Charlene K

Lori, I am so glad you are doing so well. Take care! I prayed for you today. HUGS!

No problem...........LBT is my AA for band support. This journey is a day by day trip. I need all the propping up I can get. My DH has lost as much as me, and he just had bypass surgery last July. Kinda ticks me off, but I am glad he is doing so well, and feels so good. Okay, 2010, is our year for Goal!!!!!!!!!!!

Janet, let us know how everything comes out. Prayers, Hugs, and love for you today! Lori, I hope you are doing well today. Praying for you a speedy recovery. HUGS!

Kimaly, reality is we are not those skinny people with metabolisms that burn 2000 a day. I told you that mine resting was 1300. In order to lose I have to stay under 1200 a day and exercise. Neither one is happening right now. Old habits die hard especially during the holidays. Eat what you want........just write it down and track it. If you eat too much......drink a protein shake for one of your meals. You just have to do whatever works for you. Just don't go back to gaining weight , and by all means have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Vent away..........that is what this place if for. I went to the doctor today and got me the H1N1 shot. I was concerned it was a live virus, but the shot is not live......only the nasal spray. She said none of her patients have gotten sick from the shot. I didn't even get yucky feeling like I do with the regular flu shot. Anyway, I got something for this Fibromyalgia. I am gonna start it this weekend. Oh, I blew my eating today.............I went out this evening for Mexican Food. I ate cheese enchiladas........well, one enchilada and a tablespoon of guacamole. I love that stuff. It is my weakness. Okay, back on track tomorrow!

Meredith, You look Fabulous! Congrats!

Apples, in Texas we call the chex mix "trash" or maybe it is a family thing. We put everything , but the kitchen sink in it I use a box of rice chex, wheat chex, and now I buy two boxes of cheezit party mix, and cashews and pecans. I mix a stick or so of butter, few tablespoons of worceteshire(sp), garlic powder, season salt, tobasco.....simmer then pour it over the mix which I put in a turkey roasting pan. Make sure it is coated and then put it in the oven in two 9x13 pans at 250 for an hour or so. I stir it every 30 minutes. Sometimes I use bacon drippings too. I am sure everyone has their own twist on chex mix. My kids just think I make the best.

Hi Joann, we missed you! Glad you are back. Down here Tamales can be found every few blocks in town. I am an enchilada person. Polenta......never ate it, but if it is anything like cornbread I would love it. Apples, going out tomorrow to get ingredients for your recipes........well.....at least for the Cookies and fudge. Then I am going to make Trash(chex mix). My kids will be depressed if they don't get it for Christmas. It is just a tradition I can't stop. Lori, I will be praying for you tomorrow. You will do good.

Sounds yummy! I am a huge brown sugar and cinnamon fan. I will try it.

Oh Laura, I am sorry for the bad news. I prayed for your dad last night. I had such hope that MD could help him. I live right outside of Houston and the fog is unreal. I hope they take their time to leave. I will continue to lift you and your family up in prayer. HUGS for you today! OKay, Janet, I hate oatmeal too. I guess if you like these oats I will have to give them a try..........what is the brand name?

Kimaly............We can do this! .......weight loss that is. Right now I am going to the doctor on Wednesday to get a medicine for Fibromyalgia. I hope I don't have side effects. I think she is starting me on Savella. I know Lyrica makes people gain weight so I surely don't need that one. Girl, this weather change everyday is keeping me hurting all night long. Tylenol helps, but only for a short time. I heard this stuff was painful, but I had know idea it was that bad. It is like a migraine of the body. I ache like the flu, and I have IBS. My adhesions sting in my abdomen. Okay, enough venting. Thanks for the support so my family doesn't have to hear me whine all the time. I wish I had the money to move to Hawaii and not have to deal with the weather. I did not have one pain in the warm weather. Oh well, our weather is good from March till September..........come on March!

I think you will do even better with this knee because you have a good knee to stabilize you. My husband had a much easier time with his second surgery. Lori , I will be praying for you. I know having surgery at Christmas is a bummer......been there, but it is also a good excuse to sit back and enjoy it while others help. Take Care! Don't overdo on that job. Your health is more important.

Me too. I don't like Jim Carey movies......and only Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation. I can't believe that movie is 20 years old. Okay, back to sewing......check in tomorrow.

Christmas Vacation!!!!!!!!!!! One of my favs! The weather was in the 50's today so I had a pain free day. Yea! Well, gotta get ready to embroider again tonight. My daughter has nine beach towels to monogram for Christmas and we have six more to go. Sewing keeps me from snacking at night .........so this is a good thing.

In microwavable bowl: 1 can sweetened con milk 2 Tbls butter Let come to a boil in microwave and boil for 2 min. Add 1 bag white choc chips and 1 cup mini marshmallows. Add 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice and stir. I use a small little scoop to put the filling in the cups. The kind with the little thingy that swipes across. Got that???? After filled sprinkle just a dusting of ground nutmeg. These keep well in frig. __________________ What size cups........cupcake cups or candy cups?

Yes, it was great! I did gain 4lbs, but I have lost 3 of them. I realized on my trip that I don't need another fill, I need to fill my time with something other than food. After a year and a half I am learning to eat slower. Everything I learned in nurtrition class is finally clicking. And I am more realistic about my goal. I plan on losing 25lbs next year.

I just checked out chex recipes.com for snacks. Oh my, I had no idea how many variations they have now. I am only making one batch this year, not giving it out as in the past because I eat too much of it. Apples, that is an awesome cookie recipe......might try it for Christmas Day or our Christmas Eve Eve service at church. And Apples, you will be glad to hear we are not buying snow for the kids this year. We are having a train. See, we aren't crazy every year. It snowed here on December 5th for free. lol I makes sweet and sour meatballs and little smokies every year with a can of jellied cranberry sauce and a bottle of chili sauce mixed together. Not sure of the calorie count. I don't eat much of it, but it is good stuff. I just throw it all in the crock pot. Apples, keep sharing those good recipes with us. Love em!

Janet..........my favorite Christmas movie is " It's a Wonderful Life" too. I have to watch it every Christmas.......and then I have to watch "Christmas Vacation". I cry and then I laugh. There are a lot of good ones out there, but those are my favs. Christmas Vacation reminds me of my disfunctional relatives. Yes, everyone needs a neighbor like Apples. Well, I am on my second Hallmark movie.....can't wait till the new one tonight. I am recording it because my daughter needs me to embroider some towels tonight.

Apples, I love to hear about your dinners too. I wish we were neighbors so I could get your leftovers. I am watching the Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel. I love the Hallmark movies. Billy Ray Cyrus has a new one tonight on at 7c. He said it is similar to Bryan's Song.....ought to be a tear jerker. The one on now is making me emotional. I have been covered up aching all day with the weather change. Advil helps, but I don't want to take too much. Oh well, the sun will be out tomorrow. Tomorrow is only a day away. Is that how it goes? Oh, Linda, I am glad you are on the mend. Sounds like a sucessful surgery. Yep, Janet, I want to shop, but I don't NEED anything and I bought Christmas. Y'all have a great day!

Hey Butterflies, how's it going? I just got back from Hawaii. We had a great time. It was so nice to fit in the plane seat without a seat belt extender. I was able to walk and tour all around the islands with ease. Even though I did not reach my goal this year I am still thankful for getting the band. Well, I hope some of you post during the holidays. You know this season is a challenge for us with food issues. Journal! No sliders! Support! Take Care!

Apples, I think it would be good just with a veggie or on pasta.

Just made a yummy dish. I cooked a small package of breast tenderloins in a half a bottle of Newman's Own Honey Mustard Light dressing with a couple of tablesspoons of Worcestershire sauce at 350 for 50 minutes. I covered it in foil. I put it over a small amount of rice. 90cal for chicken-4ozs, 70 cal for 2tbs of sauce. Rice depends on the amount. Cooking it in the sauce makes it so tender. Okay, that is my tip for the day.

Good morning. We are supposed to warm up to the 20's today and get above freezing tomorrow! WooHoo! Arlene, just how cold is cold in Houston? I bet I'd think it was warm right now. It is in the 30's, but the humidity makes it really feel colder. Yep, I am a weeny about cold weather.

Oops forgot my post......Yes, I think the core plan would be the best for me and Lori, I just need the accountability. The nutritionist said I don't need to see her unless I want to make that drive just to weigh in and talk. WW is less than a mile away. I probably won't start until the first of the year or until they have a special.

Arlene, are you sure you really want to do something like WW? I believe in their balanced way of eating but not so much in their counting of points etc. and for me to eat the points they say I should eat now would be very difficult unless I ate a lot of sliders etc. and that's what I want to avoid. Why are you eating so many sliders? Are you too tight? are the adhesions causing you problems? I hope you get it all figured out. If I did WW, I would try and follow their 'core' plan vs counting points. Okay, I realize you didn't ask for my opinion, disregard if you want. Charlene - I am a WW girl - but again I go by exchange (core I think) I don't know what my points would be - Think it's the most balanced eating plan out there - it's livable for me..