Just wanted to chime in...I've been watching this topic for a while and finally decided to join in. In the past several months I've had a lot of stress in my life and my response has been to indudgle in comfort foods (and some wine!) Yikes, before I knew it my clothes aren't fitting and I keep looking for expandable waistline things.

One of my friends started the Fat Flush diet 4 weeks ago and has lost 13 pounds...she looks so wonderful I've decided to try this plan. It's not for whimps, the first two weeks you really change what you eat but the purpose is to give your kidneys and liver a chance to get back on track and "flush that fat".

I'm only on my second day so I can't proclaim any real results yet, but I'll let you know how it goes. In the meantime, thanks for posting your stories, they helped me get started.

Margo, I do that "latest post" thing on this board to read them, and have to say...you are the slender one that I know, so didn't expect your post. So, if a couple of pounds have come on, this is a great place to be! So much success here!

Margo: When I have profound stress in my life, as I do right now, I do NOT eat - so it was funny coming back to my Vietnamese nail folks after 6 weeks - they wanted to know everything - and they said "Mondae you have lost weight" ..I told all of them I loved them from the bottom of my heart for saying that - if I have lost weight (probably have) it is since I returned home - would love to know more about your diet - Joanna

Joanna...I'm sorry to hear you've come home to a stressfull situation. After your amazing cruise it must be jarring. Needless to say, often what stresses us is usually something we can't control. And if you're a type "A" (like me!) is doubly difficult.

Anyway, here's a sample day one on the diet:

The following is an excerpt from the Fat Flush Plan by Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., C.N.S., McGraw-Hill, © 2002. Used with permission.

On arising:
Long Life Cocktail

Before breakfast:
8 ounces hot water with lemon juice

Breakfast:
Veggie scramble: 2 scrambled eggs with spinach, green peppers, scallions and parsley, and one 8-ounce glass of cran-water

Midmorning snack:
1/2 large grapefruit

20 minutes before lunch:
One 8-ounce glass of cran-water

Lunch:
4 ounces of salmon with lemon and garlic, warm asparagus, mixed-green salad with broccoli florets and cucumber, 1 tablespoon flaxseed oil, and one 8-ounce glass of cran-water

Midafternoon:
Two 8-ounce glasses of cran-water

4pm snack:
1 apple

20 minutes before dinner:
One 8-ounce glass cran-water

Dinner:
4 ounces of grilled lamb chop with a pinch of cinnamon and a dash of dried mustard, sautéed kale in broth, baked summer squash with a touch of cloves, and 1 tablespoon flaxseed oil

Midevening:
Long Life Cocktail

How to Use This Menu

You can use this example as a basic menu guide. Just substitute foods from the same food groups for daily variety. Besides the daily diet, take GLA supplements, a balanced multivitamin/mineral and a weight loss formula containing fat burning and carb controlling nutrients. These are available through Uni Key at unikeyhealth.com or by phone at (800)888-4353.

Important Reminder

No herbs or spices except for those fat flushing herbs and spices outlined in The Fat Flush Plan

No margarine

No alcohol

No sugar

No oils or fats except those in the flaxseed oil

No grains, bread, cereal or starchy vegetables such as beans, potatoes, corn, parsnips, carrots, peas, pumpkin, or acorn or butternut squash

No dairy products


-------------------------------------------------

The NO list is pretty intimidating, but I think the idea of the plan is to take away sugar and fat to stop the cravings and allow the kidneys and liver to detoxify. The cran-water drink is a combination of unsweetened cranberry juice and water.

There's more information here:

Interview with Fat Flush Plan Author Ann Louise Gittleman, M.S., C.N.S.

Joanna and Margo---isn't it funny how stress can make us either lose weight or put on weight???? I've had both reactions, depending on what the nature of the stress is. Work stress makes me eat--like you, Margo, I turn to the comfort foods and the wine, and wow, it doesn't take long to suddenly find that you've gained weight. Personal stress tends to make me NOT eat, like you, Joanna.

After my s/o, Jerry and I went through a really difficult time last summer, the girls at work wanted to "borrow" him so they could be on the "Jerry diet" and lose weight quickly, LOL.

Margo, that diet sounds really effective, but intimidating b/c of the "no" list. How long do you use that plan for? I never thought of herbs and spices (except for salt, of course) as affecting diet or metabolism. I never even knew that. It is great how helpful this thread is about providing diet suggestions, tips and food-ideas.

The worst diet that I ever went on was the BULEMIA diet. I got the gorging part down pretty well, but I just couldn't quite get the hang of the throwing up part!!! LOL

Hope everybody has a wonderful Easter. I cheated today. Knowing that we were having a heavy meal tonight when my son gets off work, I weighed this morning instead of tomorrow. I am down another 3 lbs. I think that is 61 lbs so far and 7 inches.

At this rate, my disposable clothes on the cruise thing may not work. I don't think accidently dropping my drawers in front of everybody on formal night is a very good idea!!! LOL I can hear it now. "Excuse me waiter, but their seems to be a fly in my soup." "I'm sorry sir, but it seems to be your trousers!" :D

Heyyyy!!! Liz: I won't be 80 until May! So watch it!! And I went back to WW to lose all the weight I put on last January on our 4 week cruise. That's what does it. And I have yet to lose 5 lbs. Easter came along and dashed that plan. But tomorrow is another day and another water aerobics and/or walk. :D

Jean, I can attest that you don't need to lose a pound! You and Clyde (okay, you just said you are turning 80, so what?) You have more energy than most of us on these cruises, and we all just think you are the greatest! Joanna and I can't wait to have dinner with you and Clyde again on our next cruise. I want Clyde to meet my brother on MUSH so they can talk law practice stuff! (I never talk that stuff on my cruises!)

I agree, Jean doesn't need to lose any weight. :) And honestly, Jean, you don't look anywhere near your age ... I would have guessed much MUCH lower.

Masaki

Oh, sorry, Jean!!!! You just seem so full of life, just like that precious doggie with his ears blowing!!! I can't wait to meet you on board. I gather that you are also several people's adopted mother....

Oh, thank you, thank you. Love you all! Jean

Jean: I was wondering when you would defend your age!!! Read it and thought Oh she hasn't met Jean - who looks like she is 70!!!! Joanna

This is my second week on my new elliptical trainer. It's going well, although I am ramping up very slowly, keeping within my correct heart rate.

I'm only burning about 75 calories per session right now, but I expect this will increase by next week, and the sessions will to go 20 minutes.

I've started some very simple upper-body weight training, with tins cans--I'll graduate to 3 pound weights at some point when the cans aren't enough!
:cool:

I've also given up wine during the week, which saves a few hundred calories a week. We'll see how I'm doing at my weigh-in next Monday. Feeling good right now.

Wendy, Sounds really good to me.

Well, I have totally blown the whole thing off and now I still have some clothes for PIP that I want to wear that are just a smidge too, well, you know. I am thinking of starting up on the old Slim Fast for a few weeks so I can lose before we go. I haven't done that one in years but with the work I have to do before we leave, that one would be really easy. No fuss - open a can for breakfast and lunch and a light dinner.

Wendy, I have to start on the eliptical this week. I just hope I don't fall off. Coordination is not my strong point. Keep up the good work. Next week, maybe you can graduate from the canned goods!!! LOL

Hey Kathy, don't beat yourself up. This trip is about enjoying yourself. This whole thing is about being healthy anyways, not about being thin. So be nice to yourself!

Hey, Kathy, the Slim Fast plan sounds good---gives you a little leeway now, and then you can put up with that for a short while. And I agree with Wendy---be nice to yourself!!!!!!

Wendy---I was just myself thinking about starting up the tin can routine....great for toning arms. I've also though about giving up wine during the week, b/c it is a lot of calories (especially if you drink a lot of it, LOL). :(

Liz, yes, there's about 20 calories per ounce in your average red wine, and with alcohol levels going up, there's generally more.

I had a bout of fairly mild but annoying sciatica in the last few months, and I admit I was using the wine as a pain-reliever. That was bad. So I've stopped. If I need an Advil, I take one.

Thanks to all for the support - I've dieted almost all my life so it's very hard for me.

Okay, I am ready to hop back on now. I have a case of Slim Fast Chocolate, A Costco size package of Jello Fat Free/Sugar free Chocolate Pudding (60 calories) and a bunch of other good things. You can call my diet the Chocolate Diet. Let's see if I can do 10 lbs before we sail.

Well - I just experienced my first loss of a long post. UGH!!!!! :mad: Here I go again. . .

I've been away for so long and now I have to catch up. Working for a CPA in the heart of tax season is not my favorite thing in life. But only 2 more weeks to go!!!

I had a really stressful day at work yesterday. I was good on diet all day until I went to the grocery store after work and saw a big piece of cake at the bakery. I bought it and ate the whole thing (my guess - 600 calories and who knows about the carbs). On top of that, I had a big glass of wine and a ton of nuts. I would have kept going but I was too exhausted and fell asleep. The worst part of where I work is that I work in a really small office with 3 other people, all of whom are thin. The two women can't weigh more that 105 lbs each. They eat all day. Yesterday I had to smell take-out Panda Express (one of my weaknesses), microwave pizza and something else that smelled really good. Plus, one of them brought in Hershey kisses. I only had one (so far). So I guess it's no wonder that I broke down last night. I'm only mortal. Yesterday morning I was down another 2 lbs (total 17) but as of today I'm back up 1 lbs. Hopefully back on track today.

I'm sorry if I've set the wrong tone here about wanting to lose weight to look good. I do tend to be a little vain (O.K. - a lot :) ). But even though I would love to have the figure I did 30 years ago, I'm finding it is much more important to me these days to be healthier and feel better. So let's make a promise to each other that NO MATTER WHAT we will all just relax and enjoy our vacations (cruises or whatever). After all, we all love spending time on this board because we really enjoy each other's company, not because of how we look.

Kathy - You know I truly understand how hard it is for you right now, with tax season. With you owning your own business it has to be so much harder! Hang in there!! The Slim Fast diet sounds like a good plan of attack. I'm also feeling the pressure of not having the time or energy to cook the good low carb foods. I'm running out of quick things to grab. I bet you will lose the 10 lbs before PIP and then you can feel good in your cute new clothes.

Wendy - I started out with tin cans too!!! It works. Now I'm at 3.3 lb weights. I truly believe the weights(either tin cans or regular) make a big difference. You are being so good with your elliptical trainer. Keep us posted on your progress!!! And I hope your sciatica stays away.

Don - You had me in stitches with your "fly in my soup" story :D I guess you are going to have to scrap your disposable clothes plan. 61 lbs and 7 inches!!!!!! :app: I'm so proud of you. I'm going on memory here, but does that mean you are only 9 lbs away from your Silver Whisper goal? You are doing so GREAT!!! You'll make it for sure.

Liz - I only wish that there was some kind of stress that I lost weight. I always gain. The only time I lost weight without trying was when I went back to my grandfather's farm in a little town in Missouri. I just couldn't stomach the food he was serving (not what a city girl was used to!!!)

Margo - I'm sorry I took so long to welcome you to this support group. How are you doing with your Fat Flush diet? It does sound a little stict but I bet it can really give a person a good jump start on a diet. Stay with us here and keep us posted on your progress.

Joanna - I'm sorry you came home to stress. That is not a good way to lose weight. Much too hard on you. Hope things have eased up by now. If not, we'll have to send you on another cruise to have some fun.

Olivia - thank you for all your encouragement. It really helps!!!

Jean - I can't believe you are 79 years young. Maskai is right - you look much, much younger. And your posts are always so lively and spirited. We can all learn a lot from you!!!

Maybe after reading this long, long post you will all wish that my post had stayed lost. :D But I just love talking with all of you on this board and need to share. You are all my inspiration!!!

Have a great, successful day!!!

Oh, Cyndi, I feel SOOOOOOOOO sympathetic to your struggle yesterday....and I'm SOOOOOOOO glad your post did not "stay" lost!!!! First of all, when you struggle with weight, it's hard to be around people who can just willy-nilly eat whatever they want and they don't have to battle weight. Second of all, it is SOOOOOOOOO hard to be around the smell and sight of good food and not want some!!!!!!

I'm sure that part of the reason I'm losing weight is b/c my on/off boyfriend Jerry, is in Texas on a long term job and besides, we're sort of "off" right now anyway, LOL, but when he's around or over for dinner or any meal, I have to make him stuff that of course, I want to eat myself. Then, he likes lots of junk food around, and it's hard not to eat it when it's around. I'm very, very fortunate, for now, to be able to be by myself...so I just don't keep tempting stuff in the house. No matter how bad the craving, there's nothing to turn to. I have a feeling that Jerry and I will be back "on" again in not too long (hopefully, this time, for good--we're getting too old for this), and then I'll have to deal with real, real struggle to not eat what he eats..... So, I feel SO sympathetic about you being around your co-workers in the office.

I have the co-worker problem here, too, whether eating in the office or going out (everyone at the table orders really yummy looking, rich stuff, and there I am with my tiny salad.....)...for the last month or so, know what I've done???????? I've taken to going out to lunch BY MYSELF, with a wonderful novel, and get my little healthy salad and enjoy the quiet...reading the novel helps keep my mind off of wanting something MORE FUN than what I have to eat (and helps keep my eyes off of other tables laden with stuff I'm dying to eat)....honestly, it really helps with the lunch problem.

Cyndi, we ALL want to look good....but I think it's important for ALL of us not to let some "standard" be defined for us--and to remember that beauty radiates out of a beautiful heart more than anything else. It's SO easy for me (like you, I am vain, LOL, LOL :D ) to get caught up in stuff like that. But really, what if I got burned in a fire, or had to have a disfiguring surgery, or my body wasted by a disease. Would I be less beautiful, really???? It is so hard for me, and all of us, I think, to remember that....especially with so much "pressure" to "look good." You are so right that the most important thing is for us to be ourselves, to enjoy ourselves and each other and to be as healthy as possible.

My only wish is that your guilt about your breaking the diet hadn't ruined it for you. The piece of cake sounds DELICIOUS and I enjoyed it vicariously, just reading your post. Boy, would I like some CHOCOLATE right now!!

Hey Cyndi, thanks for the encouragement.

Let's face it, as much as it's about health and vitality, we *all* want to look good. And in our fifties (I'm 56), it's a struggle.

I have to deal with my 67-year old colleague (male), who brags about his weight loss chart every day. He cut out a few things and he's lost 20 pounds! And was slim to begin with! And one of my engineers who has lost 20 pounds since Christmas, and has an iron will. Geesh!

After 2 weeks on the machine, I'm ready for a break! But the tin-cans feel good, I must say. It will be a few weeks before I move up to 3 pounders.

My husband's family is from Missouri too, what part are your grandparents from?

Hey, Cyndi, I know what you're saying about wishing you could look like you did 30 years ago, but you know what? The reality is that we're all older and it wouldn't even be healthy for any of us to weigh what we did 30 years ago. The girls in your office may sit and eat kisses all day long, but maybe it's the only time they eat. Or maybe they just have that kind of metabolism, in which case, only one bad night of bingeing makes you a saint. Tomorrow is a brand new day and you're looking great and getting healthier every day!!

Trish

Liz - thanks so much for your words of understanding and support. It's great that you are able to take advantage of your time away from Jerry to lose the weight. I agree, it is so much easier when there is no one around to add to the temptation. Your lunch idea (being alone) is a great one and one that I have adhered to for years. This situation is different. I work in the afternoons (1 - 5)and I've already had my lunch before I get to work. My co-workers eat at their desk in the afternoon hours while they work. I sit 2 feet away from one of them. So I can't get away!!!!! LOL!!! But it does help that I've already eaten. Plus, every day I have a snack of a handful of nuts. So at least I have that to look forward to.

Wendy - I thought you were much younger than me. (Not that you are old, of course :) ) Your vitality comes right through on your posts. Especially with the excursions you are planning for PIP. Much more energy than me!!! My grandfather passed away many years ago (he was 95 and healthy up until the last year!!!). He lived (and my mom was raised) in Amsterdam. It is in the southwest tip of Missouri. It is very close to Butler and Joplin is the closest larger city. Also close to LaCyne (sp?), Kansas. Does any of that ring a bell?

Trish - Your words make me feel so much better. Thanks!!! Being a saint is much better than a binger :)

Oh, Cyndi, I can see that you are sort of captive, stuck there in the office watching your colleagues munch away. It happens to me, too, b/c people in my office eat at their desks all day (CPS work is very stressful---most of the people in my unit are overweight, but weren't that way when they started). It's hard, b/c they eat delicious looking take out (burritos, lasagna, etc.) and they snack all day, too....popcorn, chocolate, cookies, chips..... I don't have much of a sweet tooth (but I'll kill for a big gooey cheese enchilada, LOL)...so the candy doesn't tempt me as much as the chips and take-out food.

but even with my lack of sweet tooth, I nearly DIED the day that girl scout cookies were passed out at work a couple of weeks ago.....people just munched away on them at their desks, and were exchanging opinions and reviews of the different kinds of cookies. I'm not kidding....I thought about just leaving for the rest of the day. It was torture.

I'm struggling this morning (it's my RDO), b/c I have a lunch date with a girlfriend who wants us to go to this wonderful Mexican restaurant...I KNOW I will be SO tempted to order cheese enchiladas and rice.....don't know what I'll do. I'm thinking about allowing myself to cheat this time....I know that if I do, I'll feel bloated and greasy and weighted down, (I always do, when I cheat), and then I won't be so tempted for awhile. And so it goes...... sigh....

Hey Cyndi, as for the youthful thing, some days I feel a hundred. But most times I feel about 18, inside. If only we could have the body of an teenager, with our wisdom and experience!

Funny, David's folks are from the opposite corner of Missouri, north-east, near Hannibal. I've never been there, in fact.

Wendy----I always laugh at the irony of how, just when we start getting so much wisdom and grace in life, our bodies start to fall apart, LOL. <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" />

Cyndi, I had one of those days yesterday. I had a home that was supposed to close on Tuesday. Then it either was going to close by Thursday or it wouldn't close at all. Lets just say that the commission would pay for two really nice cruises. It was all falling apart coming back together and then falling apart again, and then yesterday I scrambled all day and we pulled it out with 5 minutes to spare.

Last night I was an emotional mess and I had to endulge with some wine, just in order to unwind. We went to our favorite Italian place last night and it was REALLY difficult to withstand the bread and the pasta, but even if I couldn't, that would have been OK too. Sometimes, you just have to scrap it!

Now if I lived in CA, I would really be in trouble. IN-N-OUT would be my downfall!!! I don't think a Double-Double, fries, and a chocolate shake is particularly low carb. LOL

Liz, where are you going for Mexican? That is another thing we miss about CA. Is REAL Mexican food. Here all have it TexMex. We used to eat at Miguels there in Corona. Are they still around?

Why am I doing this to myself? <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" />

Oh well, I guess it is time to go eat my tuna and small salad. :D

Don,

I am making new rules for this thread. No mention of Double Doubles and Fries with a shake, Cheese enchiladas are second on the list. Just kidding - it is April Fool's day.

For you low carber's you can have a double double - animal style. Excuse me, but, I have to go wipe the drool off my keyboard. My salad just did not cut it.

Kathy, I know what you mean! Reading about the Mexican food made me wish we were in LA right now. My lunch sits in the office fridge right now, uneaten, I could just not stand another salad. Went out for a chicken shawarma instead--still pretty healthy!

And I definitely am ready for a glass of wine tonight, but it will have to wait, have a meeting that starts about 6 p.m. tonight! :(

Alright guys, CONFESSION time, LOL. K, I went to the Mexican place, which was AWESOME, Don Pepe's in Corona, and I DID order 2 cheese enchiladas and rice. And I enjoyed every minute of it. I haven't even felt guilty all day......Like you, with the wine last night, Wendy, sometimes, you just have to fall off and get back on the next day. I haven't cheated in probably close to 2 months, so I felt I was entitled.

Now, Wendy, imagine how we SoCal-ers feel, having to drive by In-and-Out every day???????????? Actually, my last "cheat" was a double double animal style (w/fried on the side) and after that I DID feel guilty and also bloated, greasy and weighted down. Every time I see the stupid place and am tempted, I remember how I felt after I ate all of that. It does help. I think when you eat healthy day after day, your body gets really used to light, healthy fare, and then when you cheat and eat something like an In-and-Out burger, you body rebels. That's probably a good thing.....

I think I needed the "cheat day" so now that I've had it, I can go back to the salads, the deprivation, and I can promise myself another "cheat" in another couple of months (if I keep losing weight) as a reward. Rewards are good. Very, Very, good..... :D

OOPS--I realize, Don it was YOU who had the wine last night and Wendy, you who is thinking of having it tonight......Well, I have my glass going right now..... Don, if you like Mexican food you definitely would have a hard time dieting and living here......there are so many wonderful places. Mexican food is a particular weakness of mine, and it IS hard to live here b/c of that. And, hey, wine may have calories, but it's good for your heart (if it's red wine....)

I would be huge right next to Don if I lived in CA. Mexican food is by far my very favorite. Believe me when I tell you that MN isn't known for their version. We have it, but it's very americanized. When I was 13, we visited my aunt and uncle in Indio, CA and I had my first taco. The lady down the street, who was of mexican descent, taught my WI born aunt how to make them. Our entire family was hooked from that time on. And now, even though I just finished eating some delicious pineapple, am hungry again!

Trish

I miss In-N-Out now I live in Hawaii again ... :(

Masaki

Well, Masaki, we mainlanders miss Cheeserburger in Paradise. No so much for the food as much as the location - HAWAII!

First of all, I just realized that I don't even know what a "double double" actually is! Here, it would refer to a coffee, double-cream, double-sugar. I assume you are refering to a pair of enchiladas and ???

Second, speaking of confessions Cyndi, my avatar picture, from my first trip on the PG, is now almost 5 years old. Maybe that's why you thought I was younger than I am :p . One of these days I'll put up a more recent one, but they are few and far between since I tend to be the photographer on our trips.

I didn't have that glass of wine last night, but did have a shot of whiskey. Then I had a huge bedtime snack of 2 toasted whole wheat mini-pitas slathered with peanut butter. Oh boy, it's one vice or another!

Thanks, Wandra, for speaking up. Sometimes I feel so out of it as CA has different restaurants than we do. But, I thought a light came on when I figured out it was a hamburger - kind of like a Big Mac? Was I wrong? Double Double sounds like what my WI born husband would call a happy hour - except they call them a Double Bubble. Funny how neighboring states even can have different names. MN's drinking fountain is WI's bubbler. It would be interesting for someone to devise a survey as to what we call different things according to where we live.

Trish

Yes, a Double Double is a Cheesebuger at In-n-Out. The world's best fast food hamburger. All fresh meat, fresh potatoes, fresh baked buns. I won't get too descriptive because this is not appropriate here. Let's just say the lines of cars to get in back up traffic where ever they are located. They are drive through's.

Kathy, not quite the same without the bun. It's still good, but...

When we go to Vegas or CA, the first thing we do is head to In-N-Out!!! First time in LV, I asked the cab driver if he knew where In-N-Out Burger was, he said, are you kidding, this is a regular run for me. People fly in and first place they head is to In-N-Out, even before they head to their hotel!

We have an In-N-Out wannabe here close-by called Johnnie B's. It is close, but still not the same.

They would make a fortune if they opened up here in Dallas, with all the CA transplants here.

I have to stop going on now. I'm getting hungry.

Okay, so tell me, how bad are they? Is it a good burger? Maybe it's worth it! Maybe we can have one while we're in L.A.?!? (I think I'd rather have Mexican, which is no doubt what we'll do.)