[dannab1]

I started this wonderful plan on Monday.  Ate great meals (missed the bread at lunch), ate marshmallows, caramels, candy corn, chocolate twizzlers, and fig newtons 2-3 times a day and felt so GUILTY.

I was going to wait a full week to weigh in but couldn't wait and had to get on those scales today.

After 5 days I have lost 
4 LBS!!
I am so excited!!!  I also have so much more energy than before.  I have come home and walked on the treadmill two days, did yard work and went on a major Walmart expedition  and plan on starting weights this weekend.  In the past 3 months I have vowed to come home and walk everyday but after a day at school (24 4 yr olds!) I have come home and just collapsed.  I also have suffered from SAD for years.   But every day this week I have come home totally energized!  I sure hope this energy level doesn't fizzle out after a few weeks.  I sure could get lots accomplished in the future!

FYI on the snacks.......I prebagged them and am not tempted to overeat on them since I only take two with me for the day.  I eat the most decadent candy snack on my 40 minute commute home so am satisfied before I walk into the "danger zone" kitchen!!

[Better2no]

YIPPEE FOR YOU !!
That's so wonderful for you Dannab1!
Isn't it amazing?  I just keep getting more and more excited every day.
I'm in Week 2, Day 4 and it is not fizzling but getting better.
Before I started I was not sleeping well but always tired.
Saturdays I would sleep as long as possible (sometimes noon)
Today, my second weekend, I woke up at 7:30 and was fully awake, alert & rested!
I had a nice breakfast, devotional time and couldn't wait to get on the gazelle machine!
Who is this person?
Wowee for you!  You are even braver than I when it comes to the snacks.
Pre-bagging them has definitely worked for me as well.

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !
Lillie

[feenlida]

CONGRATS on your awesome weight loss!  You go girl!

[megbel]

 

woohoo.go girl. well done.rock on!!!
megbel

[dannab1]

Thanks for your support!  I love how nice everyone is on this board.  I look forward to sharing your successes also!

[JenniB]

Great for you Dannib1!! You should be so proud!! I would love to know about your snacks if you don't mind to share.

hugs & blessings,
Jenn

[dannab1]

Jenn,

Thanks!  I would be happy to share my snack ideas with you!  I have problems with mindless eating so, I always bag snack food the day I bring it home from the store or as soon as I open the box.

I have about a 40 minute commute so I do the things I might have trouble controlling my amounts with at home during this time.  That way I am feeling satisfied before I get home.

I have the following sometimes I figure out the count per piece and mix them up
--26 candy corn  pieces (check the labels, the count is different depending on the brand)
--6 sugar mama caramels
--7 tootsie rolls
--26 jelly beans (tiny ones, check the calorie count on the bag, they really vary!)
--4 chocolate twizzlers (love the chocolate flavor!)


I have to be more careful with my before lunch snack, I tend to make it less tempting.  I also will do something bulky and then add a few candy corns or tootsie roll to finish with.

--baked lays chips(individual package) + a few candy pieces
--package of flavored oatmeal (I use the hot water spout on our water dispenser)
--4 fat free fig, blueberry or apple newtons
--individual package of pretzels
--individual pkgs of marshmallows plus a few candies
--honey pretzel twist sticks 12
--100 calorie microwave popcorn bag with a few candies thrown in

Hope that gives you some ideas! 

Anybody else have any favorites?

[Better2no]

Personally, I cannot handle candy right now -- it's a weakness.
My best "treat" is the chocolate twizzlers (4, which I cut in half making 8 )
and I'm saving them for PMS time.
5 half sheets cinnamon low-fat grahams
12 mini sesame breadsticks (check fat content)
4 low-fat fig newtons
1 cup of crispix cereal (this is a favorite for the afternoon)
low-fat granola bars.........
that's all I've tried for my first two weeks.
Lillie

[megbel]

i agree with lillie-

i could no way handle all those candy options. it is great that you can and do find success with them as snacks. i am sticking to stella doro breakfast treats, biscotti, fig newmans, pretzels, puffins cinnamon cereal, mothers peanut butter cereal (OMG, it is so, so good. i may not buy it again!!!) english muffins w/ fat free cream cheese and fruit spread (a night time fave) i am afraid of candy for many reasons, but mostly HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP is the devil. it is a huge contributer to our obesity epidemic and it is in almost every processed food item. it's cheap and evil and so unhealthy.

sorry, i am off my soapbox now. i know how hard it is to cut out. but i am a big label reader.
i wish money was not an issue, because i would by only organic and would not worry about hidden JUNK!

but the SPD rocks because we can have things that are usually taboo on other plans.

YEAH FOR US!!!

megbel

[Better2no]

I know I've said it before but laughter
really is good medicine...

and every time I check in with you girls
I get such a fun, belly laugh from your
great humor, kindness, sensitivity and friendship.

"Fructose Corn Syrup is the devil"
OMG I'm laughing on the floor again!
(and you're so right!)

Nightie night special ladies.

Lillie

[megbel]

so glad we have all got our senses of humor working....

we need it around here, right?!?

i renounce high fructose corn syrup!!!!

have a wonderful SPday!

megbel

[Better2no]

Woo -- Hoo!

Here's a great surprise I didn't expect
As I am majorly PMS this week the scale hasn't gone down
(actually went up one day, then back down the next)
...so I was trying not to feel discouraged
since I still have an average 2 lbs./week.
But I decided to check my measurements
(which was very depressing when I did it at the beginning of the plan)

I have lost at least an inch in every measurement!!!!  1 & 1/2 in thighs (yay gazelle)!!
I am amazed and very happy now

[see, I told you those scales aren't everything!]

Lillie

[dannab1]

Megbel,
I can understand your issue with HFCS but my candy corns are sweetened with sugar and HONEY!!!
Okay, seriously.....I can only do those major candies during my long drive home.  And this is the really funny thing...after doing that for a week I am actually craving pretzels and wheat thins so I am just mixing in 4 or 5 pieces of the candy corn or jelly beans with wheat thins and pretzels!  My mind is an incredible piece of work, now that I can fit the candies in for this plan I really don't want them anymore!!  Go figure!!

Have a great HFCS free day lovely lady!!

Danna

[Better2no]

Danna,
That is fabulous that you found that out.
I've heard that if you want to get your kids off junk
food you should just fill the cupboards with it and
eventually they won't want it.  I never believed it.
But you are a grownup and figured it out!
Don't tell any kids!
Thanks for your encouragement.
Lillie

[Better2no]

I have been so very happy about how much better I feel that I've tried not to focus on the weight loss. 
But I just have to do it:
Woo-Hoo!I did my weekly weigh in and the scale showed a number I haven't seen in a while!
And though I'm sore from walking 1.5 hrs. yesterday and doing 25 min. on the gazelle,
I'm just so excited to have even been able and willing to do that!
SPD is a God-send to me!
Lillie