thx you all. i still can't believe that i'm losing wt. slow and steady i just keep telling myself. do the best you can. even eating out. love the encouragement we get on this thread. lets all kick butt as best we can this month. and stay away from the goodies as much as possible. we were at a hyatt for breakfast this morning, and was sooo please. they had oatmeal and skm milk. a little fresh fruit and coffee was just fine with me. and had taken apples along for the car rides, and so i wouldn't get famished at any time.

Okay, here is our Taboo Tuesday - except it's a change Tuesday. Many of us eat some sort of cereal either for breakfast or during the day for a snack. Even "healthy' brands often sneak in extra calories and sugar. Words like "maltodextrin" "BHT" or other mystery nouns mean you're filling up on chemicals. "Crunch" or "Clusters" is code for extra sucrose. Nix any brand that lists sugar as the number one ingredient. "Bran" "multigrain" "100% Wheat" "Cracked Wheat" all indicate refined products which have fewer nutrients. The one word you want listed in front of any grain: "Whole".
Try this DIY blend.
*Lay a foundation - start out with plain unsweetened 100 percent puffed whole grains like wheat, rice, oats, corn or barley. The fiber and complex carbs will keep you full and energized until lunchtime (60 calories for 1 cup)
* Pour it on - ramp up the protein and calcium with skim or soy milk or a dollop of plain nonfat yogurt (40-70 calories for 1/2 cup)
* Go nutty - to torch belly fat and reduce inflammation - while adding crunch - toss in a handful of heart healthy almonds or walnuts (65-80 calories for 2 tablespoons
* Spice it up - For some near-zero-cal zing, sprinkle on a teaspoon of cinnamon (which contains as many antioxidants as half a cup of blueberries) or experiment with ground ginger, nutmeg or cloves (6 calories for 1 teaspoon)
Breakfast anyone.
Source: Shape April 2012 Contributing editor Cynthia Sass, M.P.H., R.D.

I'd like to join in on this; I need some accountability to continue on my journey.

Man I've been really bad at keeping up with this hehe. Months fly right on past me. I just recently re-joined a gym since I just got a new job and I got a free health assessment to go with it. So today I went to the gymit. Basically.. just fat. haha healthy but fat. Still waiting to meet with the nutritionist. All my other things are within the healthy range but with my family history of heart and diabetes problems there are things I could improve on now before it gets too the worrisome stage. They said my goal weight of 140 is perfect for me and my frame. Once I meet with the nutritionist then I will be able to do better. Problem is, being broke, makes it hard to eat healthy. The bigger thing I want to take a look at for myself, is thyroid levels. There's indicators that I might have some thyroid issues and I'm sure everyone knows that you'll have weight issues with thyroid issues. Whether up or down. So that's next on the list of things to check out but I am thinking of looking into some experimental changes and supplements to see if they help.

not very many people getting on the band wagon with us. 8? wow. maybe those of us that have won the FQ's a couple times, ought to 'disqualify' ourselves, so some of those other ladies will jump on board. but, geesh, 5 lbs a month is not much to be losing. and that's about all i can manage now a days, if i am REALLY good. what do you all think? anyone else really interested, but don't think they could ever win the FQ's?

OHHHH, i get it. this is december..... right?

When I joined this group I lost 6 lbs my first month. The winner of the fq lost 15. In one month! I pretty much gave up after that.

I don't expect to win; I'd be pleased to lose 6 more! Slow and steady wins the race.....and as long as the number is going down we're winning! I've been stuck in one place for 4 months... Feels like starting all over!

I don't expect to win every time either, I'm just happy I'm losing weight period!! I've won a couple times since I've joined, and I'll bow out for a while, if that's what it takes to get the group number higher. Doesn't matter to me. I'm here because I need to lose weight and I need support. I get support from you gals, and it seems to be helping. And I thank you all for that, because I have a long row to hoe.

I really dont want anyone to drop out, I keep track of who wins and since you cant win 2 months in a row there is no worries about that. If you win every other month, good for you. I want every one to try and work your goals.

So keep signing up each month. I will put out sometime over the weekend I will list 3 or 4 months the colors/themes for next year.

not bow out, countryhouse quilter. never. just thinking I might 'forget' to send in my wt loss. :)
i just sat tonite and ate like 4 stalks of celery. when i went to the store today, i got 3 bunches. :) that really helps me in the evening. for a while i was putting P.B. on it. but for right now, i am refraining. but, that does not mean i don't indulge in other things. in fact i had 2 pieces of whole wheat toast with my supper. no marg or butter on it, and NO jelly either. but, i don't feel deprived. i eat good., but healthy. oatmeal for breakfast every morning. had the little grandson this morning, and he was telling his mom tonite, that he had oatmeal for breakfast this morning, 'just like granny'. then i took him to pre school. life is good.