Princess Power - September 2016 Weight Loss and Lifestyle Change Challenge

[4Mickeys]

Ok - I am a good enough cook - nowhere near a chef! Although the kids do at times really enjoy some of what I make (not always lol). There are days I enjoy it but mostly it is something that HAS to be done. I have gone through phases of getting the kids more involved - I really need to get back on that! I do try to talk especially to DS15 about the importance of balance in his diet as he is a total junk food addict - and will always choose choc chip cookies over fruit when hungry - he is ok bodywise now - but I know from experience that it catches up with you eventually! My cooking approach has been undergoing changes - I am moving more to home prepared and things that I can get more than one meal out of e.g. pot roast or roast chicken, then use the left overs in a few different ways. The home made roast chicken is so much less greasy than the store bought rotisserie chickens and the kids love it - it is so good when they are trying to steal it when you are carving it up saying how yummy it is I use a turbo/convection oven for it so it is not sitting in any oil while cooking and they come out so well cooked.

Southern Food - Fried Chicken! lol I also like gumbo (I do a version here from a healthy recipe book I have so not sure how authentic it is!), DS12 loves beignets.

 

[cmarsh31]

I planned my trip to Texas before I knew Rhinebeck even existed, else I would have tried to do a trip this year... it's definitely on my list for next year. I also want to try and do Squam next year, which just wrapped up. Most of my Instagram crafting heroes were just there and it was so fun to see everyone's posts.

Rhinebeck is AMAZING (and only about an hour and a half drive from me so I've been quite a few times) - I'm more of a Ravelry girl than Instagram... but I'm not sure there was Instagram when I really started knitting (almost 10 years ago now). I'm cmarsh31 on Rav too if you happen over there - feel free to check out my very outdated stuff (haven't updated projects in almost 2 years, I think! *gasp*)

 

[Oneanne]

Rhinebeck is AMAZING (and only about an hour and a half drive from me so I've been quite a few times) - I'm more of a Ravelry girl than Instagram... but I'm not sure there was Instagram when I really started knitting (almost 10 years ago now). I'm cmarsh31 on Rav too if you happen over there - feel free to check out my very outdated stuff (haven't updated projects in almost 2 years, I think! *gasp*)

I'm rarely on Ravelry, usually just to find a pattern. On Instagram I've built an entire network of wool people, including sheep farmers, knitters, spinners, designers, makers from around the world. It's so much fun to get in to Instagram in the morning and see what my sheep pals (and goatie pals) in the UK are up to. Back in August a group of gals I follow did a two week trip to Sweden, including the Faro, Gotland and Aland Islands and it was so fun to follow along. A couple people have been to Iceland, and then it seems like everyone was at Sqwam, I almost feel like I was there too .

 

[TimonTracy]

Oh, I wish I loved cooking and was a good cook - unfortunately, I get frustrated when a recipe doesn't turn out and I've spent a lot of $$ on ingredients and special preparation.

However, at Christmas - I do a lot of the cooking - because my mom and sister cook less than me.
In addition, I love a crockpot meal with only a couple ingredients

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

QOTD: Do you enjoy cooking? Are you a planner or a last minute throw something together person? If you have a family how does cooking work in your house? If you have them do you include your kids in cooking? Do you think this will help set them up for healthier lives earlier than we have achieved? How has your cooking style changed since pursuing a healthier life?
Bonus Question: What is your favourite Southern recipe? Imagine there are no calories!!​

I LOVE to cook I am always trying to challenge myself with new recipes or techniques. We usually have a rough plan for our meals during the week and I might add or change something while I am cooking, depending on my mood. The kids usually help when I am baking but not so much with dinner. I think their eating habits are better than mine at their age but they still eat way too much sugar. I am not sure if my cooking style has changed too much, my main thing is having smaller portion sizes and eating out less.

Bonus: I think my favorite southern food is pulled pork, fried green tomatoes and pecan pie

 

[HappyGrape]

That is a good feeling isn't it? What not even banana bread?

Nope, my boys are sweet enough, they don't need the extra sugar!

I actually love to cook my stuff, but I guess I am not traditional cook. Last night I made salmon/chicken depending on food preference with little pesto and roast tomatoes, courgettes, brocolli with truffle oil. It was sooo tasty! I can't call myself cook but if you are looking for a healthy meal, easy to make and nutritious - I am your go to person! I will feed you well

My DH is back from London. I hope so much he won't be playing tennis so I can hit the gym tonight! Swim will be magic.

 

[4Mickeys]

Oh, I wish I loved cooking and was a good cook - unfortunately, I get frustrated when a recipe doesn't turn out and I've spent a lot of $$ on ingredients and special preparation.

However, at Christmas - I do a lot of the cooking - because my mom and sister cook less than me.
In addition, I love a crockpot meal with only a couple ingredients

That is annoying - I have once taken one bite and thrown a whole meal in the bin!

I LOVE to cook I am always trying to challenge myself with new recipes or techniques. We usually have a rough plan for our meals during the week and I might add or change something while I am cooking, depending on my mood. The kids usually help when I am baking but not so much with dinner. I think their eating habits are better than mine at their age but they still eat way too much sugar. I am not sure if my cooking style has changed too much, my main thing is having smaller portion sizes and eating out less.

Bonus: I think my favorite southern food is pulled pork, fried green tomatoes and pecan pie

One of the few who love to cook Pulled pork yum - I haven't tried fried green tomatoes though.

Nope, my boys are sweet enough, they don't need the extra sugar!

I actually love to cook my stuff, but I guess I am not traditional cook. Last night I made salmon/chicken depending on food preference with little pesto and roast tomatoes, courgettes, brocolli with truffle oil. It was sooo tasty! I can't call myself cook but if you are looking for a healthy meal, easy to make and nutritious - I am your go to person! I will feed you well

My DH is back from London. I hope so much he won't be playing tennis so I can hit the gym tonight! Swim will be magic.

haha - the salmon/chicken sounds yummy. Good luck with getting to the gym.

 

[4Mickeys]

Happy Friday everyone!

As we get towards the end of the month .... are you feeling like Tiana?




7 days to go everyone! Then you can do this...






Okay here is your chance for an almost end of month pep talk from all your friends on here ...

QOTD: If you are so close to your goal, what can you do to make sure you get there? If you are further away from your goal like me, what can you do that can make you feel ok with where you are likely to end the month? Share with us what is getting in your way and we will support you to help with a last week of hard work!

Quote of the Day

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[Flossbolna]

Need to get back into the thread!

Did not feel very woohoo on Wednesday, but I did go for another run and ran my 4km. Feeling like I will be able to do the 6k in 10 days without dying.

I love cooking, but my biggest problem is that I get home in the evenings and am so hungry that I don't have any patience to cook. I know that this is partly because of my stupid eating schedule. At my work people eat lunch between 11:30am and 12:00pm. So when I am home at 6:30pm I did not have anything to eat for over 6 hours. I need to figure out some afternoon snacks that fuel me and prevent me getting hungry. But I still haven't found one. I thought veggies or fruit would help but recently I felt that they were making things even worse. I tried cheese. But in order to not eat too many calories, the amount of cheese I can eat is so small that it does not really help for long either. Yoghurts don't do anything for me either. The best thing I tried was hard boiled eggs. But those get boring quickly, too....

Hope everyone has a great day, need to start mine!

 

[HappyGrape]

I eat lunch at 11:30 and high protein snack at 4. Keeps me going to 7 without getting too hungry. Greek yogurt is crazy high on protein + fruit most of the days

 

[Flossbolna]

I eat lunch at 11:30 and high protein snack at 4. Keeps me going to 7 without getting too hungry. Greek yogurt is crazy high on protein + fruit most of the days

The only greek yoghurt I can get in Germany is 10% fat... Any other ideas for high protein snacks? I know from your previous posts that we seem to eat a similar amount of calories (I try to be a little lower than you, but I also have more to lose). I would be really interested in hearing how many calories you alocate for different meals! Also anyone else who wants to share, I would love to hear your experiences. I am wondering if this is something that causes my struggles...

 

[Dr Gunnie]

Happy Friday everyone - have a great weekend!

I would be really interested in hearing how many calories you alocate for different meals! Also anyone else who wants to share, I would love to hear your experiences.

I usually have about 225 calories for breakfast - during the week it's a egg white and turkey sausage breakfast sandwich where I toss half of the bread.

My lunch is about 400/450 calories. Most days it's a turkey wrap that runs around 210 calories with turkey, lettuce, tomato, red onion, a little light mayo on a light wrap. I'll normally have unsweetened applesause (45 calories) and greek yogurt (100 calories) and something else (sugar free pudding, small banana, or popped rice snacks - they run about 60 calories each).

Dinner is a Blue Apron meal. They normally run around 700 calories. If it's something with fewer calories - maybe around 600/650, I might treat myself to a salted caramel pretzel ice cream bar from Skinny Cow for dessert - they are awesome and only 160 calories.

If it's a game day (Mon and Fri) I won't be home for dinner, so I normally grab a 6" veggie sub with no cheese at Subway. Those are under 250 calories. On Fridays I will splurge and have 2 egg white delights at McDonalds for breakfast and toss half of the muffin. This is what I had this morning and it runs 370 calories. It's my Friday treat!

Game days (Mon and Fri) I normally eat less - probably around 1000 calories. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I probably avg around 1300 to 1400 calories. Saturday and Sundays are more - probably in the 1500 to 1600 range. Works great for me, but everyone is different... I guess you just gotta find what works best for you.

 

[dsnyfn1022]

I'm just getting a better ROI for the reg fee!

Hahaha! That's the BEST mentality.

QOTD: Do you enjoy cooking? Are you a planner or a last minute throw something together person? If you have a family how does cooking work in your house? If you have them do you include your kids in cooking? Do you think this will help set them up for healthier lives earlier than we have achieved? How has your cooking style changed since pursuing a healthier life?
Bonus Question: What is your favourite Southern recipe? Imagine there are no calories!!​

I love cooking! I'm definitely a planner. I meal prep on Fridays. Since pursuing a healthier life I cook with veggies more although with the limited about of money that I have I don't get to cook with nearly as many veggies as I'd like. Plus being one person I have a hard time eating all my vegetables and fruit before they go bad.My favorite southern recipe? Jambalaya! My dad makes the most amazing Jambalaya ever. He smokes ribs and puts rib meat in there.

I love cooking, but my biggest problem is that I get home in the evenings and am so hungry that I don't have any patience to cook.

I have found it easiest to cook in bulk over the weekend and then freeze it. That way I don't have to do any cooking in the evenings when I'm exhausted but I still have a healthy, home-cooked meal. I also eat oatmeal at the end of my work day so that I have energy to go to the gym. It's not a high protein snack but it is a filling one.

QOTD: If you are so close to your goal, what can you do to make sure you get there? If you are further away from your goal like me, what can you do that can make you feel ok with where you are likely to end the month? Share with us what is getting in your way and we will support you to help with a last week of hard work!

I'm halfway to goal. So I'm on track to finish this month at goal which I am very motivated to do! I have my last 10k this weekend and doing MFP has been super helpful in resetting my mindset.

 

[Lady Marie]

Ok I have to ask - what is Blue Apron and how does it work?

Blue Apron is a lovely little program that sends you fresh pre-portioned ingredients for either (3) two person meals or (2) four person meals for the week. DH and I LOOOOVE it! We waste so much food and money trying to buy the ingredients to try new recipes for just two people. With this it's just the right amount to try new things, not waste food, and keep us on track cooking with veggies more than we would on our own!

QOTD: If you are so close to your goal, what can you do to make sure you get there? If you are further away from your goal like me, what can you do that can make you feel ok with where you are likely to end the month? Share with us what is getting in your way and we will support you to help with a last week of hard work!

What's getting in my way is this new business. Every free minute at night we are filling out paperwork, setting up quickbooks, meeting with the accountant, going to the phone store to get set up, etc, etc.... the list is not ending. We ate out TWO unplanned times this week because we were caught up with a business issue until 9:30 and there was no way we were cooking at 10pm. So yeah, things are just nuts. I have no me time to go get in my exercise. Plus I've been tired. I'm hoping that the vitamin D starts to get in my system soon and pick me up so I can feel like getting going and maybe not need as much sleep as I currently do!

At the end of the month, I think I will be ok with myself. There has been so so so much on my plate this month. The little time I have carved out for exercise has been great and I know that this whole set up madness will end soon-- I can get back to my routine soon. This is me-- doing the best I can at the moment with what I have going on. It's not pretty, it's not where I wanted to be at all, and it feels like excuses, but it's where I am. So I hope to finish out the month the best I can and do better next month

 

[piglet1979]

I missed yesterday. I was home sick. Nothing bad just a cold but I wasn't feeling like going to work either. I could have made it through work if I wanted. Instead I stayed home in bed all day. My husband even took the kids out to dinner to give me more time. It was much needed yesterday. Plus I am off today for a doctor's appointment. Long weekend for me.

Yesterday's question. I love to cook but need to be in the mood to do it. My husband does most of the cooking since he is home before me. My husband is much better at letting the kids help. They cut up everything for him. He has also let them cook grilled cheese. I am too afraid they will get hurt but I am starting to let that go.

Hmm...southern food. My grandparents are from a small mining area in WV. So they cook the southern food. My favorite has to be the bacon gravy over biscuits. I alays helped my grandma make it when I was younger. Because of this I am the only other person in the family that can make it without burning it. It is the most unhealthy thing you can eat. All it is is bacon grease, milk and flour. I only make it maybe twice a year because of this.

For today's question. I haven't been doing great. I have been very lazy and need to snap out of it. I just need to get out and walk.

 

[pjlla]

Happy Friday everyone!

As we get towards the end of the month .... are you feeling like Tiana?


7 days to go everyone! Then you can do this...


Okay here is your chance for an almost end of month pep talk from all your friends on here ...

QOTD: If you are so close to your goal, what can you do to make sure you get there? If you are further away from your goal like me, what can you do that can make you feel ok with where you are likely to end the month? Share with us what is getting in your way and we will support you to help with a last week of hard work!

Quote of the Day
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Yowza.... I cannot BELIEVE that we are talking about the END of the month!! I am not going to make my goal if I don't get myself moving more in the right direction! Since returning from my trip it took me more time than usual to get FULLY back on track.... and I know even though I've been eating within my daily target, I've had way too many carbs, and not enough veggies and water. Nothing is in my way but my own BRAIN. And honestly, at this point in time with just one week left, it will have to be nearly a MIRACLE week to get to my goal (which was to be back at my September starting weight). But that doesn't mean I won't try my hardest!!

I'd love to make excuses about working 3 jobs and being super busy, etc, but it is just what it sounds like... EXCUSES. It is a matter of PRIORITIES!

I'm at work right now, so this is all I have time for. TTYL...........P

 

[HappyGrape]

The only greek yoghurt I can get in Germany is 10% fat... Any other ideas for high protein snacks? I know from your previous posts that we seem to eat a similar amount of calories (I try to be a little lower than you, but I also have more to lose). I would be really interested in hearing how many calories you alocate for different meals! Also anyone else who wants to share, I would love to hear your experiences. I am wondering if this is something that causes my struggles...

Breakfast most days fruit & Greek yogurt (total fage 0% fat) or oatmeal with banana and half and half milk and water. Some days if I work from home omelette made with 1 whole egg, 3 egg whites and veggies and little chorizo if I must be honest! Breakfast is usually about 300 calories.

Lunch during the summer salad with either tuna or chicken and tomatoes, lettuce, feta cheese (some days) olives some days) strawberries if I have them cucumbers, peppers. In the winter salad doesn't cut it for me, I need balanced meal as bellow. Lunch is usually 500/600

Snack is different either Greek yogurt if I had oatmeal for breakfast or some fresh veggies, fruit as a snack, fruit & yogurt or rice cakes and hummus. It's about 200 capories

Dinner is 600/700 calories. If I am short on calories I bulk up the veggies and cut the rest

And sometimes before bed I will have some more fruit depending on how I am getting on with caloreis


I try to have at least 300 g of fruit and veggies for all of my meals but sometimes struggle at breakfast. I find this most beneficial! Vegetabeles are magic if you want to feel full and still loose
120g protein per day minimum
15g of fat for each meal is supposed to help satiety but I don't follow this strictly

I like the below a lot. half plate of fresh food & veggies, half with protein & wholegrain suit me great

 

[HappyGrape]

I read somewhere that a good strategy is to calculate your calorie needs for your goal weight and start your diet by eating at that level. This is basically how I lost the weight. But also if you are miserable at that level you will know that you need to adjust your goals as nobody wants to live on diet forever

 

[courtneybeth]

Can I just say that I'm a teeny bit excited about going to Canada this weekend? And the excitement is not just for the half marathon, but for using my Global Entry when I get back to the US?

Weather looks to be brisk. 42 degrees when we start and about 52 when we finish - brrrrr. I'm ready to get a good run in with a cool temperature and a flat surface to run. The last few races have been warm and by the time I finish I'm so overheated. My best races to date have been in cooler weather - so bring it on, Canada!!! Going for the 3:10 PR, but will just be happy to finish!

QOTD: If you are so close to your goal, what can you do to make sure you get there? If you are further away from your goal like me, what can you do that can make you feel ok with where you are likely to end the month? Share with us what is getting in your way and we will support you to help with a last week of hard work!

We set goals so we can achieve them - but any progress made towards that goal is a victory! Do not be disappointed that you didn't make the goal for the month, but look at all of the hard work towards bettering yourself. Any weight lost, an exercise day realized, or a healthy meal made is one good step in the right direction and outweighs any negativity you may be feeling. Focus on the positive - it's how I got to my first-round goal weight.

I have to say that I felt pretty disappointed this week. I have been striving to go from my original goal weight (150) to the second goal weight (140) and now to the Healthy BMI range. I determined that 133 is about where I want to be, but I'm comfortable with 133-135 as long as I stay "Normal". I weighed in on my birthday and my BMI was 25.15 (136 pounds), just .16 BMI points from Normal! UGH! So yes, very frustrating to be so so so close to the goal but I have to look at the perspective: 80 pounds lost and all the awesome I've achieved. I think next weigh-in I'll be there

Everyone here is making such fabulous strides in their weight-loss and exercise goals. It's been so amazing to watch this for the last year! Keep it up guys!

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

QOTD: If you are so close to your goal, what can you do to make sure you get there? If you are further away from your goal like me, what can you do that can make you feel ok with where you are likely to end the month?

I am back to be being close to my goal. To get there I think I need to keep reminding myself to make better choices when eating out and not to pick at the kids food when they are done.