SoWell on Sowal

I have decided to join a gym/fitness club...........all of a sudden it's going to be march and I am so not ready for the shedding of the clothes!!!!! so a girlfriend and myself have decided to join and commit to three nights a week to start......and we'll go from there !!!!!

I have decided to join a gym/fitness club...........all of a sudden it's going to be march and I am so not ready for the shedding of the clothes!!!!! so a girlfriend and myself have decided to join and commit to three nights a week to start......and we'll go from there !!!!!

Hero of the day!:clap_1:

I need to bump this so I will get off my a$$ and outta this computer chair!!

I was doing SoWell. The food poisoning jump-started my weight loss and healthy eating, so that was a good thing in an odd sort of way. Then my Mom and Beach Jacket both had trips to the ER that flipped me out. Mom is totally a zombie from her Alzheimer's with severe regression in the last four weeks, so I made her a first-available appointment on Monday. Beach Jacket is in severe pain from the injury that she sustained when she was on the MIT basketball team (she was a walk-on -- got accepted for academics, not basketball), and the first available appointment at the new doctor at Emory is April 16.

For me, it has been one step forward, a kajillion steps back.

I was doing SoWell. The food poisoning jump-started my weight loss and healthy eating, so that was a good thing in an odd sort of way. Then my Mom and Beach Jacket both had trips to the ER that flipped me out. Mom is totally a zombie from her Alzheimer's with severe regression in the last four weeks, so I made her a first-available appointment on Monday. Beach Jacket is in severe pain from the injury that she sustained when she was on the MIT basketball team (she was a walk-on -- got accepted for academics, not basketball), and the first available appointment at the new doctor at Emory is April 16.

For me, it has been one step forward, a kajillion steps back.

I don't even have any good reasons. Just in a crappy mood for a while and stress eating. But being fat is stressing me more.

This will be my written confirmation that I have an appointment with SoWell on Sowal on April 9, 2007. If lying on the beach feeling like a beached whale doesn't motivate you nothing will. Like Audie says though...tanned fat is better than pale fat.

Very wise words.;-)

This will be my written confirmation that I have an appointment with SoWell on Sowal on April 9, 2007. If lying on the beach feeling like a beached whale doesn't motivate you nothing will. Like Audie says though...tanned fat is better than pale fat.

Yup.

This will be my written confirmation that I have an appointment with SoWell on Sowal on April 9, 2007. If lying on the beach feeling like a beached whale doesn't motivate you nothing will. Like Audie says though...tanned fat is better than pale fat.

SO true! but I'm skipping the beach this year. the older I get the more I just don't want a tan - the heat bothers me, and my skin ends up looking all used up after the initial tan fades.

I'll get out there though - under the umbrella with my book and relax very early or very late in the day!

gotta get back on sowell too!

Toots ~ just go for a fake tan since fake tanned fat is still better than pale skin! ;-)

Toots ~ just go for a fake tan since fake tanned fat is still better than pale skin! ;-)

My new mantra!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1:

Toots ~ just go for a fake tan since fake tanned fat is still better than pale skin! ;-)

My new mantra!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1:

what kind of fake tan? I refuse to go get sprayed.

what kind of fake tan? I refuse to go get sprayed.

No fake tan....EVER! I will sit under the umbrella with you Toots. After we have slathered ourselves with suncreen. :clap_1:

No fake tan....EVER! I will sit under the umbrella with you Toots. After we have slathered ourselves with suncreen. :clap_1:

thank you. I like my white fat... not really, but it'll have to do.

thank you. I like my white fat... not really, but it'll have to do.

I hate my white fat!! So, I will slather on lots of fake stuff and you and Miss Kitty can point and stare...matters not to me!!

No fake tan....EVER! I will sit under the umbrella with you Toots. After we have slathered ourselves with suncreen. :clap_1:

I don't know about that. The Clarins "Avec Ou Sans Soleil" is really good!

I don't even have any good reasons. Just in a crappy mood for a while and stress eating. But being fat is stressing me more.

I hear ya.

Anyone been successful on South Beach? I lost a quite a bit on it 2 1/2 years ago. Due to family stress, I gained part of the weight back. I have been trying that diet again, but cannot get it too work. Anyone been successful resuming the diet after gaining a few pounds? If so, how???

Anyone been successful on South Beach? I lost a quite a bit on it 2 1/2 years ago. Due to family stress, I gained part of the weight back. I have been trying that diet again, but cannot get it too work. Anyone been successful resuming the diet after gaining a few pounds? If so, how???

I did pretty well on SB, but I hated every minute of it. My problem is, once I went on maintenance, it was Katy Bar the Door!

The new SoWal Diet Plan...go to Pandora's.

The new SoWal Diet Plan...go to Pandora's.

The new SoWal Diet Plan...go to Pandora's.

Since I am 450 miles away, it should be pretty effective:funn:

Since I am 450 miles away, it should be pretty effective:funn:

SoWell on SoWal (as well as several other things) motivated me to get moving and I lost 25 pounds since January and I feel grayt. I tried South Beach once and liked it - lost about 12 lbs about 2 years ago, but gained it back. I hope this plan works better. There's nothing special I'm doing except reducing calories (portion control, I'm guessing about 1200 calories/day), exercising (1/2 hour walking fast either on tread mill or outside), and working with a trainer who I've been going to twice a week (I haven't cancelled unless I've been out of town). My goal is to make lifestyle changes and focus on health rather than dieting. And it has worked so far. One of my secret weapons has been these very healthy 65 calorie each and they fill you up granola bars that I make (and I keep them in the freezer and eat them frozen because I like them better frozen and they fall apart if I don't freeze them). I have them for breakfast and snacks and I haven't tired of them yet -- I still look forward to them:

Chewy Apricot-Almond Granola Bars
From: Smart Cookies by Jane Kinderlehrer
Yield 25 squares, 65 calories each

1 ? cups rolled oats
? cup sunflower seeds
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tbsp honey or molasses (honey cream works well, too)
? cup peanut butter (smooth works best)
? cup wheat germ
2 tbsp dry milk powder
? teaspoon cinnamon (I add extra)
? cup dried apricots, chopped
2 tbsp raisins (optional ? I use dried cherries)
? cup almond slices, lightly toasted (I use any kind of sliced almonds, sometimes toasted, sometimes not)

1. Toast the oats and sunflower seeds on a cookie sheet in a 350 oven for 5 ? 7 minutes until dry and crisp (I don't bother toasting them)
2. In a saucepan over low heat, combine the lightly beaten egg, honey or molasses, and peanut butter. Stir with wooden spoon until ingredients are well-combined, then turn off heat.
3. Add the toasted oats and seeds, wheat germ, milk powder, cinnamon, apricots, and raisins.
4. Press the mixture into an 8 inch square dish, lined with parchment paper or lightly oiled.
5. Press the toasted almonds over the top of the granola mixture. Cut into 1.5 inch pieces and refrigerate (I like to keep in fridge overnight before I cut them because they are fragile and can fall apart easily) or freeze (I like eating them frozen, too).

I sometimes double/triple the recipe and keep them in the freezer, cut up into bars and ready to eat. I bring them to work for snacks. They sometimes break up into smaller pieces, but that's OK with me -- you could add more peanut butter or honey, I suppose)


Here's another favorite recipe (you can substitute chicken or pork for the shrimp)

South Beach Lettuce Wrappers with Shrimp (excellent)4 servings; 80 calories each serving

1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined and coarsely chopped (I chop 3-4 pieces per shrimp ? not finely chopped at all)
? cup finely chopped celery
? cup water chestnuts chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp finely chopped fresh ginger
1 tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar (I didn?t have any so I used a white balsamic vinegar I happened to have around the house)
8 large leaves Boston lettuce
Toasted chopped peanuts

1. Heat the oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the shrimp and stir-fry until they are opaque. Remove the shrimp to a bowl and set aside.
3. Add the celery, water chestnuts, garlic and ginger, and stir-fry until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
4. Return the shrimp to the wok and add the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and vinegar. Cook for 1 minute or until heated through.
5. Evenly divide the shrimp mixture amnong the lettuce leaves. Garnish with the peanuts.

Paula, you are always so inspirational! The wraps sound wonderful!! I think I'll give 'em a try!!