T.H.E. Team April 24-30 - Week 12

Kristi - Haha, I hope that they are!

Sheila - I know, I will get back on track...I almost am already!

It has been so nice and sunny outside, I think I am going to go read my book out there!

Hope it is all sunny out everyone else's windows as well.

chantybear...It's cold and rainy here. I'm in Southern Ontario...Canada.
Where are you?

Please send a bit of your sunshine my way...:happy:

Healthymom ~ YAAAAAAYYYYY you!!!!! I'm so doing a dance right here in my living room for you!! I am very happy for your progress ~ I'm right behind you friend!

Renayeb ~ Uh-huhhhhh, I see how you work - The margaritas and donuts you toss as bait. LI4G is a baaaaaad influence:laugh: We must keep you two separated!!

Getfit - Exercise shakes??? You are really hyper-exerting! Wowser - it's not often I reach that level of intensity in a workout, but when I have, I feel really good about what I've done. You go!!

Kristi - I quit smoking two years ago this week - when I quit I figured I would replace the habit with food - it's just so common for people to gain weight when they quit smoking. I decided that I would allow myself to not stress about the weight and just concentrate on not smoking. That is why, here I am two years later and 40 lbs heavier than I was then and now trying to conquer my over-eating issues. I think it's typical to trade one addiction for another. That said, I'm so glad I don't smoke anymore I refuse to complain about the changes I am now having to make - I'm glad you don't drink anymore too. Now we are just on an adventure to reframe the way we think of food. I'm happy you could walk with your friends to the restaurant! I'm happy I can go to a restaurant and not think before hand about whether or not I can smoke there. I LOVE that we are all in a position to choose to make our lives better! Aren't we a fortunate bunch of folk?!?!

I am off to the grocery - gotta take a break from typing - and my son has my car so I'm going to drive the giant 3/4 ton truck we used to haul stuff this weekend! Yippeeee - me in a big truck:laugh: :laugh: I need a step stool to get in the thing!!

Later gators!

Cyndee - I do not trust splenda..I find it has a disgusting after taste! I just stick to regular sugar, but less. You should try agave, it is a little pricey but really good! You do get a lot more creative in the kitchen when you cannot(or will not) eat the high cal boxed crap! I live in BC, it was warm and sunny, but now it has clouded over, oh well I already did my reading outside.

I have been cleaning..blah! Hope everyone else is doing something more fun!

Cyndee - I do not trust splenda..I find it has a disgusting after taste! I just stick to regular sugar, but less. You should try agave, it is a little pricey but really good! You do get a lot more creative in the kitchen when you cannot(or will not) eat the high cal boxed crap! I live in BC, it was warm and sunny, but now it has clouded over, oh well I already did my reading outside.

I have been cleaning..blah! Hope everyone else is doing something more fun!

Hey, just wondered, have you ever used Stevia? What do you think?

And, Cyndee, all natural products might be a good thought - at the very least, it would be interesting to experiment and find out if you are allergic to any of the foods you are regularly eating. I copied this from the International Food Information Council. Just something to think about!

"What Is a Food Allergy?

A food allergy is an adverse reaction to a food or food component that involves the body’s immune system. A true allergic reaction to a food involves three primary components: 1) contact with a food allergen (reaction-provoking substance, virtually always a protein); 2) immunoglobulin E (IgE-an antibody in the immune system that reacts with allergens); and 3) mast cells (tissue cells) and basophils (blood cells), which when connected to IgE antibodies release histamine or other substances causing allergic symptoms.

The body’s immune system recognizes an allergen in a food as foreign and produces antibodies to halt the “invasion.” As the battle rages, symptoms appear throughout the body. The most common reaction sites are the mouth (swelling of the lips), digestive tract (stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea), skin (hives, rashes, or eczema), and the airways (wheezing or breathing problems).

Allergic reactions to food are rare and can be caused by any food. The most common food allergens, known as the “Big 8,” are fish, shellfish, milk, egg, soy, wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts such as walnuts, cashews, etc. Symptoms of a food allergy are highly individual and usually begin within minutes to a few hours after eating the offending food. People with true, confirmed food allergies must avoid the offending food altogether.

There are numerous misconceptions regarding allergy to food additives, preservatives, and ingredients. Although some additives and preservatives have been shown to trigger asthma or hives in certain people, these reactions are not the same as those reactions observed with food allergies. These reactions do not involve the immune system and therefore are examples of food intolerance or idiosyncrasy rather than food allergy. Most people consume a wide variety of food additives and ingredients daily, with only a very small number having been associated with adverse reactions.

There are also some adverse reactions to foods that involve the body’s metabolism but not the immune system. These reactions are known as food intolerance. Examples of food intolerance are food poisoning or the inability to properly digest certain food components, such as lactose or milk sugar. This latter condition is commonly known as lactose intolerance."

On the sugar topic:

Sugar is ok, in moderation. I dont use much of it anymore, not compared to what I used to use anyway!
I have a tiny bit in my coffee in the AM, SOMETIMES, usually I just go without it. Never thought I could do that, especially with coffee. Used light flavored creamers instead for a while, then just stopped using those and started using lowfat milk instead.

As for the coffee.. when hubby was gone I maybe had a starbucks once a week. Now that he's home and making coffee everymorning, I usually drink about 1/2 a cup and Im done. Much better than the 3 cups Id drink before in the AM. I just found I dont need it like I used to.

Anyway... I like Truvia. Which has no aspartame in it. Its the closest thing to sugar I have found and is all natural. Maybe a bit cheaper than splenda also if not about the same price. It doesnt have a funky aftertaste, but is a bit milder in sweetness than regular sugar. If we go out, and I have to use any sweetner in my iced tea (depending on how gross it is without it...lol) I use splenda. Otherwise, at home I use my truvia to sweeten my tea (which isnt always).

OK GANG
THIS IS GOING TO BE QUICK. I AM TRYING TO EAT, EXERCISE, PREPARE FOOD FOR TONIGHT AT WORK, FIND OUT ABOUT MY GRAND DAUGHTER WHO HAS SURGERY TOMORROW, WATCH BIGGEST LOSER, ETC.

ANITA - YEAH CONGRATULATIONS ON THE THREE POUNDS WTG GFIRL

KRISTI - THANKS FOR THE INFO. I READ THROUGH WHAT YOU TYPED AND WILL REREAD IT AGAIN AND GO TO THE WEBSITES. DO THAT THIS WEEKEND - MORE TIME THEN. THERE WERE SOMETHINGS THAT HIT HOME IN THERE THOUGH AGAIN THANKS.

LI4G - WOW! I LOVE YOUR PICTURE IN THE AV - LOOKING GOOD GIRL. THANKS FOR YHE HEADS UP ON THE STRETCHING - I WILL HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT. THINGS ARE LOOKING UP HERE WITH THE WATER AND SODIUM. STILL GOING OVER SOMEWHAT BUT PUSHING THE WATER, TOMATOES, ETC

WELL GANG RUNNING OUT OF TIME - HATE TO SAY THIS BUT I GOT TO GET MY FOOD FOR TONIGHT AT WORK - NOT THAT FOOD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OF YOU ALL. I DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL.

GOOD - NIGHT EVERYONE TALK TO YOU IN THE MORNING

By the way, on the whole sweetener thing - truvia is made from stevia, which is an herb. All other artificial sweeteners are from chemicals, so if you are trying to give up sugar, stevia is (in my humble opinion) the best way to go.

Renayeb ~ Uh-huhhhhh, I see how you work - The margaritas and donuts you toss as bait. LI4G is a baaaaaad influence:laugh: We must keep you two separated!!

lmao :laugh: :laugh:

<- me with bangs. She butchered them good cuz I told her I was tired of keeping them out of my face!

Ok, your quote pointed at my head doesn't really work! However, just wanted to say... WOW! I remember your av when I first came and this is an amazing difference. YOU GO GIRL!

Thank ya darlins!! Hubby likes it too. Told him he could take a picture for his phone now that I feel human. :laugh: I noticed in that picture that my dimples are coming back. Wow! I didnt even know they were gone! LOL I'll show ya what I mean.. I have a picture from last December to share.

Ok, so Im a little peeved. I went and bought a new scale cuz hubby ageed with me that we needed a new one. Got a GOOD one that is digital and got it home. Gave it a test drive and :grumble: I decided I would weigh in in the morning. Already ate dinner and all. Whatever it gives me in the AM is what Im stickin to and just moving forward from there. WIll update my ticker with the new info then....now that i got it fixed again.

<- me with bangs. She butchered them good cuz I told her I was tired of keeping them out of my face!

OMG you look so YOUNG!!! Congrats to you girl... Your a hottie....

ditto from me...looking great!:flowerforyou:

Wanted to report I did my wogging tonight at the gym and logged my food. Right on track for today.:drinker:

Fell right out of the giant truck today - TOTALLY embarrassing!! There are no running boards on the giant truck and I have running boards on my SUV - slid out expecting to stop against the running board and then step down. But no running board means no stop - I fell right out in the middle of the parking lot. Yes, people saw me. Yes, they made a fuss. :blushing: BUT if was HYSTERICAL - and I kept busting out laughing all through the grocery store! I won't even contemplate what people must have thought of me!:laugh: :ohwell:

Lulu, we seriously are sisters! You fell out of the big truck, I fell off the elliptical. Its uncanny! Thanks for the stevia pitch. I had heard of it a long time ago, when it was legal in Canada {nods to northern friends, Chanty and Cindybee and anyone else?} but not yet in the US. I look forward to trying it! See you all in the movies. I am yawning my head off, so off to bed with me! :yawn:

LI4G - You can really see the difference from the previous photo.. Your cheeks are shrinking... And yes I see those dimples... Lucky girl.. Funny cuz my daughter told me on Saturday that she could see my dimples.. I didn't even know I had them....

Lulu - Awwww big trucks stink.. My husband has one and its all lifted. Pain in the but to get in and out of and he has running boards... I love driving it cuz people move outta my way... I have not fallen out of it yet!!!

Kristi - I fell off the treadmill - will actually it sent me flying.. I am still scared of it even though DH said its fine.. If it makes a noise I tense up.. Terrible...

I am looking into purchasing an Eliptical and a home gym for the house.. I think I can get both on Craigslist for a pretty reasonable price...

Last night DH brought home 2 kittens... They are adorable... They are still hiding under the bed.. The dogs won't leave them alone. DH named them after race tracks BEFORE I got home, and he said since he went and picked them up they are his to name.. And I replied and yours to clean up the cat box too!! So I will post pics of Bristol and Fontana :grumble: when I figure out how to do that...

I am home today (yeah)... Going to clean and workout.. Stay busy so I don't eat..

Talk to ya all later....

Nita

Good Morning Team! I am exhausted today! I gave up caffeine but today is one of those days I was considering it this morning....so far I am doing good and did not give in. :grumble:
You know when you select sedentary or lightly sedentary, etc at the beginning? What is everyone set at?

Have a Wonderful Wednesday! :laugh:
Jamie

Hi Jamie,

I tried giving up coffee, but I can't, I enjoy my cup with my fat free creamer.. Maybe one day

The Dr. Ian diet is ok.. The first day seemed to be loaded with carbs but I still followed it, yesterday was more protein.. I haven't checked out today's plan yet... I plan on giving it 30 days.. Its a 30 day plan..

Have a wonderful day...


Nita