today, since I am home. I can exercise without rushing, and try to eat well. I had some good work news the end of last week which made me feel so much better about things, but then personally other things happened. The "highs" never seem to last too long!! Such is life! I will be optimistic and move ahead! Hope you are all having a good week so far.

sassiebritches

HEY EVERYONE!!!!!!!! I AM BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So much to tell you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#1 - I have managed to just stay at my current loss despite going off low carbs on some days and desperately needing to get back to my 20 g.

#2 - I PASSED MY STATE BOARDS AND A STATE LICENSED COSMETOLOGIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


#3 - I started at a new church WHICH I LOVE! And met some folks there that put me in touch with a Christian salon owner and..............I AM IN A SALON NOW! 3 days after testing. I guess that was 3 and 4

#5 - (cause 4 is in 3 up above) - my husband has been chosen outa 30 guys to start a new franchise here in our area! He has been outa work since Feb, and we have been barely surviving on Food Stamps and Unemployment! God answered those prayers.

I do believe that is it....whewy, so October and Nov thus far have been busy....BUT as I said, we have hit the sugar wagon and are covered in it. Still managing to stay away from breads and things for the most part, but man pumpkin pie / cheescake with pecan topping...you are the death of me right now.

How are all of you? How ARE YOU! HOW ARE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE MISSED ALL OF YOU SOOOOOO MUCH.

Still down 15-18lbs depending on the day....we are heading out to go grocery shopping right now, gonna get some cheesecake recipes that are low carb....cause Tis the season and I am not that tough right now :P

Getting back on the 20 grams though.........Please pray for us that we follow as we planned before Wanna be in them skinny jeans come April!

sassiebritches

WHERE ARE YOU ALL AT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mom216

Hello to everybody!!!!

Tatiana - Welcome home!! It sounds like you did a wonderful job taking care of yourself!!!! WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!

Profjan6 - One day at a time - sometimes the personal stuff feels like it will never end - ((((Profjan6))))

Sassiebritches - WOW!!!! So many positive changes!!!! Congratulations!!!!! Thank you for your uplifting post! I definately needed that today!! It reminded me of a song (Mary Mary - Can't Give up Now) I will be playing this full blast in a couple of minutes!!!! Thank you again!

Today I'm not feeling too great - It is a combination of more family drama, stress & some side effects of LLC - (major consitpation, w/complications) - I guess now when my kids tell me I'm "full of it" - they would be right :laugh:

Well I wish everybody the very best!!!! Have a wonderful day!

VJ150

Hey Everybody!!

I'm back from vacation and back to REALITY!! How are things going with everyone?? I had a wonderful time in Jamacia and Grand Cayman. :drinker: The weather was fantastic and the beaches were just gorgeous!!! I wanted the vacation to last forever, but I had to return to my real life.

My fantasy life included eating anything I wanted. I didn't eat a lot of sweets. One night I had a piece of cheesecake and something else that I don't recall the name of - but I didn't like it anyway and one night I had ice cream. Bread on the other hand became my friend. I had pancakes, croissants, danishes and bagels every morning and I know my system has gone into carb shock. Now I'll spend the next few weeks getting it back to low carb.

Titiana - I had a wonderful time and I highly recommend a cruise vacation to everyone. It is soooo relaxing and they make sure there is plenty to do. No worries, no one relying on you, no responsibilties. Just you and the open ocean!!!

Sassiebritches - welcome back. You have been very busy lately.

I'm signing off for the night. Must get things unpacked or I'll be looking at that suitcase this time next week.

tammietifanie

Hi Ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IM BACK Im doing phase 1 again since i have been off track big time and its time to get back on the wagon I hope everyone is still doing the Holiday Challenge and has been doing a great job! I was wondering if you have any good Meal ideas for Phase 1 if you could share them with me. Im trying to remember what i can and cannot have on phase 1 and can't find my information any where.....

VJ150

Tammie - go to Atkins web site. There is a ton of info there.

tammietifanie

I just went on there and updated my profile i had on there! I had a word doc that i wrote down all my information and great meal idea's but some how deleted it while i was cleaning out my computer programs

mom216

VJ150 & Tammietifanie - Welcome back!!!!!!

Nothing new and exciting here - just hanging out - still not feeling 100% .

I hope all is well :flowerforyou:

VJ150

Mom216 - hope things get better for you real soon!!

tammietifanie

Only 11 more days until Thanksgiving! What is everyone planning on doing this year?? Any yummy low carb dishes you would like to share with us ?

This year im just going to my mom's house with all my kids and will be making mashed potato's , green bean cassrole and yams (baked) Nothing low carb only because I won't be eating any of it and didn't want my family to feel like im making them change their eating habits for mine.. I have already planned to stick to having turkey, 1 baked yam no sugar, 2 glasses of wine and a small slice of pie... I don't see why i need to go over board just because it's a holiday.

VJ150

Thanksgiving will be at my sister's this year. The only low carb foods included will be greens, turkey, beef roast and chicken. I am the baker in the family so everything that I will bring will be forbidden foods for me.

profjan6

Thanksgiving is a really big deal in my family. I do all the cooking and love it!! Of course, much of it is forbidden, yet I have adapted a few things so that I can eat them and they are healthier. For some reason the good old turkey takes a back seat to all the other fun stuff. It is a beautiful holiday and I love the fact that everyone celebrates it, no matter what background, religion, etc.
On a different note, I have not been very good the past week. I ate and ate all things I shouldn't I made a vow to be extra good this week in anticipation of all the holiday festivities! Lets see if I can stick to my goal.
Happy Monday to all!

VJ150

Profjan6 - don't worry about it. I haven't eaten right since I left on my cruise and I am having a difficult time regaining my focus. And with Thanksgiving next week, I don't know how I will make it through without blowing up like a balloon. But I'm not worried. I will try to maintain throughout the holidays and enjoy myself. :drinker: :happy:

tatiana_13

Hi all!

I've been away for a bit. It was tasty...unfortunately. VJ, I smiled when I heard how bread became your friend on the cruise. I was really good on my conference trip, then came home and bread became my friend too. What is it about bread? I thought I was really doing something great by having some wheat free (but not flour free!) bread....but it was too close to actual bread. And it set off a major carbo-storm! But, I am also dusting myself off. And getting back to it. My primary motivation is that, in addition to other wonderful wheat allergy symptoms like itching and congestion, wheat makes me swell up like a little watermelon. After about 48 hours, I outgrow all but 1 pair of pants (well, I *could* wear some of them, but the look isn't, uh, professional). I know carbs cause some water retention, but only wheat blows me up like that! (Its actually kind of wierd...) I am currently wearing the only pair of pants i can fit into. Which also happen to be ugly.

But getting back to eating right is so hard once you've gone overboard. always regret it when I go on a "food bender" like that, because it takes so much motivation to turn back. A one day treat isn't a problem. Or a treat meal. But when it goes on for multiple meals over multiple days, it feels like starting over from square 1. I tell you one thing, I'm staying off the scale this week. I don't even want to know. I'm waiting until Sunday.

Mom216. Things *will* get better. We may not know exactly when, but they will. You just have to figure out ways to support and nurture yourself until they do. About the constipation problem...there are quite a few things to try. But I fell in love with flax seed meal. Not b/c it necessarily works better than anything else, but because I can *cook* with it. No psyillium husk pills or powders mixed in water to choke down. I just make low carb pancakes, about 5 times a week, add the flax seed meal to the mix, and I'm good to go.

VJ150

Where is everyone????? Have we lost our motivation????? Are we tired????? Are we tooooo busy?????

tammietifanie

Im here! I promise! Just trying to get back on track with working out and eating good!!

profjan6

I'm here, but sorry to say have not stayed with my goals and it is only Tuesday! I just kind of went nuts and don't seem to care as much. I have to get back to it. I have been eating carbs galore. I just feel like my body needed it. Probably too much, though. I have planned my meals for tomorrow, so that will hopefully help.
How is everyone doing? Seems like you are all very busy.

VJ150

Good morning everyone,

Today is a new day and I hope it is a glorious day for you.

Profjan6 - I understand and feel the same way. I stayed focus yesterday. I had a MIM for breakfast and vegetables and beef for lunch. Got home and had mashed potatoes and baked chicken. And for dessert I had vanilla ice cream with cream liqueor (similar to Baileys). It was quite delicious though very bad for me. :ohwell: I had a conversation with myself about being focus and remember the goals I have set for me, but apparently I wasn't listening. I'm in a blah blah blah mood and I'm pretty sure it is because of issues I have at home. Let me explain -

My youngest daughter went off to college in 2007. I was home alone until October 2009 when a situation arose and some of my grands were put into the custody of the State. I jumped in to help and took custody of a 3 year old, a 5 year old and a 15 year old - thinking that it would be only for a few months at the most. It has now been over a year and there doesn't seem to be an end in site. Needless to say I am ready to call it quits. I am tired of jumping through hoops and feel like it is not appreciated by the children and most definitely their mother. I was happy home alone with only myself to look after and I took a big leap taking in 3 youngsters when my youngest is now 22!!! What was I thinking. The youngest one is soooo cute though - and she actually makes my day. And she is carrying a lot of weight on her shoulders because she is the only reason I have not put an end to this situation.

I know I have to find an outlet to relieve me of what I'm feeling other than the worng foods - or just run away from home!!

Grokette

Hey ladies!!

I am on board with you all and staying on track. Just wanted to briefly stop by and say Hello!!!

ColetteDuchnowski

This is very good. I made it for a pot luck at school today. Everyone loved it and no one had any idea it was not made with sugar!!!! I don't have the numbers handy, but you can put in in the recipe thing to find out. It's very good and takes away the feeling of not being able to have pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. I am also going to make myself some creamed spinach and cauliflower casserole (2 separate dishes, tho I wonder how they would taste together?) I am also going to have cranberry/raspberry jello salad, sugar free jello of course! Oh..and Turkey...


Pumpkin Bake

8 oz cream cheese
5 eggs
½ c Splenda (I used Truvia)
15 oz can pumpkin (not pie filling)
1 ½ tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 tsp cinnamon

Oven temp: 350 degrees for 40 – 55 minutes

Put the cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and beat well. I mixed the Truvia with the cream cheese first then I added the eggs slowly while mixing it. I added the pumpkin and spices last.

Pour into a greased 6x8 baking dish and bake until the center feels firm and a knife inserted in the center comes out relatively clean. Check it at 40 minutes and increase time if needed. I baked mine for 55 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack and chill before serving.

Makes 6 servings

DO NOT FREEZE

You can double this recipe for a 13x9 inch baking pan if you want.

tammietifanie

CCDUCH!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing that recipe! Im going shopping tomorrow and will pick up everything i need for it! Can not wait to try it!

VJ150

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to check in to say hi. Not too much going on. I'm still struggling - trying to get to the place of only eating foods that are low carb. I was doing okay until I ate that bag of popcorn - but hopefully I'll be able to be strong for the rest of the evening.

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

saverys_gal

*squeezes you all into a big hug*

Y'all have no idea how much I've missed everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So glad to be back! The new job is going GREAT!! But it's just been taking up ALL of my time. By the time I get home in the evening I am just beat! It's good though...I'm really happy with everything. I've been off track since the beginning of October, but I'm trying to get back on the wagon now that I'm getting into the swing of things at work.

So I'm going to keep on trying...I need support from y'all!! :bigsmile:

CALIECAT

I missed you guys too. I have been way off track. But slowly getting back into it. I am looking into another plan called plan d/ I should get my book next Tues or Wed. I don't know if it is for me or not. It is to get off of all processed foods. I hope this author is not a fanatic on it. I need something I can stick with and hoping this is it. We shall aae.
<<<<<<I am glad to see you all here savery_gal good to hear from you. We can do this............. YES Ii CAN.........MARIE..
<<<<<<<HUGS>>>>>>>>>>

saverys_gal

MARIE! :bigsmile: I haven't seen you around in a while! Glad to see you're still searching for the plan that's just right for you! Keep me filled in lady!

We're getting REALLY close to the holidays guys...we've GOT to come back into this strong and stick with it! I know we can all do this!! :drinker:

CALIECAT

good morning ..............................Marie

tammietifanie

Good Morning ladies!!! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Im heading out for a girls night later and i told all my friends i will be the DD For them that way I won't drink and will stay on track :noway: I have never ever agreed to be a DD for when we have girls night Im shocked how much I have learned and knowing it's not worth going over on carbs and calories for 1 night of drinking!!!! Now I hope im this strong when Thanksgiving comes.... Wow only 5 days until Turkey day !