We spent three days at Disneyland. We had a great time and I held strong. I strayed from the path one night for a beef dip sandwich. Mimi's post dietary information on their web site so I was able to log those calories accurately. I have been volunteering for the American Heart Association (AHA) for years now. One of the things we have been working toward is more and better dietary information at point of sale. Had I been able to see the actual calorie count, not to mention the sodium (almost 4 grams) I would have made a better choice. I have lobbied in Washington DC and in Sacramento CA for these small changes. Calories fat and sodium listed on menus, not just the web sites. It is frustrating to talk to our legislators who don't want to upset the apple cart. I say we need to up end that cart and push it down capital hill!!! I have seen progress though with the campaigns we have run. You can buy fresh fruit and cut vegetables at the convenience stores, travel centers, and at my local doughnut shop. Disneyland has great nutritious options available at their street vendors, fruit, veges, water, not just cotton candy and corn dogs. I did have a loss.... even though I ate a beef dip. Picture me smiling wearing my Minnie Mouse ears. Have a good week all.

Thank you to everyone for their words of encouragement. I am down 3 more pounds (23 total.) Picture me smiling and doing the Snoopy happy dance. I have another small goal. I need to loose only 2 more pounds so I can take the "Segway" tour at Disneyland's California Adventure Park. There is a weight limit and I did not want to be embarrassed just in case they questioned me and found me in a lie. For all I know they put you on a scale if you look questionable. Anyway... yeah!!! almost there. Thank you all for all of the reminders of "eating on plan" or not. I am in charge of me and no one crams food down my throat. Each food and activity choice I make is always my option and only mine. Be proud of me though.... At work this week it was like one big bake sale. The doctors brought in coffee cake last Saturday (treating us on Sabbath.) On Sunday there was birthday cake. Monday one of our patient's families was thanking us with cookies. Thursday we were being rewarded with full size candy bars by our Manager for completing a required Gallup survey. I was very good; I was able to decline all of these treats. Work has been hellaciously busy so I have been meeting my "10,000 steps" easily. I have not had great success with most pedometers. My friend at work encouraged me to get a BodyBugg. It is what they use on "The Biggest Looser" reality TV show. It was a little pricey, but I am enjoying it so far. I really like seeing how many steps and how many calories I have burned during my day. One of the really nice things is that it keeps track of my metabolic rate even when I am doing sedentary things of sleeping. I am not advertising, I am just letting you all know one more way that I am trying to achieve my goal. My Husband and I are Disney Geeks. We are going to spend a couple of days there for his birthday. I will try to get a picture of us there so I can upload it. I am usually the one taking the pictures though. There are usually Park photo ninjas everywhere, and they are always willing to take a picture of you with your own camera. Good luck, good decisions, and good health to us all.

Yeah!!!! two pounds this week.  That is twenty pounds so far.  I carried a 20 pound bag of dog food around the back yard for a bit.  I felt really good when I put it down.  I feel the progress.  I am trying to find reasons to  cheat, like I deserve it, and I really have to fight these urges.  I want to have a really good week.  Boost me up!

Another ONE POUND week.  I am not doing any extra exercise, so I really need to step that up.  Time.... Time.... Time....   Thank you to everyone who bolstered my spirits about last weeks on pound.  You are right, it was a loss, not a gain :)  I carried around a one  pound hand weight for a while and I felt better when I set down that burden.  Now I have another one pound burden laid down.  I am managing my stress better, and my co-workers has been great by not tempting me.  I felt very proud of myself when I made cinnamon raisin bread and took it in as a treat last Sunday for the staff.  I did not eat any.  I just keep telling them all that bread, potatoes, candy and I broke up.  They were bad boyfriends and our relationship was becoming toxic.  I still make bread for my husband's special diet (low sodium, low protein, gluten & dairy free) so every now and again I make regular bread for the team at work.

I am down to the last few meals in my current order and am looking forward to the new shipment.  I have found some favorites and have chosen more of those.  Why was the chicken breast patty discontinued?  It was such a nice choice when having dinner guests.  I could serve chicken to them and have my own piece too. 

Good luck to you all this week.  Strength of will and personal resolve is my wish for us all.
-----Steph
 

Humpf!  I only lost one pound this week!  I know..... the first couple of weeks seem so wonderful.  Real progress.  Then one pound..... sigh.  I kept to the program.  I don't always have time to eat all of my food, that may be my problem.  That "starvation" thing.  My doctor says my family has the "thrifty" gene.  My family's bodies like the shape of round and try very hard to maintain that shape.  This coming week will be less stressful at work..... I hope so anyway and I am making an affirmation that it will be less so.  Stress makes me hungry, or at least I think I'm hungry, and am seeking solice.  Solice is usually chocolate candy of some sort.   I was good though, no candy.  I have been keeping those little bags of baby carrots handy and consider them my chocolate substitute.  They fit in your uniform pocket, aren't messy, don't melt, taste a little sweet, and give my mouth something to do.  I am usually a vegetable down after lunch anyway.  It is hard to mow my way through a nice salad, my NS entre and another vegetable in 30 minutes.  I just eat my 2nd vege later the day as my "stress reliving" chocolate alternative.  Why is it that after 4:00pm all hell breaks loose? 

I will try to work in more exercise this week.  That should help with the slightly disappointing one pound situation.  Good luck to you all this week.  I have confidence in all of us that we can really make a difference in our lives.  Healthier, happier, hartier.  I'll check in again next weekend.  --  Steph 

  

I am happy to report a nice weight loss this week.  I am still doing well with the plan.  I have found a few foods that I will not order again.  They were not hideous just not appealing to me.  My husband has been very supportive since his own health issues require a much more restrictive diet than mine.  I am calorie and carb restricted, he is sodium and protein restricted.  He has become a Vegetarian.  I just never thought about how much protein there is in pasta, or how soy is in almost everything.  We each fix our own meals now.   My Mother-in-law has been tolerant but she just doesn't get it.  She is always at a loss at what foods to buy when we visit.  We encourage her to just relax, that we will take care of ourselves. 

No real issues this week except the stress of buying a new car.  I hate car shopping, there is no price.  If you go to the market to buy a bag of beans, you see the price on the shelf and you don't have to negotiate for the best price.  If this store is too high, you just go to the store who is offering the better price.  Sigh.....  Well it is done now, thank goodness. 

Good luck this week to you all. 

Well, I can say I did OK.  I was not starving unless I just did not have time to eat my snacks.  Because of my work hours, I often do not get to eat dinner until 8:30pm, and then have to sleep fast because I may have to get up again at 4:30am.  My blood sugars are running 140s - 150s each morning.  I would like them to be less without increasing my medications.  I lost weight, that is great.  The food seems better 20 years later.  I am enjoying the breakfast choices and I do like my eggs, so having a choice between protein and dairy is nice. 

I am trying to add in walking this week.  I did two miles this morning.  My feet still hurt this evening.  I need to find the right shoes. 

I will write again next weekend (or sooner if I have some issue)  thanks to everyone for their words of encouragement.  

Wow, I received a nice call from NS today to check to see if I needed any help navigating the system and website.  Kind of them.  They also said that my shipment should be arriving this evening.  Well the UPS pulled up and delivered a box the size of a midsized SUV.  I was surprised to see so much food.  Mind you, I understand that this is for 28 days, I just hadn't thought of it in one box.  The last time I tried this was in the 80s when you had to go to the office, weigh in and select your food for the next week.  I only needed to assign one small shelf in the kitchen to this.  Now I have two large drawers just for my special food.   It is really hot now so anything chocolate was kinda loose.  Off to the fridge! 

OK.... Tomorrow I start my program.  I also start off my exercise with the American Heart Association/Start Heart Walk.  We are raising money for research.  I am entertaining on Sunday so I will be faced with my first challenge.  I am sure I can manage that since light fare will be expected on such a hot afternoon.

On my mark, ready, set, GO!