Lots of posts to catch up on!
The sun is shining and it is a long weekend so I'm smiling! As well as that we had some great rain in the night which was much needed - good one! Hope everyone else with a day off makes it a refreshing one.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MYSHY - YOU MUST BE THRILLED WITH YOURSELF AND PROUD AS PUNCH!!!
Enjoy the freedom now and keep in touch won't you? We really want to know how things go for you now in the big world of 'normality' and 'freedom' around food. And how easy or hard it is to keep it off. ENJOY!!!!
divinemissnat: you must be about finished now too. How is it going? Any challenges? What happened with the bread? Let us know, 'cos I'm really interested.
rajah: it is good to have some posts from you but I am a curious one - don't know what is happening for you? Can you fill us in?
mel: You are really something! You are to be admired for the way you handle your social challanges, and you look stunniing. You really are an example. So thank you for the example. Looking forward to hearing more about the hols in the red dirt! And you are going to overtake me soon - I have 24kg to go, and you are about to blitz me I reckon - well done!!
the old me: thanks for the info about condiments. AND thanks to L-Jay, rjm and gayegel for your input too. My program says vinegars generally, then later says: you may have balsamic and apple cider vinegar. I checked it with my consultant, and it meant only those two. But I will check again, because I have now looked at an array of programs, and found that the program is being updated and new things added to it, and some people's are different. So I want to know if it is merely a difference, or a part of an update that includes more. So for instance, on my program which I began in in early July last year (yes I know - I have the slowest ever metabolism I reckon!!! BORING!), caffeine free soda was recommended, but newer programs insist on it - so when I found out I made the change. The newer paradise light cracked pepper biscuits have been added too, so I am now allowed to have those.
So if there is more info under condiments and herb allowances, etc, keep me posted won't you?
rjm: I cannot believe what you had to go through in the restaurant. Most these days are able to accomodate what is virtually a simple change! If they wanted to insist you pay for the 3 courses, well that would be unfortunate, however if it was booked that way it may be understandable - but not to be able to leave off a spoonful of something and add a salad is archaic and inexcusable at the price I am presuming you had to pay for eating so little. Be really proud of yourself! Firstly for standing up for yourself, and taking the flack - well done. And then for scraping stuff away and leaving it. So stoked you could do this. AND the scales are moving well! Worth the perseverence. Keep going and you will achieve this last part, so pleased for you.
gayegel and moni: I have seen programs with 5 or 6 biscuits and heard of one with 4. Also of fruit between 1 and 3 pieces. So the variety is there. But I think that with some people you can cut them down or out and it makes a difference and with others it doesn't. My consultant also said that it is not designed so that if you cut out those things you lose faster, although an occasional shakeup may involve a temporary cut back. But for some people it does seem to make a difference. I tried halving my fruit and biscuit allowances - no effect. I tried cutting them out - no effect! Or should I say, no effect on the scales, certainly I felt hungrier and kept waiting for it to show up and it didn't, so eventually thought I may as well just enjoy them. Our bodies really are quite individual and operate differently to each other.
L-Jay: I can't believe you are allowed philly cheese - how yummy!! Can anyone else have this and is it a new addition? Also, I agree that getting the cheeses right is an essential to maximise loss. Also assuming with your cheeses that you are only using the low fat version of each cheese?
Has anyone used baked ricotta? I love baking it myself with herbs - yum. But I stopped doing it because I couldn't work out the weighing thing. If you buy it baked, then you cut it and measure it. Easy, except I can't find reduced fat baked ricotta. A shame! If you do it yourself, my consultant says you have to weigh before cooking and that leaves a much much smaller amount - doesn't make sense to me, so does anyone have any input on this? I have just avoided it because of the dilemma.
moni: you are an inspiration - and also so fortunate to have your metabolism. 50kgs in 20 weeks is outstanding. Good for you. AND you look amazing! So life-changing! You will be there in no time.
i CaN i WiLL: Seems your game went really well. Congrats on winning. And just shows, getting the info right for sport seems pretty important, because what you went through was very scary before. Glad you had a clued in consultant to help you. Good one!
Enough of my ravings,
Lizzi