gkashmira

I agree with all of the above. I think it is very tacky to ask for cash directly but hints from friends and family are OK. I also vote the BB&B way - though that is an interesting warning about the visible gifts.

Yiiiippppppeeeeeeee! That is the best reason to drop out of the biggest loser that I've ever heard!

I think it's cute! I think - assuming it actually looked good on me - that I would wear it again. But then again I love almost everything from Anthropologie!

Quote: Originally Posted by AnnR jilly76-4.17% Nrvsbride (Glenda)-3.72% cessyboston (Erica)-2.67% froggie1013 (Kristy)-1.80% LMP333 (Leslie)-1.78% Saraha-1.74% gkashmira (Kash)-1.17% shellyf (Shelley) -1.09% JamaicaBride062108 (Erin)-0.93% nueland (Nicole)-0.85% alyssa -0.83% beachbride08 (Michelle)-0.44% chprfan (Jessica)0.00% Yari0.00% Great job everyone! Everyone either lost or stayed the same - and that is awesome! yaya for us and Yay for Ann for compiling everything!

Quote: Originally Posted by Leia78 I used about 3 feet of ribbon for mine. Leia - those are SO pretty! I love how you included the flower! Were those real or fake?

Quote: Originally Posted by nylalany Kashmira, They are 10" fans and I plan to wrap the handles so that none of the handle shows. I was planning on red and turquoise or if I can't find a good turquoise, aqua (not together obviously). I like your red - where did you get it (I'm in LA too)? A yard - wow, ok! Yup - at least a yard - since your fans are 10 inches the handles are probably larger than mine were but I'm assuming you're only wrapping around the handle (not the center part like I did). I bought my ribbon at Michael's in Burbank - the one near the Target - you may have to go to a few stores in order to get enough for 108 fans (and by "may have to" I mean "you WILL have to" The good thing about Micheal's is if you buy too much you can return the unused ones. I can't remember if they give you your money back or just a credit but I'm sure you could find something else there to use for the wedding anyway!

Quote: Originally Posted by jilly76 I think thats perfect, you're going to do great! Thank you so much for your help and support! It makes it much easier to stick with it when you have great friends!

I guess the first question is - what size are your fans and how do you plan on wrapping them? Mine looked like this and it was about a yard per fan...

Quote: Originally Posted by Nrvsbride Ok Kash here is my advice. With regards to the italian restaurant I would order a salad with dressing on the side. Try to get something less fattening like oil & vinegar. Do not get a cesar salad or salads with add ons like grilled chicken and stuff. Drink lot of water, avoid the bread and chomp on that mixed green salad. Then order a fish meal like grilled salmon. They almost always have a fish dish. Oh wait, never mind I just remebered you are a vegetarian. Hmmm this can be tough. Okay then can you get a big salad as your main meal? And order a side order of steamed veggies? Like a big side order? I'm sure they will do this for you, italian restaurants are very accomodating. Great advice Glenda! I'm actually only a pseudo-vegetarian (Read as: FAKE! ) . I DO eat seafood and that is great advice - I will look for a fish dish. Even with "healthy" pasta I find it hard to stop at the right portion - but I mean how much grilled fish can you really eat? And even if you DID eat a ton - it's not even bad for you! Thanks Ms.I-Did-A-Fantastic-Job-This-Week! I am SO proud of you!

Thanks ladies! Italian is SO hard! For me the only thing worse is mexican! I tried to say, "let's go to sushi" but got shot down Anyway I just remembered that the Italian restaurant I'm going to tomorrow has "make your own pasta" dishes where you can select wheat pasta, no extra oil, extra veggies etc... it's so hard though!

Quote: Originally Posted by jilly76 oh kash, it's so hard to go out and be good! I know how I get when I have a few drinks. Alright, as far as the food goes what about looking for something that they have, that won't be horrible for you to eat, like salad or veggies. Or if you really feel you need to have some, maybe you could just take a really small portion, just to taste, not to fill up. Maybe just have one glass of wine to night and drink it slowly and savor it, then switch to water. I say do the same tomorrow. And then use your flex points this weekend. Don't undo your great loss from this week, you can do this! We're all going to have these tempting situations at times, so we've got to learn how to control ourselves. Good Luck! Thanks Jilly! You are right - think the key is not drinking too much because all my resolve flies right out the window! And I think if I remind myself that I'm not really depriving myself - I'm just saving my points for wine and food thats actually WORTH it! Right? OK, maybe it'll help if I just say right now to the world (aka: you guys) what I will and will not eat tonight! 2 glasses wine = 4 points Trader Joe's Salad = 3 points Trader Joe's tuna Salad = 5 points Right now I have 16.5 points remaining but I'm going to eat egg white salad and wasa crackers for 4 points before I go...

Quote: Originally Posted by jilly76 I would LOVE it if we could all lose 10 pounds every week, that would really make dieting so much easier, lol! I know, its crazy! I would love for it to be big losses every week like this, but usually my first week is always big and then it settles down. BTW Kash, you had a great loss this week too! I know you thought you didn't do well and it seems like you had a really great week! Thanks, Jilly! I have to admit that after all the crappy food I ended up eating this past weekend I couldn't believe I lost any weight at all! Now I have another "food challenging" 5 days ahead - yikes! Any advice is appreciated!: Tonight - wine and food with girlfriends (I'm going to try and save up my WW points all day by eating veggies, etc. Then stuff myself with healthy foods before I go... and try and bring a few healthy foods to eat... I'll let you know how it goes!) Tomorrow night - Italian food at a favorite restaurant with friends who are in from out of town! Fun but super dangerous! I haven't figured out my defense plan yet... This weekend - Wine tasting and a delicious dinner in wine country (Santa Ynez)! OK, this is where I'm giving myself permission to use my extra 35 W flex points - cause it's worth it! So how do I get through tonight and tomorrow without totally blowing it?

I need some help not eating too much tonight! i am going to a friend's house to get together with some girlfriends. There's going to be wine and "take-out" which I am guessing means Italian. I am also supposed to go out for Italian tomorrow night with a friend who's in town AND I'm going wine tasting this weekend with yet another friend! So I think I need to make sure I do not use any of my flex points at dinner tonight OR tomorrow so I can save them for wine tasting and a delicious dinner in wine country! So I bought some food from Trader Joe's to bring with me. BUT the problem is once I get some wine in me and people are eating lots of delicious fatty foods I know I'm going to be super tempted! Part of me just wants to cancel and not go but considering the advice I gave above that just is stupid (not living my life in order to avoid tempting food...). Anyway my plan is to save points for the evening but also to eat my snack right before I arrive. I am hoping that by doing this I might be able to stave off temptation! Any words of advice? 'Cause I have to do it all over again tomorrow night! Ahhhhhhhh!

We were together 7 years before we got married but we were "friends" (read as: we used to make out with each other on & off) for about 2.5 years before that...

Jilly!!!! That is FANTASTIC!!!!! I am SO happy for you! You literally lost weight like the people on the show lose weight! I am in shock and am so proud of you! Great job!

I think it depends on how close you are to him. Normally DW photographers charge a fee plus travel expenses. I guess it depends on how much he'd like to go to Playa del Carmen! If he hasn't done any DWs in the past he MAY welcome the chance to shoot one so he can include it in his portfolio. I really think it depends on how close you are to him - if he is a super close friend then he might do it because you are such good friends. However if you guys aren't that close I would be nervous that this offer may be construed negatively.

I lost 1.8 Glenda - OMG Girl! That is SO awesome!!!!! And for those who did not lose or gained... besides muscle weighing more than fat there's also some talk that SORE muscles are actually swollen and holding water. So drink plenty of water to flush your system and I bet next week you will "drop big numbers" (as they say on the BL).

Quote: Originally Posted by lucy106 A night at Melting Pot + a weekend at Wisc Dells = weight gain yikes!!!! But today is a start of a new week. Don't worry - everyone has those types of days! You can't stop your life to do this. I think an important thing to remember is that if you really do intend on eating this way forever then there has to be allowances for dinners out, a night of drinks here and there. Without that - how could we possibly expect ourselves to stick with it? I certainly couldn't! So you had a fun night out and some drinks - that's great! Now you're ready to eat properly again and that is also great! You are making a lifestyle choice instead of "dieting" - which in my (and many) peep's experience isn't so great for long term success. So for you...

I did terrible this week! Way worse then normal - my friend was in town and we ate pizza, fish tacos... yuck! I haven't weighed myself today but I won't be surprised to have not lost anything - even though I have worked out a lot

How to Prepare for a Meal out: 1. (Most important!) Avoid places you know sap your resolve! For me (for example) it means I cannot go to Mexican restaurants right now. I just can't help it - when I arrive I want chips, salsa, margaritas and everything covered in cheese... I mean you wouldn't ask a recovering alcoholic to go to his favorite bar! Try and pick "safe" places where you know you can get healthy food. 2. Get the menu in advance (online, email, fax, phone, etc.) 3. See if the restaurant you are going to has a website with nutrition (a lot of chains do). 4. If not, try and find a restaurant with a similar menu and check out the nutrition. 5. Decide what you're going to eat ahead of time. 6. Do not look at the menu when it arrives - otherwise you may be tempted! 7. Order first. This way you order before you hear all the other things people are going to order. 8. If you can ask them not to bring the bread/chips/whatever (sometimes this isn't possible due to the other people at the table). 9. Ask them to bring you a half portion - offer to pay full price if you have to! That way you don't have to food eithe ron your plate OR taken home to eat later (which is what i end up doing...) 10. Consider ordering off the appetizer menu 11. Share a dish with your FI/DH/Friend 12. Ask for balsamic vinegar instead of salad dressing 13. Save up your points during the day but don't arrive hungry! Eat something (an apple, a bowl of soup, whatever) before you go. I just figured I'd share this info because I think this is where a lot of people (me specifically) go horribly wrong!

Quote: Originally Posted by Betsy I have been doing great on the eating part - until today when I picked Ellie up from school (she's 5) and she was begging me to go to MCdonalds playland b/c 2 of her other friends were going - I went in thinking ok I will just get a salad.....ended up with a cheeseburger and fries! OOPS!! - not great on working out - I just can't get my butt to the gym! I SUCK! Don't feel bad at all! McD's salads are probably just as bad as the cheeseburger! Nutrition for McD's website: cheeseburger: 300 calories (hey, that's not too bad!) small french fries: 250 calories ____________________________ Total: 550 calories Now here's the shockers... Check out the salads! - and these are NOT COUNTING THE DRESSINGS!!! Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken 320 calories Southwest Salad with Crispy Chicken 400 Southwest Salad (without chicken) 140 Asian Salad with Grilled Chicken 300 Asian Salad with Crispy Chicken 380 Bacon Ranch Salad with Grilled Chicken 260 Bacon Ranch Salad with Crispy Chicken 350 Bacon Ranch Salad (without chicken) 140 Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken 220 Caesar Salad with Crispy Chicken 300 Caesar Salad (without chicken) 90 Now for the DRESSINGS!!! Newman's Own® Creamy Southwest 100 Newman's Own® Creamy Caesar Dressing 190 Newman's Own® Low Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette 40 Newman's Own® Low Fat Family Recipe Italian Dressing 60 Newman's Own® Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing 90 Newman's Own® Ranch Dressing 170 So my point is that a salad seems like the best choice but depending on what's in and what dressing you put on it you could end up eating 800 calories!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Saraha Ok I have a question for you ladies... I am having a hard time with snack. I am eating yogurt, string cheese. rice cakes. And am not hungry at all but dont feel like my weight has budget a bit. Would this be becuase I need to cut more carbs? Any suggesions on some snacks... oh also eat apples and peanut butter. Sarah - It's only been 1.5 days! These things take a little time to register. Everyone has a different opinion about carbs - here's mine: Carbs are totally fine. However that being said they have "abuse potential" - however if you cheese carbs that are high in fiber (whole wheat pasta/bread, quinoa, etc.) they will be more filling. Are you counting the calories or points you're eating? Just make sure that you aren't eating too much or too little - either will slow you down. And on a last note here are some of my favorite snacks: - Western Bagel Alternative Bagel w/ 2 Tbsp. low fat cream cheese (2 WW points total) - Laughing Cow light cheese wedges (1 ww point) with baby carrots, bagel above, "light 'n' thin" wasa crackers (3). - Salsa with "Light & Thin" wasa crackers - 3 crackers plus sals is 1 ww point. - dry pint of cherry tomatoes (0.5 WW points) - Progresso vegetarian vegetable soup - low sodium - 3 ww points - asparagus sauteed in cooking spray with salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar (0 pts.) - Sauteed mushroom and garlic with coking spray, salt, pepper, etc. (0 pts.)

Spaghetti squash is an amazing vegetable! If you guys have never tried it go to the store and buy one! I had one for the first time last night. It's basically this big yellow oval squash. It's hard to cut so either soften it first in the microwave or get the producer department at your grocery store to cut it in half when you buy it. Bake: Then bake it for 45 minutes @ 350 degree - cut side down on some cooking spray. Flip after 45 minutes and bake on other side for another 5-10 minutes. Nuke: Cut in half. Lay cut side down in a pyrex or other type of microwaveable dish. Pour in 1/2 cup of water. Cover with plastic wrap and cook for 7-10 minutes Point: 0 points per cup 0.5 point for 2 cups 2 points for 3 cups Eat with: - Pasta sauce! - Salt, pepper and a tiny bit of olive oil

Quote: Originally Posted by LadyCheese Hey ladies, today was my weigh-in and I lost 1.6lbs. Last Thursday was my first meeting however I had a rough wknd and didnt count points til this Monday. So 1.6lb in 4 days is not so shabby I guess. That's so weird! Today was my weigh in and I lost 1.6 pounds too! Yay - for both of us! And even though you didn't count over the weekend at least you saw results from during the week and that can be very motivating! Great job!!! And honestly in my opinion 1.6 pounds in a week is terrific (if I do say so myself ) so you don't need to qualify it. Embrace it! yay!!!!

I'll be honest - I don't care how we split up the winner money. It was just a suggestion - whatever you guys want to do it totes fine with me! Glenda - That is not enough food! (which would explain why you are hungry). What about adding a 1/2 cup of Shredded Wheat Bite size cereal with bran and make it WAY more filling (and more delicious). Or any low-fat, low-sugar cereal will do. Don't you remember what happened on the "Black Team" on BL when they weren't eating enough?... they didn't lose as much weight!