We made the texmex casserole last night, as requested by my meat-loving 14 year old stepdaughter. She did a great job of helping with making it, as well. Trying to help her learn to make stuff. They all wonder how I know how to do things...um, my parents made me learn, lol! Not so much "made" me, as included me. Haha.
Yesterday I felt like a failure because 2 of the 3 pounds were back. Today those 2 pounds are gone again. Sigh. Scale weight is so weird. I try not to base everything on it, I don't think I have a flawed relationship with the scale, it is an important metric and I am not yet in a weight category where I feel like measurements are more important.
It is snowing and blowing today, but there is school on. I think I will venture out later, maybe make a trip to the Y to do my 20/20/20 cardio trifecta again...that was a great cardio burn! I would like to do it 3 times this week, but may only get twice in due to other activities...that is OK, I have plenty of exercise to do at home...I do also need to go ride this afternoon, fortunately don't have to go far for that....
Better get started...

I second the OSG tex mec OR the OSG nacho dip, Terri! I used that for a casual dinner at our place and it went over really well. Funny we all seem to have some similar tastes here

Great job with the exercising and focus, Terri, especially since you're so crazy this week. I'm joining you with the sugar free this week

Jean, awesome that you're including your daughter too! I regret not watching my mom more often. My sister got the cooking gene, and I've been a late starter. Now I've come into my own but it has been more of a struggle. Also, sorry it is snowing there!

Woohoo Mihani, great job on two great days!! Awesome. Did you have fun getting your hair done?

I had an awesome day yesterday too. I actually tried to focus on the nutrient dense stuff rather than on just filling my face with whatever was around and I found that I was totally satisfied and not wanting junk or sugar after dinner. I also had hot yoga in the morning and it totally wiped me out for almost 2 hours afterward! lol. I managed to get my christmas tree up and do some baking.

I made Dreena Burton's "caramel" for apples. It's just dates and cashew butter with vanilla. Holy smokes, it's fantastic! My brother's birthday is on Saturday and I know he is going to request some super sugary sweet cake, so I thought I would be prepared with my "caramel" apples!

Have a great day all

Great job, Mihani. You're on a roll this week! I had another really awesome day yesterday, so a good week so far. Sooooooo when is this extra ten pounds just going to fall off again so I can get going? Haha.

Lia, sounds like you are on a roll too!

Karrie, I've actually been practicing getting back in the zone for a couple weeks. I kept hoping eventually I would fool my brain into believing it.

Day 4 on track done. Tomorrow will be a bit of a challenge. Going out to dinner, but the restaurant is not terribly vegan friendly so there won't be too much temptation. My choices are pretty much salad or a wood fired pizza (they will make one without cheese for me), but I'm reluctant to indulge in the pizza and possibly trigger my starch cravings again. I'll decide tomorrow, but I know there will be one glass of wine with dinner.

Heading into the weekend feeling confident!

Ah, finally Friday. It has been a busy few days. I worked yesterday, and indulged in a little junk, but not what I may have had before. I always count that as victory! I brought along raw veggies and hummus, and guacamole, and then for a hot meal I had veggies with 1/2 cup brown rice.
I had a conversation last night with a coworker who has suddenly been all over this Paleo thing...just extolling the virtues. None of them can ever answer me when I ask where the cavemen bought their bacon....She was silent when I asked whether she thought the weight loss was because of eating bacon, or because the gigantic cupcakes she loves so much are no longer on her menu? I don't care to fight with coworkers or friends about this kind of stuff, so mostly I don't say anything. It isn't worth it. I did, however, mention my feeling that mostly the cavemen ate what was available, and died young. LOL.

We are going to a formal dinner thing tonight, and I have lots of stuff to get ready, so I had better go. No rest for the sleepy...

You guys have probably noticed by now, that the groups show up on your main (Community) tab?

Happy Monday! We are currently getting our first real snow here! Quite a bit actually. Which made this morning also my first commute during a snow fall (aka super slow and accident-prone!). I'm not looking forward to the winter lol. Although right now it's beautiful and puts me in the holiday spirit!

I had a good wine and cheese night and was proud of myself for my resolve! But we got to bed so late, and still woke up so early, that I had that hangover feeling you get even though I didn't drink! I'm not sure why. Saturday and Sunday were too carb heavy but what else is new? I was a bit disappointed in myself. I brought healthier food options to my parents on Sunday but barely touched them lol. We had veg sushi Saturday night with soy sauce that of course blew me up!

I made yummy burrito bowls for lunches this week - rice with chopped lettuce, tomatoes, corn, black beans, spices, and some avocado too. I think I could eat homemade bean burritos every single day and never get sick of them!

Mihani, your lunch on Saturday sounded yummy! Congrats on working your way back down, should be so proud!
Jean, I feel the same way about arguing with people about good diets and bad diets... it's too frustrating and too many people know their facts from word of mouth, or think about what they need to do to lose weight only without being healthier. .. How was your formal night? Sounds fun!
Karrie, I like your mantra!! I've heard that that actually is a great attitude to have to reach goals (ie. assume you already have, act like how a healthy person acts, etc.) - which may be obvious, but kind of enlightened me anyway!
Scott, thanks for the heads up - I hadn't noticed!
Hope you all had a great weekend

Lia we had snow too! I left for work early and was still 10 minutes late. The roads really weren’t bad, but people either freak out and go too slow, or they go too fast and follow too close and cause accidents which holds everyone else up. I am not ready for full blown winter yet. Your burrito bowls sound delicious!

Today was good. I had a better weekend than I have had in quite some time so I feel good about that, and I was back on my usual smoothie breakfast, salad lunch today. I haven’t had dinner yet, had some work to do and thought I’d better get at it first thing, but I am going to have some soup now.

Karrie, I took my cue from you and turned my leftover roasted root veggies into soup last night. It was delicious! I think I have enough left for two more dinners. It had potatoes so a bit more starchy than what you shared, but I spritzed a pot with oil, sautéed some garlic then added a can of great northern beans and mashed them a bit. Added the leftover veggies and veggie broth and used my immersion blender to make it somewhat smooth but left it a bit chunky. Simmered for about 20 minutes then turned off the heat and stirred in some nooch. I didn’t add any other spices since I had spiced the veggies pretty heavily when roasting with rosemary, smoked paprika and cracked pepper.

Mmmm yummy soup, Mihani! I'm going crazy for soup lately. Also, I recently discovered the art of the immersion blender in soup too!! I made curried green lentil soup last night - it's basically onions, curry/cumin/roasted red pepper flakes, green lentils, 1/2 c of coconut milk, and broth. Then using the immersion blender to puree. I like lentils like that so much better!

Argh I was a sugar crazy yesterday again. It's a sugar rollercoaster... two days on, two days off. Today has been much better though. I had my nice lentil soup and a salad for lunch, fruit and a homemade sugar-free muffin for breakfast. I'll carry that on until tonight, I'm determined not to have any junk today...

I think for me it's been a lack of food during the day - when I don't eat enough at work, I come home and raid the pantry. And what is easy and readily available when you're starved? Oh yeah, processed carbs... Blah!!!

So I brought more food for myself today; an orange and a banana and some cashews. I'm hoping that eating around 2:30 or so will conquer my after-work binge...

Good Morning ETL'ers! My hands feel better today thank goodness. Yesterday they were still pretty sore. I think I'm just going to have to try to move quickly to get the EMG and surgeries done after the first of the year. It's so irritating though. Who has time for that?

Jean, I love home makeovers! I haven't done anything with my house in ages though. But sometimes something simple like a couple new pictures and rearranging the furniture can do wonders.

Karrie, did your extra food help?

A couple clients are taking me to lunch today so I will see what my choices are. The place they usually like to go is pretty fancy and they are happy to do a special vegan meal for me.

Have a great day ya'll!

Hi everyone!!!! It's Jane here again! How's everyone doing. It's over half the way through the month of November. I just got back from 2 weeks in Peru. I was not ETL or even vegetarian there - long stories. Anyway, I'm doing the ETL thing still with a little twist. i'm trying not to eat nuts and seeds and I have been eating grains. I would like some advice because I've been stalling on a certain weight for over 2 months, no budge. It's because I cheat on weekends. Does anyone have any way that they specifically deal with this? I lose and gain the same three pounds every weekend.

Hi Jane! Glad you found the group again. I have been having the same issue for a year now so I don't think I have any words of wisdom! But all we can do is keep tweaking it and find what works for us. I definitely do my best at least maintaining if I stick with mostly ETL, but if I want to lose I'm going to have to be more strict with it. I do love my starchy carbs.... sigh.

Ahh Jane you are in the exact same boat as me!! I am great during the week, but three pounds comes back so easily on the weekends! It's actually three pounds for me too. Ridiculous!

I find that I do much better if I have healthy starts on my weekend days though, ie. smoothie or oatmeal, rather than something more sugary or starchy. And same with making my own dinners. Otherwise it's a tough spiral! Glad to have you back I'll add you too!

Glad to hear your lunch was lovely and totally delicious!! Yum. Pesto and pasta is a great combo! PS we are going to hound you here until you book your EMG and surgeries too! Only one month and a bit left...

Karrie I am going to take your words of wisdom! I have crazy after work munchies too, and I think it's because it's sometimes a 2 hour gap between finishing work, getting home, walking the dog, and preparing dinner. I will try to have more healthy things at lunch and at work on hand. Glad it's working for you!

Also, that Lady Grey Coat is beautiful!!! I wish I could sew, or even knit. I'd love to take a class sometime.

Made it to hot yoga last night and it felt so good! I was so pleased. Have a healthy day planned! And lots of yummy stuff on hand for a healthy tomorrow. I'm going to see if I can break the trend! Seeing Book of Mormon at the theatre tonight