Wendy:

Where do you head out for Mexican in Toronto?

Tina

Hi Tina. We just happen to have a little Mexican place up the street from us, at Bloor and Shaw, called Mexitaco. It's nothing fancy or wonderful, but the people there are real Mexicans, which is saying something for Toronto. And the food is pretty okay, very down to earth.

There used to be a great Mexican place at the same location, forgot the name, they did Veracruzana cuisine, but they moved to the Danforth, where I'm sure they are very successful.

What part of the city do you inhabit?

Hi Wendy:

We are in Leaside. Looking forward to meeting you.

Tina

Down 3 1/2 pounds this week! Yippee!!! :banana: :banana: :banana: Well, I may not be able to eat them, but I can dance with them! LOL

Excellent Don. Inspiration for the rest of us.

Well, I've lost 5 lbs in 3 days. All that salt from the Salt sticks on Mariner! Back on track after a disasterous diet onboard ship. <img border="0" alt="[c]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> Butt was it good! Not worth the punishment, however!

Don, I think we're just going to have to dine together on Sand and avoid all those bad Chocolate and cocktail concoctions.

Thanks Diane. I appreciate the support!

Kathy, good job! It is always hardest to get back on the diet after a cruise. I am impressed that you got right after it.

Dining together to keep each other on track sounds like a good idea. I am hoping that RSSC has a few low carb options like on SS. Though, I have to admit that on the last few cruises, I paid no attention to them and ate whatever! This time however, I plan on doing much better. I don't want to embark as a passenger and disembark as cargo! LOL

Kathy's suggestion re the Signatures menu really helped me.

Yes, Don they have a Simplicity Menu. And No, bread, thank you works well too. They are very happy to help you stay on plan. If they'd only print out a custom menu where everything was according to plan and leave off the desserts, appetizers and everything else and just give us the simplicity menu, we'd be in good shape

My goal is to lose 20 lbs before SAND and then I will be at my PIP weight.

Sounds like we both have our work cut out for us. Just 1 1/2 lbs per week will get you there. I need about 2 3/4 lbs per week, but I know we can both do it!

Good luck to both of you. Since our return from Europe last week I have been fighting the 4 pounds I gained. As a weightwatcher its not comming off so quickly this time. I guess all those carbs I ate are comming back to haunt me. That's what you get when you eat everything in sight! Isn't that what vacations are for?

Doris, I know what you mean. Even with walking everyday it is hard. Too much pasta and gelato!

Down 2 1/2 more lbs this week after last weeks 3 1/2 lbs.

Not quite as good this week, but we did have company in, so not too bad considering that I had more wine than my diet allowance! <img border="0" alt="[c]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> Still on target though.

How did everybody else do?

Hit the PLATEAU! Zippo on the weight loss front this week. I knew it would come, but hopefully it won't last. Looking for 3 this week to keep on track. I might add that I am exactly where I wanted to be at this stage, so even though no loss :( I am encouraged to be where I thought I would at this stage.

Went to the gym to start my workout routine this week. Unfortunately, I qualified for their Senior Discount! :eek:

Don you are doing GREAT!!! I am up one pound - too much food and not enough exercise! I had some minor surgery on my right big toe and still can't get out to walk. Sitting around sure does put on the pounds!

Keep up the good work!!! :banana: :app:

Don, that's great! Can you please remind me what your plan/strategy is? I sure need some insight.

Sue, I know what you mean--mobility problems don't help one bit. I'm back to walking my normal stride and amount finally, and I can feel it making a difference already. I hope your toe gets better really soon!

Don, you should consider staying the same & not gaining as a victory. Upping the exercise should help. Keep up the good work, you will get to your goal.

Good Luck to you.

Jackie

Uh oh...too much San Francisco for me. All that walking and I still gained weight. All the weightlifting with the camera equipment did nothing for calorie burning. Back to the grind for me!

Kathy, don't beat yourself up. The main thing is you had a good time. Why go to San Fransisco to deprive yourself? Get back on track tomorrow & you'll be fine. The weekend was a mere blip.

Good Luck, Jackie

Thanks for the encouragment, Jackie.

Thanks Sue, Wendy, and Jackie!

Kathy, we can both get back on track this week. We can do it.

Wendy, here is my plan/strategy:

Eat no more than 30 carbs per day. Preferrably under 20 and have at least one handful of salad per day.
Eat three meals per day and at a maximum a six hours between meals.
Eat approximately 12-16 oz or protein spread out over the day, but limit cheese to no more than 2oz. per day.
Drink a miminum of 80 oz. of water per day. Coffee and sodas are ok, but must be sugar and caffeine free. Limit wine to a couple of glasses per week.
Take vitamin supplements.
Exercise five times per week with a combination of weight training and aerobics.
Weigh in only once per week.

Thanks Don, for the run-down. I was doing South Beach some time ago, and still try to stick to the principles, but the exercise has slipped. I'm trying to start back up, but it's tough. I do walk alot, since we live in a walkable city, and don't drive much. And I drink a couple of glasses of wine a night, and that's probably scuppering my diet.) (Here I am up here at the cottage eating pancakes and bacon! I will repent tomorrow!)

I so admire all of you & stand with you. It is the best thing you can do for yourself. I lost 15 lbs 5 years ago & have kept them off but realize how easy it is to fall down; been there, done that.

All of you have different approaches & each person knows what works & what doesn't work for them. I read the archives of this thread & am impressed at how much weight you each have lost. After every setback or indulgence, everyone is back at it again. I just know you each have it in you to reach your goals.

Best wishes to all,

Jackie

Wendy, I know that the hardest thing is to get back to doing it. It seems that there is always something coming up that is a distraction, such as a special occassion or a dinner engagement, etc. The hardest for me is right after I come back from a cruise.

Jackie, thank you for your encouragement. I know that you know our struggles, and appreciate your support.

It is hard getting back into the workout routine. I got on the bike yesterday. Where I used to be able to do 30 minutes on the bike at a level 8 with 70 rpm's, I could only muster 20 minutes at a level 4 with 60 rpm's as the average yesterday.

Not weighing in but putting one foot in front of the other and following my plan.....Good for you Don, that exercise thing is a hard one - it takes time to do but I know you will get back quickly.

Kathy, it definately is that! Today I had my weight workouts. The club has a program called FitLinx, a computerized workout that registers your progress as you work through the circuit. Total weight lifted today was 16,500 lbs. :eek:

Wow. I could never do that in a million years. You really do have dedication, Don.
As for me, I am losing ounces, if at all. That plateau, man......

Now, I'm bummed! Still the same with no loss for another week. :mad:

Going to be extra careful this week. Stringent portion control, no missed workouts, taking all vitamins, plenty of H2O, and absolutely no wine!

How is everybody doing this week?

Well, tomorrow is weigh in and I feel pretty confident about it. I may not even have to sneak up on the scale. You know the routine. You close both eyes, put one foot on the scale while pressing one hand on the bathroom vanity to keep the weight off the scale, then you ease your other foot gently on the scale and slowly lift your hand, then open one eye, then the other one, and peek down! If you like what you saw, you record it. If not you go back and make sure the scale is adjusted to 0 and repeat the process one or two times.

Well this week, I did everything I said I was going to do. I am feeling better, and can tell a difference in my clothes, so I think it should show up on the scale tomorrow.

Yep, Don

Do I know that routine. For me when the scale doesn't move, it gives me permission to say I failed so why bother. Good for you for gitten back thar on that hoss! I reckon y'all will have sumthin' good to share with yourn good buddies tomorrow.

I am finally back to my pre-Mush place. Hooray. Now if I can get down to my PIP place before SAND, I will be happy!

Kathy, I'm proud of you. I know you can make it!!!

BTW, I hope that you don't mind that I copied your cruise ticker!

Not at all - do you want to borrow my dog, Daisy, which is why I chose that theme?

Well congrats all you guys for doing so great! I am doing dismal. But I did start doing some moderate exercise yesterday, and this morning I'm going to start my Pilates routine and get on the elliptical.

But this is Thanksgiving weekend for us, and I ate *way* too much last night. It just seems unavoidable, for that one day. Now I'm hoping my son will eat the rest of the pumpkin pie, but it's a very big pie.

Sure. I'm sure that our cats could keep her entertained! LOL

Well, I did it. Finally broke the plateau. Lost 4 lbs this week! <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

Wendy, the hardest part is always getting started. You are off to a great start though with your exercising. Keep it up and thanks for your support!

Wendy -

Glad you're joining in. Throw that pie OUT! I am not keeping anything here that I can't eat. cBut I am not really exercising and I am doing okay. 2 lbs is acceptable to me.

Don, 4 lbs is fantastic. Keep being our role model!

Yeh, I know Kathy, if it was just me I'd do it. But our son Chris is living with us right now, and although he's starting to watch his diet, I'm sure he will make good inroads into it. He's past the teenaged glutton phase, but he has a good appetite.

Actually it's really not the sweets that get me. My big thing is quantity and feeling satisfied. I'm going to start on my regimen of taking a salad to work 2-3 days a week, and having tuna with it. Luckily, I love vegetables.

My big thing is quantity too. I really miss a good bowl of pasta. But black beans, garbanzo beans, olives and tomatoes stave off the hunger.

I guess it is better to be a ROLE model than a ROLL model! LOL

Here is a question for everybody. What one thing is the hardest for you to give up when you are on a diet? I would have to say for me it is potatoes.

Pasta, pasta, pasta :mecry: :mecry: :mecry: