Sharley's (insert catchy journal title here)

[steph142]

Hi SharleyBloom!!

Thanks for stopping by my journal.

WAY TO GO.....you are right it's the best feeling and makes you even more determine to keep going.

Have a great day!

[lilblondedancr1]

Hey Sharley! I'm like you in that I don't weigh myself and live by the scale. I know it works for some people, but not me. Congrats about the jeans! That is a NSV if I have ever seen one

[SharleyBloom]

Yesterday was a much better day. Our cat had a feeding tube put in (which makes life tons easier for everyone, especially the cat!) so things were a little stressful and chaotic to say the least. Made me step back a minute and realize that if I didn't stay on the beach, I could end up the one with the feeding tube or much worse. (I'm not THAT heavy yet, just seeing way into the future) Sort of the scare myself into maintaining my new status quo. And as I write this, my mind jumped right to thinking that SB was the status quo and that's AMAZING!

Yesterday's fun....

B: Scrambled egg w/ yellow sweet peppers & onion, cottage cheese, coffee
MS: 15 nuts
L: Bean Soup, green beans, string cheese (2), iced tea
AS: Apparently I need to work on squeezing this snack in.
D: Pork roast w/ mustard, broccoli w/velveta cheese drizzled on top, milk
S: NSA fudgecicle

Today is about maintaining the status quo... and getting in my afternoon snack.

[Gypsie]

Greetings Sharley,

You are right about your goals. I like how you did it vs. number lines. which I seem to need to show I am doing well. I have so much to loose that it isn't as noticable when 5-10 lbs come off. Wish I could change that way of thinking. Maybe someday. Thanks for ;your encouragement. I would love to hang with you and do this .

Take care... some days I get to busy to post, however I will keep you in my prayers and post when I can. I have myspace but not face book. www.myspace.com/bug_bite

[bevvbevv]

Ah! Your poor cat! But I'm glad that things are situated so he can eat. Oh cats. So persnickety even when healthy! That's why I love 'em.

My secret to sneaking in afternoon snacks is having string cheese or nuts onhand. i'm personally a believer that eating every few hours is good for the metabolism, so I try to snack, and portability is key. Good luck getting them in!

[joesuzzi]

Hi Michelle ! Gotta love your comment about the jeans ...straight from the dryer.........
sliding on like butter !!!! Enjoy that feeling because you have worked HARD to earn it.
That is what I call an Ah-ha moment. Another fantastic one for me was at the grocery store..and I realized that my thighs no longer rubbed together when I walked....I was amazed and even showed my hubby when I got home....I never want to forget that feeling.
*
On the snack thing..............next time you are out shopping look for cocoa roast almonds.
They are wonderful.........and legal...........and they are in single serving packages (not that any of us would EVER eat more than the allotted number ! ) I found them at Target and they are made by Emerald....100 calorie packs...mine are the dark chocolate...and you don't even have to count them as a sweet treat ! I keep a pkg in my gym bag and also one in my purse...in case of an emergency.
*
Gotta ask....why the feeding tube for your kitty?? I too am a cat lover...and dog lover......
how is your kitty doing with the tube????

[lilblondedancr1]

Awww Sharley! I'm sorry to hear about your cat! I have 3 of my own and they are my babies.

Take everything one day at a time

[SharleyBloom]

Thanks Lilblondedancer,Bevbev, Suzzi (not joe, I read your other post! ), and Gypsie for stopping in! I enjoy sitting around and chatting with you all! You make me happy (and I don't usually use that word much anymore, but it seems to be revisiting me lately, though, not as much as I'd like).

Gypsie, you stop in whenever you can hon. Take your shoes off, put your feet up and sit awhile. Take a deep breath and think about something pleasant. I have a funny feeling that my non-numerical goals are going to be slowing down a bit as I wander into phase 2 on Monday. For a couple of days I actually felt skinnier. Today is not really one of those, but I'm still pretty proud of where I am, but most of all that I'm doing it.

Bevbev, you're absolutely right, nuts are the best snack ever! I bought a whole bunch at the store today, typically I reserve morning snack for nuts, but I think I may swap it out for a yogurt/ricotta something something. I did buy some snack size baggies and tomorrow I'm going to fill them with all kinds of grab and go things. My DD that I live with is doing this also, she appreciates the grab and go more than I do because she started back to college at 26.

Suzzi, OMG! OMG! I want MY thighs to not rub together! How EXCITING for you! Congratulations! Nothing like that to keep you on the beach, eh? I ran right out to Target before my trip to the grocery and found those cocoa nuts! I haven't tried them yet, but OMG! I can't wait! I did see some other ones there I want to try also like the pickle flavored cashews. I thought my DD was going to swoon!

Lilblondedancr, we have two dogs and two cats. (thank you all for your concern!) This particular kitty has an interesting history. People came and went alot in our old neighborhood in Michigan. Apparently when this cat's family moved, they couldn't take him and left him behind. He took up residence on my deck. He was an outside cat all summer and just hung out there perfectly content. He is an orange tabby with thumbs. It started to get chilly due to the fall weather, so I sent him home with my DD and SIL and kids......in Iowa.
They had two cats and two dogs then (one of the cats ran away, probably to die somewhere) and the cats did not take to this one well. (btw, my other grown daughter named him Fu saying she thought that meant "luck" in Chinese or something) So in order to protect Fu (who nearly had a nervous breakdown on the trip) he was confined to my DGD's room. It's small, but he didn't mind. When we decided to relocate, he was invited to move to the basement where we live. It's nice and it's large and he seemed pretty happy. Then he just up and quit eating. Then everything shut down. He got what is called "Fatty Liver" which is what fat cats get when they lose weight too fast. The cure is to feed them. We did the force feeding for about a week, everyone was traumatized especially the cat. He now has a feeding tube. He has done pretty good the last couple of days with it, but tonight he's had a couple of issues. We'll try again tomorrow.

So, all that said, I'm day 12 P1 and today was a bad, bad SB day for me. Now, mind you, not bad like some of those cheating with cheesecake or beer, but bad for me. 1st I was so busy grocery shopping for yummy stuff to eat on SB I completely lost track of time and completely skipped lunch AND afternoon snack. Jumped right back on the beach for dinner and then my SIL brought me a sugar free chocolate pudding after dinner. I was half way through it when it occured to me ..... I AM NOT ON PHASE 2 UNTIL MONDAY! Ugh! I couldn't bear to tell my DD, she just eats what I tell her to. Such is the hazard for shopping for two phases on one paycheck. Now, I know that it's not the end of the world and won't make or break my walk on the beach. But still, it sucks. I'm gonna do what Suzzi says and keep one in my purse for emergencies!

So, here's today's fun:

B: scrambled egg w/onion & orange sweet pepper ~ turkey bacon
MS: 15 nuts
L: Yeah, uh, no.
AS: Again, no.
D: Pork/veggie stir fry (Yummy!)
S: sf chocolate pudding

Life's a Beach.

[SharleyBloom]

Okay, so I jumped into phase 2 about 12 hours early, and I have no great joy about it. I made this yummy reuben crockpot dip which would be mostly SB friendly (had a very small amount of thousand island dressing spread throughout the whole crockpot, so my amount was very, very tiny)... I had 10 whole wheat crackers. I'll know later tonight how my body is going to handle an evening carb.

B: cottage cheese, V-8 juice
S: cocoa almonds
L: turkey/beef cream cheese rolls, cucumbers, red pepper strips and grape tomatoes dipped in hummus
AS: string cheese
D: Small bowl chili, 10 crackers, 1/2 C reuben dip
S: NSA fudgecicle

[joesuzzi]

Hey gal............I am glad you found the cocoa roasted nuts....they are SOOO good !
*
And...I want the recipe of that ruben crockpot dip !! If it was just the 1000 isle dressing that makes it non-beachy...hey...we can fix that !! Maybe by adding a little horseradish sauce to it??? I love hot dips and really have been missing the good 'ole velvetta, rotel and pork sausage........*sigh*........but that was back in the "bad 'ole days" and I don't eat like that anymore !
Also..relax ! It is not going to kill you to start PH 2 just 12 hours early (silly woman )...its the folks who don't want to leave PH 1 that are a worry
Your menu looks great...you have covered all of the bases....even your dairy !!
Keep going....you are doing great !
A
P.S. Give Fu a hug............sounds like he has really been through it.........you are wonderful for giving him a good home.

[SharleyBloom]

ya, so Fu pulled out his feeding tube, back to the vet tomorrow. He was sick and part of it tried to come back where the tube was in and I think he helped it the rest of the way out.


Reuben Dip

1 lb swiss cheese (low fat if you can find it!)
1 brick low fat cream cheese
16 oz saurkraut (drained, I used polish style because it had no sugar in it)
4 pkg buddig corned beef (or any kind, it's the super thin lunch meat type, the cheap kind!)
1/2 C lowfat thousand island dressing

I used scissors to shred the meat, dropped the rest into the crockpot on high, stirred every now and then, turn to low once its all melty and yummy. I dragged some wheat crackers through it, my SIL slathered his on french bread slices. When I looked it up online, they suggested using rye rounds. That would be yummy! This makes about half of a smaller old fashioned sized crockpots.

[GrammaKD]

Hey Michelle, You crack me up...sneaking into Ph 2 early only to discover there was no magic awaiting you there...just another day for you as it was the day I realized I was down a full 100 lbs...no bells rang, I didn't feel elated but I did have tons more energy than just months before. I think that's the biggest, best gift SB has given me that I notice daily...my energy level has skyrocketed and THAT makes the bells clang real loudly! You'll know just what I mean in another few pounds, and you're gonna love it, just love it to pieces! I jokingly say, my house is cleaner than it's been in yrs...more energy = you have to find an outlet for it = if all else fails, you clean!! Besides, I can now reach places to clean that have never been reached before...too much information, I know

Well, I'm behind again on getting to the boards...I need lessons in time mgt...but can't find time for those either so I'll bid you a fond fare-thee-well and wish you a spectacular-smooth-sailing into Ph 2 with super-duper successful results! So, how's that for a mouthful? Take care on how many new foods you add...keep track of them so you'll know the culprit if one or another gives trouble....I found I can't do certain allowable foods on a daily basis...wgt totally stalls even after months on Ph 2. Just my thoughts, for what they're worth Hugs and all the best! Gramma

[joesuzzi]

Awe............poor Fu .........it had to be miserable getting that feeding tube out
we need to send the Kitty angels to help him get through this !
*
I agree with every single thing Grama (Kathy) said ! As usual, she is spot on with everything !
*
I have copied your recipe and I am going to post it into my journal for quick axcess. I am going to make some as soon as I get some LF corned beef.
*
On the Lowfat swiss cheese.........Sams has it ! Its called Jarlsburg light...and it is a huge package for about $6.00 and it tastes wonderful.
They also sell a great Legal cracker at Sams......made by Crunchmaster...labeled "Multigrain Crackers". It is a huge box with 2 bags inside.....the crackers have lots of seed and a fantastic crunch......plus you get to have 15 crackers in one serving !
Also....check out Sam's big container of Roasted Pepper flavored Hummus.........delicious !
(No....I don't work for Sams....but I should !! )
That's enough out of me for one day...........Hope things go well with Fu...........

[lilblondedancr1]

Aww your poor kitty. I'll have my cats send good vibes your way.

I think I saw those cocoa dusted almonds at Jewel. Are they in the 100 calorie packs? Are they any good? I can't remember the brand name I saw.

[SharleyBloom]

They are from Emerald and they are P H E N O M I N A L ! Get yours TODAY!

They also have them in a bigger jar, but I didn't want to get that until I was sure I liked them. All I have to say is that Target better get their ordering system down so they can keep these in stock!