I knew I liked you, Helen. Wicked was great! and Eggplant a favorite too.

I found a couple restaurants that grill or bake egglplant and put marinara between the layers. Side order of pasta with Marinara and I have them put limited cheese on it. Basil between the slices of eggplant too. You can't tell the difference. No frying! I think that will be what I will have for dinner!

Kathy, that is fantastic! Great job!

Wendy, you say that is a South Beach recipe? As I was reading it, I thought, boy I wish I could do that then I saw it was South Beach. I will look it up. Do you happen to remember how many net carbs it is? It is always tough for me to find grains and fruits that I can do, since I am limited to under 30 net carbs per day.

Helen, hang in there. The important thing is to recognize when you blow it and then get right back on track. Oh and yes I do have some DooWops on there!

OK, I was getting a little worried. I weighed on Friday and showed just a smidge of weight loss, but did my weekly weigh in today and lost another three pounds this week for a total of 26 Lbs in 6 weeks. :banana:

When I walked last night I thought I was being lethargic and not going very fast. When I got home and stopped my watch, I found that I actually shaved 30 seconds off the night before, which I thought was a very fast clip. So, I guess if you just keep plugging away, you will continue to see improvement.

Don, I don't know, but it should be fairly easy to find out how many net carbs are in 1/2 cup of whole rolled oats. South Beach concentrates on quality and quantity, but there's no real counting. But my Protein Power charts say that 1/2 cup of cooked oatmeal has 16.5 grams of "effective carbohydrates", which I believe means the same thing, since this diet is big into the glycemic index. Not sure how that translates to uncooked. (Yes, I was on that diet some years back--I lost 30 pounds, but could not sustain that level of low-carbness, since fibre is vital to my health.)

It's quite a big pancake, so you could always halve the recipe and have an egg on the side, or just add more eggwhites.

Oh, and on the subject of eggplant and italian food.

When I was doing Protein Power, I developed a recipe for eggplant lasagna which I continue to make on special occasions to this day. There's no pasta in it, the eggplant stands in its place, and you can make it to be fairly low in fat.

I use a good basic vegetarian sauce (usually homemade, and you could use a meat sauce if you liked.) I mix low-fat ricotta with a couple of beaten eggs and some parmesan for the custardy-layer. And I use part-skimmed mozarella for the cheese. I usually grill the sliced eggplant with a little olive oil first, then when cool, just layer everything in the usual way. Very yummy.

What a surprising number of eggplant lovers! I may try both your recipes, Wendy. Your hubby is a vegetarian? One of my brothers was a vegan for about 25 years and was a real pain in the backside at the holidays. His wife and kids ate meat. Then one day he said he just had to have Italian sausage and that was that. It always amazes me that he did not get sick from suddenly after all those years eating sausage of all things.
Kathy, did you see Jersey Boys yet? It is coming to LA in MAy. Tickets are on sale now for Amex card holders. I saw it in NY and it was great.

No, we were both vegetarians for a number of years, but gave it up when we found we were sneaking hamburgers at lunchtime. But our son is, and he's moved back in with us for a while.

Since we both have the background and thus some experience cooking, we don't mind not eating meat, so probably 75% of our meals of veggie (although not vegan--that's really tough!)

Helen,

I have season tix to BroadwayLA and it's the first show of the next season. Debating if I should get them via AMEX or wait for my season. I can always sell one set.

Thanks Wendy! I figured it out. It comes to 23.5 carbs net for 1/2 cup, which would be over my limit for one meal. Darn!

With all this talk of vegetarian meals it reminded me of something funny that happened to us. Diana and I were touring Britain in 1999 and we were heading to Salisbury on the bus. The tour guide needed to get a head count for lunch which was mutton pie and did not sound particularly appetizing to us. So when she asked if there were any vegetarians, Diana and I both promptly raised our hands figuring that it surely had to be better than what they were offering. Boy were we wrong! Anyways, it was kind of funny the looks I got when they turned to look at this rather large guy claiming to be a vegetarian! :eek:

Gee Don, no mutton for you? So what did you wind up with?

I just cannot get Tofu down and so I find it hard to do this high protein diet w/o meat. My labs came back really good and my cholesterol was actually down. I was pretty astonished given all the eggs and meat I have been eating. I would rather have bagels and pasta but of course thats how I wind up where I am in the first place.
Kathy, one of my sisters (I have 3)and I had season tix when it was just the Ahmanson, before they renovated the Pantages and we enjoyed it but since then another sister and a niece have moved here from NY and the kids are now old enough to want to go, so it just got to be too much. So now I just struggle to get 8 decent seats for the shows we want to see. We have to wait till July 29 to see Jersey Boys. That was the first night Amex Gold had Orch seats for. So I wouldn't even go for the Amex if I were you. You will see it sooner. It was really a fun show. The guy who played Frankie Valle on Broadway was fantastic.

Yeh Don, I'm curious about what they fed you!

Too bad about the oatmeal--as I said, it's a big pancake (just ate one), but you could easily make two smaller ones, and just eat one, save the other for the microwave or share with Diana. My SB meal plan places most of the grain carbs at breakfast, which suits me fine, although I often add a grain at lunch or dinner too (I'm not very religious, don't really stick to the meal plan, just try to adhere to the principles in general.)

I don't eat much tofu either, although theoretically I like it. But I do eat a fair amount of legumes--chickpeas, lentils, split peas, etc. And diary products and eggs. Once or twice a week I have some kind of chicken, and I try to get fish into the mix once a week. Tonight we're having ham, an easy dinner, and lots of left-overs (our son has night classes, so won't be around at din-din time.)

But after low-carbing for a number of years, I found that I needed to raise the carbs (complex only) higher, for my overall health. So I do eat bread, but stick to multi-whole grain ones, and I have pasta once in a while as well, but not more than once a week. And some grains sometimes--I cooked some quinoa recently and really enjoyed it, but now have to find ways of cooking it creatively--it is a little boring.

By the way, we got our "blizzard". It is arctic in temperature still, and it's still blowing and snowing, but when all is said and done, we won't get more than about 6 inches.

I love tofu. It takes on the flavor of whatever it is cooked with. Back from my old college days in Madison, I guess. But I have been told to keep away from soy, so I can only have it once a week.

I am thinking (against my better judgment) of taking a two day rest from all of the food, exercise stuff. Maybe it's the cold here, which I usually love. I am just plain old tired.

I think I may just need you guys to tell me to get back on the stick and go for that walk after work!

Well, I weighed in and no loss for me. I wasn't bad, but, I was flat. Oh, this 50 plus metabolism.
Maybe I will lose 4 pounds this week instead.

I don't do the South Beach because for me, I have to have some pasta or potatoes now and then. A half sandwich for lunch is good too. And I need to dig up my tofu salad dressing recipe. 1 Package of the silken tofu in a blender with a seeded cucumber and some herbs or the ranch dressing mix. Almost no calories.

Flat is good. It's not up.
I agree about the carbs. Every now and then, especially if they are really good. Like good sourdough.

Sigh. I love bread. Diane, how cold is it? Maybe a little walk in the cold will get you moving again. When I lived in NY I hated the cold but found that sitting home with the heat on not only spread the waist line but dried out my skin and generally made me pretty lethargic. Maybe you should go shopping. Walk around the mall and admire the spring stuff that's out already. Have a nonfat latte and walk back to the car.
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Helen

Helen and Wendy, it was just the pie without the mutton. Just carrots, potatoes, and peas. Picture a really cheap store bought pot pie. Take out half of the veggies and all of the flavor and that was what we got. I think the box would have tasted better!

Kathy, don't beat yourself up. You are doing so good. I think when I was four weeks into the diet and I lost only a lb., and even that was a stretch (I had to lean just right on the scale), but the following week I lost 6 lbs. Sometimes it just happens, but it gets made up the following week.

I am a little worried about this week though. For some reason when the cold weather hits as it has again this week, my body goes into this conserve the energy mode and doesn't burn the fat, plus I think I am coming down with a cold. Probably why my workout this morning was a little rougher. My heart rate was going higher than normal with the same amount of exertion and speed, so I had to back off it a little.

Let's none of us beat ourselves up here. We are all on the right track.

It's darned cold here, and I haven't been out of the house since Sunday!! The high today is supposed to maybe read about 10-12F, with a low tonight of -4F, all with a crushing wind-chill. Just glad I could work at home on a project for which I need quiet. A little hibernation is a good thing--later today I will be out shovelling the walk to make up for it!

Helen--we are about like Wendy, temp wise. With the workday, no mall for me. I think that's part of the poroblem. If I get home at 6, and do the walk, i don't make dinner until 8, and don't sit down until after that. But you are right. I still have to do it. Last night I just went on a different route and I didn't notice the time passing as much.

Once I get into work I almost never get out again until after 7 pm so I know what you mean. My office building is on a hill and we are surrounded by several medical faclities. They must pay their employees to go take a walk because all day long I see groups of them walking walking walking up and down the hill. I curse them as I drive by in my car .
I rarely walk outside but I am pretty good with the treadmill at home. And I have been going to the gym with a personal trainer 2x a week for 3 years. Not much noticeable weight loss (actually not any, truth be told) from that but I at least can carry my own luggage! And isn't that what its all about for the folks on this board? Being able to travel and maintain our physical ability to do it for as long as possible? Carpe Diem!
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Helen

Yes Helen, right on! I obviously want to feel good and look okay in my clothes, but this is really about healthy vitality.

I do walk outside quite a lot, but with this cold snap we've been having, and my requirement to work at home, I have been cocooning quite successfully. Tomorrow I venture back into the real world--10 minutes on foot to the subway, 5 minutes to the office, often out shopping at lunch on foot, and reverse to go home. I rarely drive to work (about twice a month), and we really only use the car once a week, especially in the winter, to do our grocery shopping. David walks to work most mornings, about a 20-25 minute walk.

Wendy, I guess we are wimps down here. Once it gets below 40 degrees, there is no way that I can get out and walk. It is to the gym and up on the treadmill for me if I'm really motivated. However, more often than not, I am parking my fat behind in a chair by the fire!!!

Did not do too well at the gym this morning. I have not been feeling too well today. I intended on getting 20 minute in on both the treadmill and the bike this morning. After 20 minutes on the treadmill and a couple of minute cooldown, I headed to the bikes. After about five minutes, I had no energy left, so I decided to call it quits for the day. I will probably go back sometime early evening and do about 30 minutes on the bike.

Don,

You still fighting a cold? Your body is telling you to park your you-know-what by the fire!

I had a coversation with a friend about going to Curves. That's as much exercise as I can muster right now. But I am sticking to the food plan and I am down 22 lbs.

And cold? I leave for Santa Fe on Sunday. Hi's in the 40's and lows in the low 20's. Brrrr....No forcast for snow, which, I am terrified to drive in.

I did make it back to the gym and got in 7.75 miles in 30 minutes on the bike. Heart rate still higher than I would like. Averaging in around 150 and hitting a high of 162.

I dislike stepping on the scale, but I took the plunge and weighed myself this week. Down 1.5 pounds!

Tom and I used to be bad :banana:

Way to go Sue! :app: Congratulations!!!

I know about that whole snacking thing. It is easy to do (especially when watching TV) and hard to stop!

I reached the 30,000 mark this morning for total weight lifted, but afterward felt kind of nautious. I know that I get sick of working out, but never have gotten sick from working out!

You are all doing so wonderful! Keep it up and keep your fingers crossed that I can behave in beautiful (and freezing) Santa Fe this week.

I leave at 7am tomorrow. It's a total Food city and I am determined to come back weighing the same as I do tomorrow when I board that airplane.

Are you going to look for land to buy while you are there? Or am I thiking of someone else?

Only down a pound this week and I am shocked!!! I was doing everything right, except for ONE glass of wine (7 oz, 3.6 carbs, and 300 calories) on Friday night. I was hitting the gym every day, keeping my carb count around 20 carbs per day, and limiting my portions to 4 to 6 oz of protein at breakfast and lunch and about 8 oz for dinner. On top of that, I had some type of stomach thing going on, and without getting too gross, let's just say that nothing much was staying in there. I was anticipating a much larger accomplishment this week.

Well, I will make it up this week.

Don you may have lost inches and that is as good as taking off pounds!

Don...even if you had a stomach upset you may be retaining fluid - so your weight loss will be there once you feel better. Remember - your muscles weigh more than your lost fat! As Sue said - if you did measurements I bet you'd find you've lost inches!

I'm loving the fitlinxx system at our gym - each morning I log on to see how I'm doing - I'm in the top five at our facility (of course it's brand new - I think there are more than 5 women members! LOL) I've lost inches - so many that today I had to keep tugging my tennis skirt up - it has to be donated to goodwill - TOO BIG!

Of course you are both right. I have definately been losing inches. It does feel good to fit into clothes that I haven't worn in awhile.

Margo, fitlinxx really does help you to keep track of your progress. Congrats on losing those inches. Better to give the skirt away than to give everybody a show!!! LOL

Don,

Water weight is something to definitely consider.

I left weighing down a total of 23 so that was a happy note. I have been fairly good - no snacking and I am allowed three a day. I am compensating for the food I have no control over. Of course we went for really authentic Mexican Food and there was not a piece of lettuce to be found. It was really good.

And being from California, the immediate conversation directed to me concerned In-and-Out. Geez.

Betty,

Only land I am looking at is via my lens. I am here for a Portrait Lighting on Location Workshop. Tomorrow we are going out to a Movie Ranch with working cowboys, horses and saloon girls. I brought 50lbs of camera gear and we will be each bringing about 50 more lbs of lighting gear we are checking out. I will have my weight lifiting in. I think someone said you burn more calories in Winter for trying to keep warm. Being outside tomorrow, I hope the lights will keep us warm because it snowed today.

23 pounds is terrific!

23 pounds is terrific!

Kathy way to go girl on 23 lbs!

Margo how wonderful to toss your tennis skirt and get a smaller size!

Don taking off inches is great - I tend to take off inches faster than I do lbs.

Everyone keep up the great strides you are making...summer is just around the corner! :banana: :ch: :woh:

Wow Kathy, that is terrific progress, really. Keep it up!

I am stalled again, and being fairly bad. No huge big badness, just small badnesses, like 2 pieces of toast for breakfast, and a granola bar for a snack in the afternoon. Sigh.

Kathy, that is fantastic. Congratulations! Also, I know how tough it is when you are away and out of your routine, but that should be enough motivation to keep you going. Have fun!

Well, I actually got out the tape to see what progress I had made. I knew that I had lost inches, but had no idea that I acually lost 4 inches in my waist in 7 weeks! WOW! Also, I put on some pants this morning that I haven't been able to fit into in quite some time, and also had trouble finding a belt that wasn't already past it's last notch!

Last night we had shrimp scampi for dinner and some green beans (total 9 carbs). So today, I made some shrimp salad for lunch with the 6 oz of shrimp left over (4.5 carbs), some dressing, celery, dill, chives, parsley, a pinch of salt, and some freshly ground pepper.

You guys are all awesome. Lindora has a "plateau diet day" if you are stalled and doing everything right then they had us eat 1 egg, 1/2 grapefruit, black coffee or other no calorie beverage for breakfast, then for lunch and dinner 3 oz white fish, 1 c cooked spinach, 2 cups lettuce with no fat dressing (ugh) and 1/2 grapefruit, plus 3 protein snacks a day for 3 days or until you lose 1.5 pounds whichever comes first. Fortunately for us the pounds always came before the 3 days! But it worked!
I am leaving outta here on Thurs for cruise (mass market) to Australia and New Zealand. Hoping that the food and wine will be poor enough compared to Regent and SS that we won't do too much damage. Fingers crossed.
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Helen

Helen, I hope you have a great time on your cruise. BTW, what cruise line are you going on. We still want to hear all about it when you get back.

Also, it looks like the main focus, in addition to the restricted caloric intake, of the "plateau diet day" is to help with water retention. The grapefruit, coffee, spinach, and lettuce are all well known diuretics.

We are on Princess. I have not sailed with them before but found the price irresistable, a suite was 1/2 the price of the standard cabin on SilverSea version of this trip and with the $9k business class ticket, seemed like the way to go. At this point I just can't wait to get out of here! My mother in law wound up in the hospital on Monday with a suspected heart attack (she's 85 and the reason I ALWAYS buy travel insurance)Turns out to be pulmonary embolus and they will discharge her tomorrow or Fri. We are trying to arrange home health care so we can still go on our trip. My sister has agreed to look in on her and her sister (she's 90!) will be there so we are hopeful that we can still go. Then since it is "always something" my fridge quits this morning. It is almost new very pricey Thermador and no one who can come out today works on Thermador! Arrrggghhh. I guess it just makes us appreciate the good things all the more when you have to work for it. The other good news is I am not "stress eating". So anyway, adios I will report when I get back or sea mail if I can.
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Helen

Oh wow, what a host of problems! I hope your mother-in-law's health improves and you can go. And the fridge problems, always a pain.