Weight loss group

[EdieAnne1952]

Can I get in on this? I need to lose some #s.
One thing tho'...I do hate weigh-ins.
I am going to weigh myself tomorrow and then no more until December.
I have been trying to watch what I eat but it's difficult. Was at the Post Office this morning and a lady was selling candy bars as a fundraiser for a children's hospital.
Kinda funny when you think about it...selling something that could potentially cause health problems to make money to treat health problems!
But I digress. How could I say no to this fundraiser...I bought a bar...it had 78 grams and 40 grams of it contained 31% of the RDA of saturated fat...so eating the whole bar was close to a whopping 62% of the RDA for sat.fats. That was not counting the sugar content.
Fortunately, I ate only half and brought the other half home for DH....he loves sweets but is in great shape because he is always on the go and exercises on a regular basis.
My downfall is salty snacks. I love potato chips and deli meats. I also love gravy and french fries.
I read all labels and take particular note of saturated fat content.
Normally, I am not a bigger eater of sweets.
These days, when I go to a restaurant, I have gravy on the side. I order fries but share them with DH. I like to get a few fries on my fork and just dip the tips into the gravy. It satisfies my gravy craving but keeps it under control.I noticed that one of you(sorry, can't remember who) posted that you use this trick with salad dressing. It's good to share these hints..they help.
Hoping we all have success with this. I can use all the hints for keeping me on track.

[carole]

Edie, welcome. With this group, we are weighing in every Tuesday and posting if we are up or down. Do not know how you can lose weight without weighing in and making
yourself responsible each week. I know I could never do it. I would eat two if those candy bars telling myself that tomorrow or next week I would do better the next day or the next week. So think about weighing in with us on Tuesday each week.. Hard but it is the only way you can really keep track of your weight.

Carole

[SoozG]

Still hanging in there... Hoping to get below 260 this week! I am having difficulty these last two days drinking water...not sure why. I find myself having to force it. Maybe some lemon juice in it will help.

Edie- as far as the donation to the hospital , try what hubby and I do for any charity selling food.... Girl Scouts, schools, military bake sales, etc. we just donate the money and don't take the food. We love to support local fundraisers but don't feel the need to take the product too. Just a suggestion.

Question for the group... What do you use as a sweetener? I use sugar but know I need to cut out white sugar. Has anyone tried agave nectar or stevia? I just need a bit for my coffee.

[EdieAnne1952]

Hi Carole and SoozG.
Thanks for the welcome and suggestions.
I really don't like weigh-ins as they depress me so much if I haven't lost, or worse yet, have gained. I am trying to change by changing little things about my eating habits and walking about 15 minutes each day. I also try to keep moving more during the day even if it's just doing some dusting or sweeping or walking out on the outside deck. Still could use staying off the computer a lot more. While sewing, I try to tense my muscles, hold for a bit and then unclench them. Do that while checking my sewing or froggin. Not sure that helps much but it makes me feel like I am working a bit towards a goal.I have moved my ironong board across the room so that I need to stand and move a bit in order to press blocks. For every hour I am sewing, I take 10 minute breaks and do stretches. Nothing too strenuous.
When I go downstairs to do laundry,get something from the deep freeze etc., I try running up. That's hard but I am doing better with it.
I know I have lost some. I still have trouble zipping/buttoning my favorite jeans but they aren't quite so tight. I read or heard somewhere that you need to lose 7 lbs. to decrease an inch in waist size.
Know I probably should weigh-in but this is how I've been trying over the last few months so I will continue with it.
Hope you all have success. Maybe I'll drop by sometime to say Hello.

[Marilynsgrammy]

Edie, you have to do what is right for you.. weighing in isn't mandatory.. how you achieve your results is your call. for a sort of salty snack try pepperoni chips... put a double paper towel on a plate, put one layer of pepperoni slices on it and microwave for 2 minutes. blot the grease with a clean paper towel. for an added treat add a little bit of cheese..

Sooz, I get those crystal light (or the store brand) flavor packets that you add to bottled water. there aren't tons of flavors but something different once in a while is nice... Water is my drink of choice.. for sweetener I use Splenda...there are pros and cons to every sweetener out there.. and if you used a bunch of it daily I would really look into it.. but if, like me, you use a couple of packets every so often it's not worth stressing over...

I almost goofed last night.. Mar asked if I wanted a milk shake.. I almost caved.. but had a tsp of peanut butter instead, actually had two tsps. but I am only confessing to one..lol

[carole]

Edie, wow it sounds like you are doing a lot of loose. I agree that you need to do what is right for you. I think you have more control then I do. Like I said yesterday I couldn't do it. WHAT 7 lbs to decrease an inch in your waist. That is it, I am going to cut it off. Lol wish it was that easy. It is a struggle for all of us. Come and share more of your ideas. What you have mentioned sounds quick, but not easy. We all like quick.

Chriss, that pepperoni sound great. I will have to try this, but no cheese.

Carole

I just tried Stevia. Use only a tiny bit because it is really sweet.

[Marilynsgrammy]

well crud.. I really messed up my diet today.....got to get on the right track tomorrow...

[WeeOne]

I'm cheering you all on, as I think I gained a little this week.

I don't think a person has to tell their weight. Being here and having encouragement from everyone is what is so helpful.

Stevia is 200-300 times sweeter than sugar. I use Stevia in many things. For instance when I make a crust-less pumpkin pie it calls for 1 cup of sugar, I use just short of 1 teaspoon of Stevia, YES, I said 1 teaspoon. It is yummy.

I bought Splenda about the time DD#1 was pregnant and told me the Dr's tell pregnant women NOT to use Splenda as it is very refined sugar and no one knows the long term affects. I have found in my food search that the more refined something is, the worse it gets. Man takes a good thing and refines it until it's bad for us, then pays big bucks to advertise how wonderful it is. OK, I will get off my soap box now.

Lyn

[carole]

Sweet and savory potatoes

2large sweet potatoes(to yield 2 cups chopped)
1tsp bacon fat
1/4tsp onion powder, garlic powder
1/2 tap cinnamon
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Peel the potatoes, and chop them into 1inch pieces. In med. mixing bowl toss the sweet potato pieces with the bacon fat, coating them evenly.

In a small mixing bowl combine the spices and toss with the potatoes to spread evenly. Place the potatoes evenly ona baking sheet, and bake approx. 30 min at 375.

I made these last night and they were really good. We usually put brown sugar on ours ,but we gave up all sugars. We really thought they were good and had a sweet taste without the sugar. I didn't have onion powder here in the rv so I just left it out. This is a keeper. Tina, got this from a Paleo cookbook.

Lynn, not to worry. This past Tuesday, I put on a lb. Wed. I get my infusion and will automatically put on 3lbs. So don't give up. The week after the infusion I really have to work to get that 3lbs off just keep on plugging along.

Carole

[gershwin64]

Carole, those sound yummy, I'll be giving them a try
Chriss, no biggie try again tomorrow we are allowed oops days
Tina