A New Weight Loss Support/accountability Thread

[little d]

HI Ladies

Hi everyone! Thanks for the welcome back. I will try to stick around this time. I need a little support and accountability around the holidays. Sometimes I wish I wasn't so good at baking!

Off topic, but I know Kat will be interested and I don't have time to PM. I met a little boy who has the same kidney disease as Kat and I have (had, maybe, since I'm in remission and Kat is doing pretty well too). Anyway, this was about 6-7 weeks ago. I told his mom how I got better going fanatically gluten-free and she put him on the diet. She called me last week after going to the Nephrologist's office for an in-depth check up and he is totally in remission - no trace of problems at all. He's had this disease for 8 years and it's the first time his blood tests have come out well in all that time. He'd been on 80 mg of prednisone - a HUGE dose for an 11 year old - and he's been tapering off and is down to 20 every other day. So it's not the medication keeping his kidneys working well. I'm so excited that I could help this little boy!

Anyway, I've been "good" so far today - just eaten 3 pieces of turkey bacon and a slice of Pamela's Wheat free bread (no butter). Will have salad for lunch.

Liz this is amazing that this little boy is in remission because of going gluten free, I can imagine that his mom is very happy.

Sorry this is kinda getting off the subject

I had to take Hannah to the peditrian twice in the last 3 weeks she has had a cough that just won't go away. He did prescripe a cough medicine and Steroid to help but her cough got so bad that her little sides hurt so bad that she had to stay home from school one day and then I had called told the RN that she is not better, so then called in for a antibotic and a little better but the cough was still there it got better when she was quite and after her otc cough medicine. So then we again, he took a chest x-ray, breathing treatment which helped after doing this she sounded so much better when he listened to her. So we left the office with an inhaler that has helped so much, nasel spray for allergies which she did not tolerate very well, but anyway. The peditrian I found at work from the hospital and all the ladies that I work with use him so you can imagine that his office is pretty busy. We had been using the family doctor for Hannah because the peditrian that I was using never wanted to see hannah unless she was sick with diahrea, fever and vomiting so I would have to lie about her being really sick just to be seen and then it would take hours for the triage nurse to call back, so we started with the family doctor. But then he did not want to explore Hannahs long runs with her continuing cough when she got sick like this. she would continue to cough for almost 2 months before it would finally go away for it only to come back. So the Pediatrian feel or as he put we are only guessing at this time especially since he does not have Hannahs file from the family doctor yet, that her problem is Asthma, and not Bronchitis, which only make sense. Hannah is hoping that it is not, because she does not want to have any more breathing treatments. So anyway I was happy that the x-ray was clear.

Ok so back on subject, I have been doing well on my diet at least I think I nust be everytime I get on the scale I'm happy with what I see. My scale at work the scale says 149 and the scale at the plasma center said yesterday 151 when it has been 153 for the longest time. so I am going with the work scale is more accurate because I take my shoes off when I weight myself.

Tuesday up at 1pm Picked up Hannah to go to the doctor

coffee Carmel Mochito (I hope that this is safe) from Starbucks

D- left over potato from the night before

DDP

water

Wendesday

B- gluten-free maple buckwheat flakes

coffee

L- an awsome Hamburger so good I want another one, I was so full aft er. It was

Organic patty, with gluten-free cheese, bean sprouts, avacodo,

baby pickell, on a gluten-free Kinninnick english muffin I ate this about 2pm because I was really hungry and I stayed full until very late.

water

Thurday - today

coffee- Carmel mochito from Starbucks

gluten-free toast with cinnimon and sugar

Milk

I am meeting my husband for Lunch at Jack in a Box, so I will find something that is ok for me.

Since we have been talking about having a baby I have started taking prenatel vitamins, I choose from the many sample packages that my OB gave me, that I think will be safe for me to take, but I have also seen that Walgreens has a vitamin that says no gluten on the bottle.

Happy eating everybody

donna

[Joni63]

Hey all,

Really yucky, wet, rainy weather here today. I did take the dog out for a walk and stretched my leg muscles some. I can't wait to be back running and exercising.

For some reason I've been bloated the past week. Can't figure out why and I'm really hoping it's not an additional food intolerance popping up. I never did go completely lactose free so I'm debating if I should do that along with going caffeine free. I also feel like I've had a slight sour stomach with this cold so maybe that could be causing bloating. I don't know.

If I don't make it to the gym, I will go for a walk (it's supposed to be like 76 degrees today, so can't waste it no matter how I feel).

I'm so envious Kat. Glad your having such nice weather! And the thought of [that/i] never crossed my mind! L.O.L.

So the Pediatrian feel or as he put we are only guessing at this time especially since he does not have Hannahs file from the family doctor yet, that her problem is Asthma, and not Bronchitis, which only make sense. Hannah is hoping that it is not, because she does not want to have any more breathing treatments. So anyway I was happy that the x-ray was clear.

It's good her lungs were clear and she doesn't have Bronchitis. I'm glad she's feeling better and the inhaler and breathing treatments made a difference for her. A steady cough can be so draining.

B: Buckwheat cereal/with soy milk

L: Piece of spam, 1 flax bread slice, earth balance butter, an orange

S: Tostitos and Con Queso Salsa

D: Home made turkey burger, yogurt, raw carrots

[little d]

Hi Ladies,

Bellyfat, yes her cough was and still draining she just felt so horrible and I felt it even more because you know as a mom you just hate it when your baby is sick. just heart braking.

I am so excited I put on this shirt it is a peasent type shirt it is made out of denium, last year I could not even wear this shirt I love it because it is cute on, well I could not ware the shirt because I had gotten so big 160 lbs big for my little frame well I also just weighed myself and I am happy to say that I am 148lbs I'm doing something right yah!!!!

Ok I also said on my last post that I was going to meet my husband for lunch at Jack in the box well I know that I did ok with the chicken but not of with the sour dough bread and curly fries, and fountain drink but I seem to be ok for nowm we'll see when morning comes.

my dinner tonight here at work will be chinese chicken stirfry that I made. The noodles are Tai Kitchen noodles, also put garlic, onion, thickened it with some rice flour and soup base and veggies (califlour, broccili, carrots) and it turned out pretty good, can't wait to eat it.

Don't give up ladies, ya'll are still doing good, just being a little puny right now. Oh sorry that is country for sick.

donna

[lonewolf]

Hi all,

Didn't do so great today. Got some exercise at basketball practice, but ate a bit too much. Ghirardeli (sp) dark chocolate mint things and 2 chocolate chip cookies were the worst thing.

I'm exhausted - I haven't coached high school basketball for several years and I forgot how intense it was!

[little d]

Hi Ladies,

Thurday when I left work I choose to get my Flu shot and on top of that I also had my Tetnis with pertesses at the same time. It is now Monday morning and my arm still hurts where I got the Tetnis my arm has fever in it and I really don't feel that great right now but It also might have something to do with the food I had at my husbands grandmothers house an Early Thanksgiving. I can not remember what I have had over the weekend right now because I am tired and my meal at his grandmothers. Instead of eating right for me I just ate what was there because I did not want to have to explain why I as only eating meat of just veggies which were not really an option.

Slice of Turkey

slice of Ham

stuffing

3 versions of broccoli cassarole

1 bit of sweet potatos

Mashpotatos with gibblet gravy

Rolls were available but opted not to have one and really just forgot about them.

Dinner tonight here at work

brown rice tortilla with sunshine patty

salad with sunflower seeds and 3 pickells

I am so wiped right now, earlier I was seeing spots that was making me feel like I was dizzy so I had to sit down and press on my temple took my blood pressure which was fine 121/77 after I pressed on my temple the spots went away but the achyiness was still there behind my eyes.

Man it i feel this way now I will feel very bad at my moms fro Thanksgiving because my moms food is the best and she will have my old favorites there too, that I know that I am not allowed to have but will have everything that I am not supposed to have but I will try my best and I am off that night so I can rest after.

Happy Thanksgiving Ladies

donna

[little d]

Hi Ladies,

Tonight I am feeling much better, I have no idea what my problem was last night, I can only blame it on the food that I ate at my husbands Grandmothers house. one of his Aunts asked me if I wanted any pie and I said no she wanted to know why, well I still did not tell her, for one these are pies that I typically would not eat because I just don't like the taste, I did not want to tell her that because she made one of them I think, and 2nd I was so full that I was almost miserable. By the time we left so I could come home to get ready for work we had an hour and 15 min drive back home, I also had 2 Diet DP's, and when I got to work I had 2 more soft drinks and then I finially had some vitimin water. Tonight I have had 2 bottles of water so far

Ok so I woke up at 2pm

coffee

D- gluten-free waffles

milk

water on the way to work

water again and I want another so I can just pee away

for tonights dinner here at work

gluten-free Maple buckwheat flakes

I am hoping that i will find some Lactaid milk in the cafeteria

and then I will probley get me diet Dpepper for later

Ok yah I did exercise this morning not by choice

I had to climb 6 stories of stairs because the elevators work not working that sucked the big one for my lungs because it was cold, but I was able to stay awake for my drive home.

Happy eating ladies

donna

[Harobed]

Hello,

I am new here and not sure how to use the board yet, but I would like to join your weight loss group.

I was diagnosed 3 months ago and still not doing very well on the diet.

I have been on and off, but am doing pretty good now, learning etc.

I need to lose quite a bit of weight and I am hoping for support from those who understand my diet problems/restrictions.

For breakfast today I had:

One egg, boiled,

One apple

one glass lactose free milk.

Today is thanksgiving and I have been invited out...

but I plan on having turkey, salad, green beans (unless she does the casserole, which of course I will skip) and sweet potatoe casserole (because I am making it gluten-free)

probably no dinner...but if I do,

a salad with slices of chicken

an apple

Thanks

[lonewolf]

Welcome Harobed! It will be a bit slow on here until Monday, I think, but I wanted to welcome you to our thread.

[Joni63]

Hi Harobed and Welcome!

Nice to have you. I'm not dieting at all today or exercising! I've made way to much food and it's just too hard right now. I hurt my calf muscle and wasn't able to exercise for a few weeks. I did some light walking and am now pain free so I will finally start exercising and dieting again full blast on Friday.

I already tasted my gluten free pumpkin pie. I am impressed!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

[Sharon Marie]

I was diagnosed just a week ago. And I have gained 3 lbs since then! All my excess weight is in my belly. *sigh* My arms and legs are extremely thin. I am very happy to join in this forum.

I am 66 Mom of 5 and Grandmom of 24

[little d]

Hi and welcome

Sharon and Herobed, you will see me quite often late at night posting because I work late nights from 7p-7a but hopefully that will change soon. I am looking for a day job so I can be home with my family and expand the family as well if I go days. Plus I don't sleep well during the day so after 4 years of working nights I am ready for sleep at nights.

I did weight myself on Wendnesday and I am still at 148, but I am sure that not the case now because I have had nothing gluten free since Wendnesday, thurdsday was Turkey day so I had everything thats not good for me

at my mother in laws

Turkey

mashed potatoes with gibblet gravy

stuffing

broccoli cassarole

at my moms I was still full but ate a little anyway

Turkey

stuffing (I had to have)

cranberry bread my favorite bread of all time I need to fine stuff that i can make it with

friday

B- bacon, onion, bell pepper cheese scambeled egg

D- out to eat at Don Pablos

Chicken, rice and apple pie 30 min later i was in the bathroom at blockbuster could not hold it until we got home I think that happened the last time we went there, you would think thtat I would learn by now.

Today

B- English mcmuffin egg and bacon with my own gluten-free english muffin

coffee

D- chicken and baked potato

ddp

water

for my dinner tonight

brown rice tortilla with sunflower patty

salad with gluten-free dressing with sunflower seeds and 3 baby pickells

ddp

water

I will get back on track with my diet because after yesterday anf thursday I felt so bad that I feel asleep in my chair watching TV, with my arm/ hand asleep I could not function at all. I can function after eating one meal and maybe alittle tired or something but 2-3 days I can't do it. It is really hard when you don't have a diagnoses. So I think that I will do Enterolab and maybe it will give me something to go by, to let my family know that there is something wrong with me.

Happy eating everybody

donna

[little d]

Hi ladies,

I don't think that I am eating very well, because I am tired almost all the time or it could be that I am not getting enough sleep which tonight that is the case, it is now 4:30am and I will be up for 24hrs at 6:30am and I will only get 4 maybe 5 hours of sleep and then I will have to be back here at 6:30pm

my meals from Monday are

up at 2pm

coffee

D - gluten-free sandwhich with ham, cheese, sprouts, avacodo

DDP

Tuseday

B- gluten-free Vann waffles

milk

coffee

snack sunflower seeds from a package and they were salty

vitamin water strawberry kiwi

after the sunflower seeds my stomach started to make noises and they were really salty, but other wise I was fine.

D- gluten-free sandwhich ham and cheese

ddp

dinner here at work

thia kitchen noodles (thia peanut) with tuna

apple with peanut butter

The peanut butter I am not sure if this is what really is making my sleepy or it could be that I was really sleepy before I came to work tonight becuase I did not get a nap today because I was too busy to take a nap.

In December I am going to be taking a Medical Transcription class so I am really going to have to eat right and not mess around with food. I will difiantly have to concentrate on my school work because I will have to listen to alot of dictations from doctors. I sure did pick something that could be difficult for myself did'nt I. Maybe this is what I need to get my butt in gear to do what I need to, and stop messing around with food that I know is going to make me feel bad.

I weighed myself tonight I know that it is not Friday, but I was curious and I am still at 147

Happy eating ladies

donna

[Joni63]

Hey donna,

I'm sorry you've felt badly for a few days. It really sounds like your symptoms are from Celiac. Fatigue from gluten is one of the symptoms I have. If you think an official diagnosis would keep you on the diet, it's probably best for you to get one. I know holidays are tough, but I made a really good Thanksgiving dinner that was gluten free. I hope you'll consider doing whatever you need to do to stay strict with the diet.

I haven't done so well on my diet or exercise this week. TOO many leftovers and not enough time due to Christmas shopping and Wii hunting.

I did jog once on Friday as I posted and I also have gained a few pounds. The pumpkin pie was just too good. I baked 2 and was going to freeze one for Christmas, but the pie never made it to the freezer.

Oh well, today is a new day! I'll be back later to post

[Harobed]

Hello everyone,

I guess I have to get into the habit of reporting.

I have lost 10 pounds since being diagnosed and starting a gluten-free diet.

Today I had

gluten-free cereal with soy milk.

Tossed salad with Roasted Chicken breast.

light 45 cal. gluten-free ceasar dressing.

Homemade chili made with

chicken breast,

pinto beans,

tomatoe sauce

mushrooms

seasonings.

If later I need a snack, I will eat 1/2 an apple and drink a glass of soy milk.

thanks for the support.

[Harobed]

After reading your posts, I noticed that you had a fairly high carb count.

You might want to cut back slightly on carbs, as they can make you sleepy.

On average, it is recommended that you have 6 grams of protein for every 9 G carb.

to keep your energy level up. The added carbs go into your blood stream very fast, and then you crash afterwards and get sleepy.

You can see this especially after a dinner that includes noodles or potato. gluten-free bread is denser and so also has more carbs. Maybe try a half sandwich with extra meat and cheese, or tuna and an apple.

In case you are wondering, I got this info from the mayo Clinic diet. my daughter is a dietician and did her internship with the Mayo Clinic and has been teaching me about balancing carbs and protiens.

[lonewolf]

Hi everyone,

I've been crazy-busy still since basketball season started. I've had a few "good" days where I've eaten less carbs and not eaten in the evenings, but most days I've eaten whatever is handy, whenever I feel like it. (Only gluten-free though, I NEVER cheat with that.) I have been exercising almost every day either at basketball practice or going to the community center and working out, so I haven't gained too much weight, but I want to be losing.

The community center is sponsoring a "Biggest Loser" competition and I think I might enter, even though I don't have a huge amount of weight to lose. If I have to "weigh in" in front of people I might be more motivated to stick with it better. I want to lose about 30 pounds and the contest goes for 6 months, so maybe I can do it. It starts right after Christmas.

[little d]

HI Ladies,

Joni, yes it is hard that I don't have a diagnoses. My husband is one of these people who will go with what the doctor tells you to do, when I was pregnate with our daughter the nurse told us that I am to stay away from caffeine, he made sure that I stayed away from caffiene so did his mom, and he also made sure that I did not gain alot of weight because I am small in stature so putting on 50 lbs would not look good on someone my height. So if I had a diagnoses then he would make sure that I followed what the doctors tell me to eat. He understands that I have been tested and I am negative, I have told him everything that could happen later on in my life and with not having an offical diagnoses he thinks that it is ok for me to eat the foods that he eats. So in January when we get whatever income tax money that we may get I am going to try Enterolab, I know that it will not be an official diagnoses but I plan on sending the results to my GI so he could see what the results are and for my husband so he could see as well. I have to be good with my diet right now because I signed up for the medical transcription course that I have been wanting to do, so I will have to be good so I can concentrate on my studies, which will take 24 weeks or sooner depending on when I can get everything completed because I am doing most if not all on-line here at home.

Harobed, yes I am eating alot of carbs still, I realized the other day eventhough I have modified my diet I still get all the carbs, I have also been really bad on my eating lately since Thanksgiving. I start eating food that I love and then I get out of control with eating just like Lonewolf, Liz I am addicted to food I want it, I will get the food that is not right for me and eat it, emotionall eating I am bad at, I love carbs.

My meals as of Thursday

Up at 2pm

coffee at 3pm

D- Turkey, bacon, gucomole sandwhich from Sloztches sorry on the spelling this was not good for me to eat I know this but I ate it anyway, I felt so bad after that I am still tired from it, my legs and hips where achy this morning, and my eyes hurt when I took my daughter to school this morning even with the clouds I had to put on my sunglasses, I know that it was not that bright but it hurt anyway.

Today

B- gluten-free toast with cinnimon and sugar just a little

milk

coffee

no idea for dinner yet.

I did weigh myself at work Thursday and I weight 147. I have a hot date with my husband we are going to a concert seeing Durks Bentley country singer, I will defiantly have to eat a good meal before we go so I won't be tempted out there, I hope that I will be able to get a drink out there, I am in the mood for something to drink I don't want a beer, what mixed drink is safe to drink.

Happy eating ladies

donna

[Harobed]

Hi,

I was really sick last night and this morning. I went over yesterday's menu and the only thing I feel could be causing me problems is the soy.

I was thinking for some time now that I may be sensitive to soy. My daughter tells me that some people who are sensitive to Kaisen (did I spell that right?) should stay away from soy.

I know I am allergic to Flaxseed, so I guess I will add soy to the list.

So today,

I had 1/2 apple, 1 slice ham

lunch (hubby brought me home a salad, but I felt too bad to eat it.

dinner, daughter took us out to a chinese restaurant. You should have seen us going over the menu making sure we did not get anything with wheat etc. The guy threw in some extra egg rolls....lol

So my son-in-law and husband enjoyed those. My daughter is eating gluten-free because at 21 she is developing some of my same symptoms. She has been gluten-free for a month, then last week she decided to go off the diet and see what happened. She got really sick, so she is back on it again.

She learns faster than I do.

I was on a week, then off a few days, then on a week, then off a few days for a month before I finally realized that wheat is poison to me. Now I am doing so much better.

Dinner: grilled chicken, rice, steam broccoli...Chinese style.

Oh yeah, I made a pecan pie for dh's birthday.

the crust was made from gluten-free Gingersnaps, gluten-free animal Cracker, a handful of pecans...throw it all in a blender and make crumbs. Add 1/2 stick margarine...press into pan.

Add whatever type of filling you like. It was yummy!

So I had 1/8 slice of pie...and just about 3 bites of that because I really don't like sweets but wanted to make sure it turned out okay for everyone else.

[LuAnn]

Thank You for sharing this info. It helped me. But I would like to know if you would help me with your diet. I have put on about 30 pounds and I don't like it!! I have been on this gluten free diet for 7 yrs now. But I need to know how to diet with this disease. Please help me. I would like to lose that weight. Do you have a diet plan?

Youe pie crust sounds really really good. I don't eat alot of sweets either.

Thanks, LuAnn in West Virginia

Hi,

I was really sick last night and this morning. I went over yesterday's menu and the only thing I feel could be causing me problems is the soy.

I was thinking for some time now that I may be sensitive to soy. My daughter tells me that some people who are sensitive to Kaisen (did I spell that right?) should stay away from soy.

I know I am allergic to Flaxseed, so I guess I will add soy to the list.

So today,

I had 1/2 apple, 1 slice ham

lunch (hubby brought me home a salad, but I felt too bad to eat it.

dinner, daughter took us out to a chinese restaurant. You should have seen us going over the menu making sure we did not get anything with wheat etc. The guy threw in some extra egg rolls....lol

So my son-in-law and husband enjoyed those. My daughter is eating gluten-free because at 21 she is developing some of my same symptoms. She has been gluten-free for a month, then last week she decided to go off the diet and see what happened. She got really sick, so she is back on it again.

She learns faster than I do.

I was on a week, then off a few days, then on a week, then off a few days for a month before I finally realized that wheat is poison to me. Now I am doing so much better.

Dinner: grilled chicken, rice, steam broccoli...Chinese style.

Oh yeah, I made a pecan pie for dh's birthday.

the crust was made from gluten-free Gingersnaps, gluten-free animal Cracker, a handful of pecans...throw it all in a blender and make crumbs. Add 1/2 stick margarine...press into pan.

Add whatever type of filling you like. It was yummy!

So I had 1/8 slice of pie...and just about 3 bites of that because I really don't like sweets but wanted to make sure it turned out okay for everyone else.

[little d]

HI LuAnn,

Welcome, I am the opisite of you I put on 30 lbs on regular food, I sometimes would barely eat anything and still gain. Until I started my gluten free diet I then started to loose the weight, I started my diet at 160 lbs and I am now down to 147lbs. I am eating the same way just with gluten free foods. I'm sorry I don't know how to help you I guess someone else who has been gluten free for a while longer than me will have to help you. Maybe they can give you there success story, the only person on this thread that maybe able to help you is Liz Lonewolf I know that she has been on the gluten free diet for sometime now longer than most of us on this thread, But I know the other ladies might be able to help as well. But anyway happy to have you on here and good luck on your weight loss, I know that it will happen.

donna

[little d]

I guess that I could have posted my meals, which not that great to begin with.

Friday,

B- gluten-free toast with cinnimon and sugar

coffee

milk

D- Fankly I don't remember but it was not good for me I know that.

Saturday

B- gluten-free Pancakes

milk

no coffee, I wound up with a caffine headache all afternoon

L-D Nacho supreme from Taco bell

ddp

went to Movies instead of Concert had D coke and some of my husbands Long Island Iced tea

Sunday

B coffee

gluten-free Maple buckwheat flakes cereal with milk

D- Pot Roast with carrots and potatos oh so good everything in this roast is gluten free

ddp

Working tonight

water now

left over roast can't wait, but I am still full from dinner at 5pm

Happy eating ladies, oh by the way I have been approved for the medical transcription course for my tution reimbursment through work so I need to step it up and do myself a favor and eat right.

donna

[little d]

HI Ladies,

I just wanted to post really quick my meals for today.

Today up at 1:45pm

coffee

D- gluten-free sandwhich with ham and cheese

DDP

D at work gluten-free sandwhich with ham, cheese, brussel sprouts, avacodo

Salad with sunflower seeds and gluten-free dressing

Diet D Pepper

water for later

I am off tonight so I am thinking about Meatloaf for dinner with potatos and greenbeans.

Happy eating ladies

donna

[Joni63]

Hey Everyone,

I'm am soooooo off track, have no exercise routine right now and am crazy busy. Just took my Girl Scout Troop of 11 girls camping in a cabin over the weekend. It was so much fun and so nice to get away from my house right now with all the holiday rush and decorating going on.

Glad to see some of you still making progress.

Donna, you are doing such a great job with your posting. Keep it up!

I've also been running to our local Walmart everyday of the week (honestly!) to see if they have any Wii's in. My son and daughter both put it on their Chrismas list and they are very hard to find. Thankfully it is the last thing I need to get for them for Christmas!

Have a great day and I will be back full force as soon as I can.

[lonewolf]

But I need to know how to diet with this disease. Please help me. I would like to lose that weight. Do you have a diet plan?

Welcome LuAnn! I've found that it's best to eat moderately low carb by cutting out breads and treats. When I do that, I can keep my weight down. (My problem is that I love to cook and bake and my children all love to eat and they have wonderful metabolisms so they want me to bake all the time. So if it's here, I tend to eat it.)

When I'm being "good", my diet looks something like this:

Breakfasts - turkey sausage or bacon and fruit or apple slices dipped in almond butter or smoothies made with rice protein powder.

Lunches - salad with turkey or chicken, or a bowl of homemade vegetable soup, or "sandwiches" made with lettuce instead of bread, and carrot sticks, fruit, a few pretzels or other small "treat"

Dinners - meats, salads, vegetables, soups, stews and occasionally pasta with meat sauce. We eat a lot of Mexican food, chicken and rice, and things like meatloaf.

It also helps me to allow myself one "free" day per week so I can have a treat I've been craving and not feel guilty about it.

Hello everyone else! I've actually been doing really well the past few days! I've been working out hard and been very diligent with my eating. I did allow myself a few cookies at our church Christmas party last night, but considering that I made 3 batches of them and only ate 4-5 total, I was proud of myself. On Sunday we went out for Mexican food and I didn't eat a single chip or tortilla and just ate fajita meat and vegetables with a bit of beans and rice. I've been too busy to try to keep exact track and post, but I am a little more motivated right now since I don't want to gain 10 pounds over Christmas, which is often what happens to me when I enjoy my baking too much.

[UR Groovy]

Hi everyone & I wanted to welcome Sharon, Harobed & LuAnn. If I missed anyone, welcome to you too. I'd love to offer advice, but, alas, I'm not the one to do it . Liz (Lonewolf) has a pretty good grip on what it takes to get it done. Seems a lot of people gain a few pounds when they first dive into the gluten-free lifestyle. It takes some getting used to, and the fact that we have to substitute for mainstream wheaty products sometimes leads to getting carried away with gluten-free foods. I think that's where most of us go wrong. My goals as far as eating are to include protein & good fats with most meals & take in lots of different colors of veggies throughout the day (I steam most of my veggies ahead of time & that way, when I'm ready to make them all tasty, there's little work to be done). I try to keep my starches down to 1 or no starches each day, but haven't been very successful with all the family & friend gatherings lately.

I've just been getting by on my diet & to be quite honest, am simply hoping to get through the holidays without too much damage. So far, no weight gain.

One thing that's been halting my progress is that 2 weeks ago, we finally decided we'd hit the boxes of stuff in the garage that we ended up with when we emptied David's parents house after his mother passed away (4 years ago) and some excess from both of us too. We promised ourselves that we'd be through that darned garage within 5 years of getting married & that's coming up in June, so we're in the nitty-gritty of it all. Now, I know why we put it off for so long - it's completely overwhelming. We keep the inside of the house pretty squeaky-clean, but the garage is our forbidden-zone. We just don't want all this stuff weighing us down anymore. Garages are for cars & tools & stuff you use - not a bunch of stuff that we haven't looked at in 4 years. Having it done by January is the goal so that I can get back to a regular work schedule. In the meantime, we have some dirty work ahead.

I haven't been to the gym in weeks - it will become important to me again.

Donna - congratulations on beginning the transcription program ! That should be interesting. I took some transcription classes, but to be honest, it was so hard to understand the doctors and decipher the medications (they all sound the same), and the terms - between their accents and the ability to actually hear what they were saying, I just decided to go with insurance billing (just insurance, no CPT). I wanted to do CPT coding, but decided that working was more important at the time - I kind of regret that I didn't pursue it any further, but it is what it is. I'm glad to hear that you're taking on this challenge. I hope you enjoy your classes !

Liz, I'm happy to hear you've been working out. Good for you.

Joni, I'm sure we'll see you soon with news that you're back on track. It's easy to let things go after an injury and when things get busy.

Just wanted to drop by and let you guys know that you're not rid of me yet . I'll be back.

Someday, life will resume. That's why we're taking on the garage. It's a huge mental block (not to mention a physical one). We want our lives back. Our goal is that by January, we'll be able to park 2 cars in there. Wish me luck as I sift through the muck.

Take care,

k

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EDIT:Off-Topic again, sorry, but I have to tell someone:

1 YEAR TODAY. It occurred to me just now that I stopped eating gluteney stuff 1 year ago today. Today, I also made my first loaf of bread that I could make into a successful sandwich. Thank You to Pamela's.

It was good !

I also just realized that my post was super long - sorry.