how many people want to lose some weight?!?!?!

[raisangrrl]

i do! i do!

well, here's the thing, i'm going to try to get my hubby to do this contest with me, and would like any of you who would like to join to please do it. go here www.3appleplan.com/ & here www.getfitfoods.com/contest/ to see what i'm talking about, those 2 sites explain the contest better than i could, lol. anyway, i figure that it would be a great way to motivate anyone who wanted to lose weight, and i know from personal experience that having someone trying with you is better than by yourself.

so, here's what we do (if you have decided to do this, too): once a week (or even everyday, doesn't matter) we'll post how we are doing, our ups and downs, positive feedback, encouragement, and anything inbetween. we can be eachother's support.

so, what do you say?

[Gabrielle]

TEXT I'm definitely looking to lose some weight, a really good girlfriend of mine is getting married on March 28th, and I'm in the wedding party, so I have my last fitting in 4 weeks, and I'm looking to shed a few pounds and tone up. I'll check out that website, and see what it's all about. I'm the worst though with dieting, I always fold and go right back to the snack cabinet sabotaging the whole diet in the end! ;D I'd like to get a head start though, I just got engaged over christmas to the love of my life, and the wedding isn't until 2005, but I guess now is as good a time as any to get started. I'll let you know, my progress, good luck, and it's definitely easier when you have people supporting you.

love and twinkies are the enemy

[Monika]

I'm a little under weight but I was about to work as a personal trainer in a gym before I got this job, any questions just ask I'd be happy to help you guys out.

[raisangrrl]

well, i've been overwieght since i had my son (i gained 100 pounds with him in 9 months), and i haven't been able to shed any of those pounds. i really need to lose this weight, and i figured that maybe some of the toriforum would want to do a team effort on helping eachother out. i think i might start posting healthy recipes and stuff, too.

and monika, i will probably be asking you alot of questions, lol like which is better: walking, swimming, or lifting wieghts?

[Monika]

depends first you have to lose weight and then worry about tightning. The healthiest way to lose weight is walking because you're doing cardio but not forcing your body to overcome the heaviness. aerobics in water is really really good for tighting, weights is to develop muscles which should be later on. You have to stop eating certain things too what is your normal food day??

[raisangrrl]

ummm, now you're making me think! lol

i usually eat for:
breakfast: a small glass of milk and a chai energy bar
lunch: usually depends on what i'm in the mood for, most of the time i will eat peanut butter and jelly sandwich
dinner: tonight we're having veggie loaf (kinda like meat loaf only with tvp and veggies)

i can't eat sweets, my teeth hurt like a bitch if i do. about the only sugar intake i have is in my coffee (about a teaspoon per cup). if i make cakes i tend to use stevia (a natural unsugar, we have a lot of friends who are diabetics). and i really don't eat that many carbs either. i eat alot of fruits and vegetables, but it seems it doesn't help at all. right now i bellydance (i have a bellydance video) which is a cardio workout, but like i said, it doesn't seem to be working. do you think i need to add more variety?

[Monika]

Actually your diet seems really healthy, I mix carbos with veggies not meat, it's either meat with veggies or carbo(pastas, potatoes, etc) with veggies. but you have to excercise as well, especially if you have more tendency to gain weight.

[raisangrrl]

i think alot of my problem is just losing it. no one can figure out why i gained so much weight when i was pregnant with my son, i had a bunch of tests done and all have come back normal. i have to go get a thyroid test done, and hopefully that will solve this whole problem, but i have a feeling that my thyroid has nothing to do with my wieght. i thought maybe it was genetic, but everyone in my family never gained weight with their pregnancies, unless i'm just the oddball, lol i know that for the past 9 months i haven't gained or lost, just the same wieght, no matter what.

we'll see, i'm hoping this 'new' diet works...

[Monika]

Actually the thyroid test has a lot to with it. It could be a posible reason you know, it's genetic anybody with that kinda problem in your family?? Try getting used to an hr of walking daily or bike riding both great ways to lose weight. Don't be discouraged if you don't see results soon sometimes your body is getting used to the change. I wanna be there to help you!!! I know how frustrting that is.

[raisangrrl]

my grandma, but i remember she was skinny til recently... you never know, wierder things have happened, lol
if it was my thyroid, i think that would put my mind at ease a little.
you are just simply wonderful and sweet! i think i'm going to start walking on the indoor track at the gym right down the road. my hubby wants to swim, but i just don't feel comfortable in a bathing suit, so walking would better suit me. not to mention i really just need to go and do it, and stop procrastinating. i mean the bellydancing probably is a step in the right direction, but actually moving aroung would be great. i think i might recruit one of my friends to go with me even.

[Monika]

I think feeling comfortable with yourself is not just looking good, all those beautiful models are always sick anyways, but feeling good physically is the main reason I workout I hate shallow people who look at people depending on what they look like. Sam you are beautiful and if you're not feeling good about yourself because of what other's think then I think you're not on the right track but if it's because you feel heavy and with no energy than I think you should try to make it a way of life, over weight is one step closer to heart problems. Try 1 hr. but be constant don't say not today at least try to keep a 5 day schedule for a month to begin with. I honestly wish I was there Sam to motivate you and support you but know that I'm here for ya, k Any questions or anything, I'm here.

[raisangrrl]

recipe time! woohoo! if any of you have any lowfat, low carb, just plain healthy recipes, just post post away!

here's some for a dinner meal:
*ARUGULA, FENNEL AND ORANGE SALAD
1/4 cup minced shallots
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 large oranges

7 cups arugula (about 10 large bunches), trimmed
1 large fennel bulb, quartered lengthwise, cored, thinly sliced crosswise
1 small red onion, thinly sliced

Whisk minced shallots, olive oil and lemon juice in medium bowl to blend. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.

Cut all peel and white pith from oranges. Using small sharp knife, cut between membranes to release segments. Combine arugula, fennel and onion in large bowl. Toss with enough dressing to coat. Add orange segments; toss to combine. Season salad to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

*BAKED PENNE WITH BROCCOLI AND THREE CHEESES
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups penne pasta
3 cups 1-inch broccoli florets

2 cups purchased marinara sauce
1 cup (packed) coarsely grated low-fat mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Stir oil and garlic in small skillet over medium heat 1 minute; set aside. Cook penne in large pot of boiling salted water until almost tender, about 11 minutes. Add broccoli; cook 1 minute. Drain.

Mix marinara, 1/2 cup mozzarella, ricotta, basil, 1 tablespoon Parmesan, and sautéed garlic in large bowl. Add pasta and broccoli; toss. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to 11x7x2-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan over.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake pasta uncovered until cheese melts, about 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes.

Per serving: calories, 382; total fat, 10 g; saturated fat, 4 g; cholesterol, 17 mg

*and of course desert: BLACKBERRY PARFAITS
An almond-scented pudding layered with blackberries and blackberry preserves makes a nice finale.
1/4 cup all-fruit blackberry spread
2 tablespoons amaretto liqueur
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract


1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Pinch of salt
2 1/4 cups low-fat (1 %) milk
1 large egg
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon almond extract


2 cups (about) frozen blackberries, thawed

Whisk blackberry spread, 1 tablespoon amaretto and 1 teaspoon vanilla in small bowl until smooth.

Whisk sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Gradually whisk in milk. Whisk in egg. Add butter. Whisk over medium heat until mixture comes to boil and thickens, about 6 minutes. Boil 1 minute longer, whisking constantly. Remove from heat. Whisk in almond extract, 1 tablespoon amaretto and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

Spoon 1 teaspoon blackberry spread mixture into bottom of each four 1-cup stemmed glasses. Top each with 4 blackberries, then with about
3 tablespoons hot pudding. Repeat layering twice more. Divide any remaining blackberries among glasses. Refrigerate until cold, about
3 hours. (Blackberry parfaits can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.)

Per Serving: calories, 301; total fat, 5 g; saturated fat, 2 g; cholesterol, 88 mg



also, i find that by making stuff from scratch you can omit alot of fatty, carby, unhealthy ingredients!

[raisangrrl]

Monika said:

I think feeling comfortable with yourself is not just looking good, all those beautiful models are always sick anyways, but feeling good physically is the main reason I workout I hate shallow people who look at people depending on what they look like. Sam you are beautiful and if you're not feeling good about yourself because of what other's think then I think you're not on the right track but if it's because you feel heavy and with no energy than I think you should try to make it a way of life, over weight is one step closer to heart problems. Try 1 hr. but be constant don't say not today at least try to keep a 5 day schedule for a month to begin with. I honestly wish I was there Sam to motivate you and support you but know that I'm here for ya, k Any questions or anything, I'm here.

you're such a sweetie! i will definitly be in contact with you about everything (how my workouts are going, what i've been eating, etc.). thank you so much! *HUGE HUGZ for Monika*

[DaturaFae]

That penne recipe looks delicious!! Thanks for posting it.

[Leonie]

i want to lose weight!! but i live in holland so i dont think i can be in the contest

[raisangrrl]

DaturaFae said:

That penne recipe looks delicious!! Thanks for posting it.

it does, doesn't it? i think i might make it for dinner tonight or tomorrow!

[raisangrrl]

Leonie said:

i want to lose weight!! but i live in holland so i dont think i can be in the contest

that's ok, if you still want to just do the program with us, you can! i don't know if i'm going to enter the contest, but i know i'm still going to try the whole idea of the program.

[Leonie]

raisangrrl said:

that's ok, if you still want to just do the program with us, you can! i don't know if i'm going to enter the contest, but i know i'm still going to try the whole idea of the program.

ok! thats a good idea!!!

[raisangrrl]

yay! leonie is going to diet and exercise with me!

we're starting on monday with the new diet and stuff. i figured it out, between my husband and i, we'll consume about 42 apples a week! 504 in 12 weeks! geez! i love apples, but that's ALOT, lol

[Monika]

I'm with you guys. Not dieting though I'm under weight. Not sure about the apple thing either ???but whatever.