HardCORE Hotties~~~ Weekend 05/07/05

[schlomcj]

Thanks to WW Carol I moved our thread here...thanks, Carol!! Anyone is welcome to join & be a hottie, too!! Hope evryone is havinfg a great OP weekend.

[DreamWalker]

Hi Everybody! I'm so glad there is a true CORE forum. Thanks for moving HARDCORE HOTTIES over here for us! Also, thanks WWCarol for letting me know it was here. All my buddies would have moved and I woulda wondered what happened! I am so thrilled.

I weigh in on Saturdays and peeked on the scale this past Wed. because I felt thinner. Much to my horror I was up 3 lbs! Anyway, I worked my butt off yesterday and Thursday, and I drank a gallon of water yesterday to flush out the sodium (which I think was the cause). Lo and behold I got rid of that 3 lb midweek increase plus lost another 1.5 lbs for my weigh in! I'm down a total of 7.8 lbs for my first 4 core weeks. That's almost 2lbs a week. I love it. Hope you all had a good week too. Sorry for so much self centered bragging, but I am so darned excited! I'm gonna do it this time, I just know it! YES!:headover:
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[WWCarol]

And thank YOU Guys for starting the HardCORE Hotties thread and gathering together Buddies interested in Core! :buddysmoo

Lauren~ That's so cool that you regrouped and ended up losing! Two pounds a week is a GREAT loss! Good for you~ :)

I'm realizing that 3-4 o'clock is my "difficult" time each day, and I'm tracking my foods/snacks to see what helps me most. I made a table for every hour, and I realized that I had NO trouble with any hour yesterday except "3 o'clock" when I wrote: cranky and hungry! :p I ate some protein and did just fine after that~ :)

Make A GREAT DAY~ :wave:

[jillwbee]

Hi Core Buddies! :wave:

Yes, thanks to WWCarol for leading us here. It is great to have a whole new forum! :jump_jack

Lauren, that is excellent that you have lost so well on the plan. I'll see on Monday for myself~I am hopeful.

Tonight I am making salmon I got at the store. I bought edamame (soybeans) in the frozen health food section which I understand are core. I got them shelled already. I also got a small avocado to put in our dinner salad.

My hardest time is at night. If I am busy during the day I don't even think about eating. Well, that's not true since I look forward to my lunch and sometimes I can't wait until noon. The afternoon isn't bad for me since I am always so busy trying to actually get out of work. Then when I am home I try to get something on the table by around 6. My husband is wonderful but he never cooks unless I specifically ask him to, and I usually don't bother. :rolleyes:

[DreamWalker]

Thanks for the compliment Jill. Smart idea getting the shelled edamame. The first time I bought it I cooked it forever thinking it would get tender. Duh! I finally figured out I had to shell them. Never again, that was too much work!

Hubby and I have sauted shrimp, garlic, onion, and shelled edamame. It's wonderful. Sometimes we throw it on a pile of seasoned, cooked (fine size) pearled barley. Squeeze some lemon and wow!

Jill, are you getting enough food and water in?? I am never hungry on core. I think that's why I love it so much.

If you are curious, my typical day is as follows:

Breakfast: Fruit, 1c ff yogurt, 23 almonds (4pts)

Lunch: 2 cups salad - 1/2 of oil for day
1 cup grain or beans
1/2 crabmeat or 3oz chicken
1 cup vegie soup or 1 or more serv. vegetables

Dinner: Same as lunch

Snacks: cottage cheese with fruit, ff yogurt with pudding, celery and yogurt cheese.

I'm new at doing core and so far it works well for me. I hope this helps. There's a lot to choose from on core. Make sure you eat enough.

[jillwbee]

Thanks for the menu, Lauren. :) It is good for me to see what others eat.

I believe I am getting plenty of food, and water is NEVER a problem for me. (I keep a gallon Poland Springs container in my office that I fill up every day or two~I also start the day with two glasses of water since I don't drink coffee and I also pretty much drink it all evening long.) It is no wonder that I am always racing to the bathroom.

This morning, after exercise, I had a bowl of shredded wheat (the small ones) with 1 cup ff milk and I cut up a banana in it. Since I had earned 4 activity points I also ate a WW bagel and butter spray for 2 pts.

I ran out to get my nails done and errands so I just grabbed an apple out of the groceries for lunch--I know that is not good! :embarrass I bought a bottle of water since I forgot to bring some from home.

Tonight I ended making us each 6 oz of salmon cooked in the allowed amount of olive oil, couscous with fresh mushrooms I sauteed in Pam and a green salad with ff Hidden Valley Ranch.

I know I would be better to do what you do and split the 6 oz of protein between the noon meal and dinner but I ate it all at night.

Since my hunger is at night, I have been making a smoothie with ff milk, a little pudding mix, a bit of plain ff yogurt with frozen fruit I have in bags. I use some DaVinci syrup in it. With that I have a snack--I had a mini popcorn bag last night. One night I pan fried some slices of polenta. I love being able to have something and not feel guilty. I don't snack during the day so I prefer to do it at night.

Do you think I'm on the right track? During the week I have been making bulgar for my morning cereal and throwing in blueberries. I'm not sure I am really that hungry for lunch as much as I am looking forward to it and am tempted to eat early. I don't have a "lunch time" per se and never leave for it. I eat my lunch and surf the internet so it might be that I am anxious for a break.

[sodacracker]

Hello all!
Movng into 3 weeks on Core after switching from Flex and still enjoying myself. I had to work today, unexpectedly, so could not WI. I do not know if I have lost weight but I feel good, my face seems thinner and my pants are looser so I think something is happening.:)

Quick recipe I found for a protein packed meal

Core Cottage Cheese Blintz

Mix 1 carton egg whites ( 250 ml or 1 cup) with
Splenda to taste
Add 2 cups ff cottage cheese
3 tbsps cornstarch
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix all together.

Spray a pan with oil spray, heat on low, and pour 1/6 of the mix in the pan.
Cover and let sit for 2 minutes.
The bottom will be brown, the top bubbly, fold over let sit for a few seconds and slide onto a plate.

Repeat until you have made 6.

Add a bit of of applesauce. Good hot or cold. I ate 3 for breakfast and 3 for a fast lunch with some salad.


Cheers!

[WWCarol]

Oooo, Sodacracker...that looks good! :) I'm always looking for different ways to get protein~

Jill~ There's "hunger" and there's "appetite". It's pretty easy to tell hunger, but appetite is more about, "That looks good" or "That would taste good" ~ :rolleyes: Being at work would make it even harder to decide because of the built-in work pressures...I think you're doing good, by the way~ :)

Anybuddy want to post a Core Daily Menus thread (for those who feel up to posting their menus)? I always appreciate it when Buddies take the time to share. Sometimes I'm up for posting mine, and sometimes not~ :p :)

[jillwbee]

The blintz recipe looks good! I might have to try that and my DH would probably like them also.

Thanks for the encouragment, Carol. I really feel good with this eating plan and I know I need to pay attention to the hunger vs appetite issues. Eating natural whole foods definitely seems to be good for me not being hungry.

I would like to see people's menus, but mne might tend to be kind of boring and repetitive. I usually stick with a certain thing for a while because I like it. I think it is good to have a variety but I am also happy when I find something I love! :)

[DreamWalker]

I'm like you Jill on the redundant. I love certain things and love having them regularly. Although, I'm sure that variety is good for the weight loss. Again I am new at core, but I try to make sure I get in my vegies and to find some balance across all the food groups.

If it were left up to me, I'd eat all carbs, all the time.... grains, bananas, fruits, pudding, beans, sweet potatoes, as I tend to lean toward carbs... even the good complex ones. With core, I've had to be careful that I didn't go hogwild on eating too much of what I'm inclined to just because it's OP. I know that I will gain if I don't balance in a good portion of protein and vegies at each meal. Calories are still calories, and everyone reacts to foods differently. I don't experience hunger with core. Play around to see what foods make you "feel good" and feel satiated. Try some frozen seedless green grapes for dessert! They are fantastic.

Where can I get Davinci syrup. What is it? Also, sodacracker... your dish sounds tasty. Is corn starch core?? Curious.

[jillwbee]

DaVinci syrups are fantastic. They are sweetened with Splenda and look like a wine bottle. You can buy them online from DaVinci (http://www.davincigourmet.com/page.php?page=742&s=0&&category=2) but I find them most often at TJ Maxx. They also sell them at Marshalls if you have one near you. They are $5.99 at those places and about $2 more at their own site. They have tons of flavors and I have read other threads here that people like to flavor their yogurt, etc. with them. I have used banana, blueberry, cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate, Kahlua, etc.

They aren't a thick syrup like a pancake syrup~they are good for flavoring stuff like coffee. I don't drink coffee but love them.

I just looked up cornstarch in CFC and it doesn't look like its Core (at least I couldn't find it). I think 3 T is about 70 cals and is probably 1 pt.

Lauren, have you tried freezing your seedless grapes in a ziplock bag? One dessert my mother makes and is Core is freezing a bit of grapes and then putting them in yogurt you have sweetener in. The yogurt kind of "freezes" around the grapes and is really good if you don't mind cold things.

There are so many things to try but I am happy with things I am eating so I better get on that varying thing. :)

[WWCarol]

Breakfast: Fruit, 1c ff yogurt, 23 almonds (4pts)

Lunch: 2 cups salad - 1/2 of oil for day
1 cup grain or beans
1/2 crabmeat or 3oz chicken
1 cup vegie soup or 1 or more serv. vegetables

Dinner: Same as lunch

Snacks: cottage cheese with fruit, ff yogurt with pudding, celery and yogurt cheese.

Looks like a great "mix" of foods, Lauren~ I'm going to try and keep that in mind today! :)

I lean towards too many (good) carbs, too, and often "forget" about keeping protein in the mix. When I forget? I get hungry and cranky... :p

I LOVE DaVinci syrups! I can get them for $3-something at Cash And Carry...almost all the flavors. I have a stash right now of about 20 favorites, with many waiting in the pantry...! :eek:

My night-time treat is Chai tea: a decaf Mt. Chai tea bag, Silk original soymilk and a splash of Gingerbread DV SF syrup...Yummy!

Make A GREAT DAY, Buddies! Gotta' get ready to travel today~ :wave: :bcbsalute

[WWCarol]

P.S. Cornstarch isn't Core; Arrowroot WAS. So I bought an expensive bottle. :p Then they removed arrowroot with the CFCompanion correction list (that I had to ask for). :rolleyes:

You can better believe I'm gonna' use that arrowroot...!

Actually, most of this stuff is used in such little measure per portion that it usually works out to less-than-one point, or zero points. Thank goodness~

[jillwbee]

Darn~I wish I had a Cash and Carry near me. I live in New England and $5.99 seems to be the least I can find it for, but I will keep on looking. TJ Maxx has another brand named Artisan that is $4.99 that I bought in the chocolate flavor and it seems fine.

I have quite a few bottles also~I looks like a liquor cabinet. :p

I saw those book corrections when I found this site and fixed my book. My husband HAD been eating the vegetarian baked beans and I had to break it to him that they are a no-no.

[sodacracker]

P.S. Cornstarch isn't Core;
In the blintz recipe it is used as a thickener so I guess one could try leaving it out if for a true Core recipe. I will try that next time.

[WWCarol]

Sodacracker~ Someone posted about the cornstarch points. I can't remember what it was exactly...You could also try less cornstarch and see if you like the results. :)

I know arrowroot acts differently as a thickener (or you treat it differently somehow). I need to read up on that before I use my "expensive" bottle...! :p

I consider it "grandfathered" in since I bought it when it was on Core! ;)

[sodacracker]

hmmm ... I looked at the ff/sf pudding mix and it is cornstarch. I know on Flex you count it as .5 point per serving (1 pt with the milk per 1/2 cup serving of pudding). I guess even though ff/sf pudding mix with cornstarch is free on Core the actual corn starch is not Core if you use it by itself. Another of those Core mysteries.

[jillwbee]

I don't see cornstarch on my sf/ff pudding mixes. I do see modified food starch~is that the same?

[sodacracker]

I am in Canada so maybe the food labelling is a bit different? Anyhow,the first ingredient on my Jello brand sf/ff pudding mix is modified cornstarch.

The other thickener they use is xanthan gum.

[ellen1954]

I'm really gald to see this forum and would love to be part of the HardCORE hotties! Actually, I exercise more than ever, but have had a little trouble staying strictly CORE. When I went back to points, it was torture having to count... I read CW's comments that you should eat all points and APs to see great losses. I think this is a real problem for me. For instance, I saw someone's menu and she had yogurt, fruit and almonds for breakfast. I am afraid to use those WPAs in case I need them later in the week and they are gone. Any advice for me? I really need to keep track and use WPAs and APs. that is my goal for the week. What has your experience been with using/not using WPAs and APs?

[sodacracker]

Hi Ellen 1954,
I use the 35 WPA - most of the time I just divide them by 7 and eat 5 a day. On Core I tend to use them for things like bread, or an occasional treat like some chocolate, or the odd ingredient in a recipe that is not Core. AP's are a bit different as I do not earn too many at this point. When I do earn them I do eat them as I know WW has built in a safety factor that for every AP you earn you have actually burned off 2 points.

I do not see saving, or not using, the WPA's as a benefit. If I can lose weight eating all the points I can, then when I get to maintainance I will be able to eat more. For example on Flex I was eating 22+5WPA=27 points a day and losing slowly but steadily.

I am not racing anymore to lose weight as I realized that, truthfully, the longer it takes, the better it is for me to learn to live this way. I am almost exactly at a year on WW and my initial plan had been to lose 52 lbs this year and evaluate after the year to see how I felt. Well, I am down 42 and the year is almost up, I lost a bit slower than planned, BUT I am still OP and continuing WW. I see now that I may have to go another year to lose the next chunk of weight but after so many years being fat I cannot expect to lose it so fast.

Plus, I have had all sorts of aha! moments along the way that have showed me that fat is not just about overeating (at least for me:)). For example, right now I am very close to my previous old pre preg. weight (from about 12 years ago) and I can literally feel myself resisting going lower than that weight, as if I do not believe it is possible for me weigh less without "dieting" or giving up something. And, so far, that is the gift of WW for me - I have not given up anything except overeating. I still have the urge to overeat and experiment with ways to deal with it because I think the urge will always be there.

I think the WPA and AP are there so that you do eat and are not deprived or hungry. CW at the 100+ forum often advocates that someone try eating all their points for a few weeks and see what happens. People usually report that they lost more that week because their body was being fed properly and sufficiently.

Well, that was a bit of a ramble!

[WWCarol]

I am afraid to use those WPAs in case I need them later in the week and they are gone. Any advice for me? I really need to keep track and use WPAs and APs. that is my goal for the week. What has your experience been with using/not using WPAs and APs?

That's a GREAT goal, Ellen! :)

I'm on maintenance (though I'd like to lose a few more pounds to a personal goal). I use my 5 WAPs daily AND I eat my APs the same day. I haven't figured out how to do it any other way yet...! I have wanted Light Cranberry Juice to flavor my waters (1 WAP), real 1/2&1/2 in my coffee (1 WAP, though I'm "switching" to soymilk), sucanat or table sugar on my oatmeal (1 WAP, though I'm using less-and-less, and can use fructose which is Core instead)...I also love an occasional Laughing Cow cheese or Light Frigo cheese stick melted over my grains (1 WAP each)...I put Tofu Pate in my grains (1 WAP)...The list goes on and on! ;)

If I were going to make a "goal", it would be: 1) move towards healthy foods.

Core does a big chunk of that for us, but there are many healthy foods that have not made the Core list. Nuts and whole grain breads/crackers and LF dairy, for some.

I don't mind using WAPs for healthy foods, and I'm slow-ly moving my choices towards that end~

GOOD luck this week, Ellen, and let us know what you discover~ :) :bcbsalute

[WWCarol]

HEY! This is the "Week-End Edition"!

Some Buddy needs to start the HH for this week! :) :bcbsalute

[DreamWalker]

I started core a month ago and have consistenly lost an average of 1.5 to 2.0 lbs a week (down 7.8 for the month). I'm enjoying not worrying anymore! I agree Sodacracker about taking your time and letting it be okay to lose weight slowly. For most of us, especially if we are nearing or at middle age, the yo-yo dieting is old news. I know for sure that I want a "lifestyle" program of healthy eating where I don't feel deprived or under constant scrutiny and fear of gaining. I consider Core my "safe" foods. Safe to eat as much as I need, to feel nourished and healthy.


It may take me a year and a half or even two years to lose this 65lbs, but heck, I've been lugging it around for the past 15, so it's okay. I will get there, 1 pound at a time. I want to feel good... and I have been.

In the past when I have tried to lose, I took a rigid and controlled approach (as many of us do) ... trying to do it just perfect to guarantee a loss. Well, when it didn't work and I didn't lose, after all my seeming hard work, I would get angry, feel powerless, quit and give up. This time around is for the long haul. I like the volume that I can eat on core and still lose weight. I also like the pure and simple basics of water, fruit, vegies, dairy, whole grains, and low fat protein.

Well, it looks like I rambled on a bit. To answer your question Ellen, I definitely use my extra points. I love my almonds everyday. I think they are good for me and I am willing to exercise or use my 35 pts a week to have them. In terms of your fear of running out of points. If you use your 5 a day extra. You can always go for a walk and earn some more. Anticipating "not having enough" or the fear of having no points left "just in case" can be torturesome. Trust that you will be fine, and that you have options like exercise if you need more.;)

[bgmiami]

I tend to use only AP's during the week and save my WPA's for weekends. We usually go out for Chinese food on Friday night after work and I save my points for that. I don't go crazy, but maybe order some hot and sour soup and an order of chicken with broccoli. I lost 5 lbs this week, (my first week back on Core) so I know this didn't hinder my weight loss at all. I love being able to go out and eat like a "normal" person!

Barbara

[sodacracker]

hi everyone, we have moved over to the May 9 -13 thread :)