BTW - something else that caffeine can aggravate is arthritis.

Until I do begin the Nutri System i found the neatest thing...At WalMart they sell a bag of fresh frozen individually wrapped Talipia fish filets. They are firm white fish. You take out whatever you want to eat and broil or bake them using any seasonings you want. They are so tasty, no fish smell because they are flash frozen fresh (dam thats a mouth full) I usually have a baked or micro waved sweet potato and some kind of green vegetable. No kidding I am losing a pound a day the days I eat the fish and you can have all four filets if you want to. Those days I have either oatmeal and a banana for breakfast or one egg on toast. I am a late riser so rarely eat lunch. Just a thought...I forgot to tell you about. Oh and for milk I have only had Soymilk for years now. I also only drink diet A&W root beer with no caffeine. I figure one cup of green/vanilla caramel tea is enough, maybe even too much. Right now I am investigating 'waters' which is good, which isn't and which is the best...yada, yada, yada!!

[ December 17, 2005, 08:14 PM: Message edited by: chatty lady ]

Bluebird, arthritis, wow! I didn't know that either... and believe me, when I get up in the morning, it is with great difficulty. And it isn't the extra person I'm carrying around either, it's my bones and joints. Oy! I'm so glad to learn this.

Chatty, when you get the "waters" narrowed down with some good info, fill us in (no pun intended) okay?

JJ

Yes, JJ, and tea can actually be worse than coffee.

[ December 17, 2005, 08:58 PM: Message edited by: Bluebird ]

I'm not much of a tea drinker. Just coffee and diet drinks, and water. And vodka, gin, wine, beer..okay, okay...I was only joshn'....LOL!

JJ

You forgot rum, bourbon, tequila...

Do I hear alchohol?!!!
I went from being able to snap back the next day from a night out...to 2 day hangovers....I think I'd be in the ICU for a month if I had anything more than afew sips now!!!
Maybe I should hide the cookies I just baked behind the pina colada mix!!!

You guys are funny... Even the 'word' cookies makes me salivate.
JJ, how are you doing with the changes you have made so far?

chick

I hear ya Chick... Let's see, report time, eh? Well, it's actually been easy and I think it's because of my "attitude" adjustment and the help of everyone on this board.

I had a couple of parties to attend this weekend and they were a breeze. Seems the hostess at each one was smart enough to include "heart-healthy" foods, so no problem there.

I've stocked up on some of my favorite recipes and pulled out the crockpot. I'm actually making things ahead of time to have on hand so there's no slipping back into bad habits of eating the wrong kinds of things, just because they are easy and effortless. Does that make sense? Things like potato chips and dip. I have celery, carrots, radishes, homemade soup, "Indian Stew" made with turkey instead of ground beef, and other veggies that I love. Here's the funny thing... since I became this super-determined person, I don't even snack around the clock like I was doing before. It's like I said, "no more ice cream and snacking for you kiddo." And that was that. Strange...

I don't know what makes one soooo determine on one try, and especially when one has tried so many other times and failed. Timing? Fed up with one's self? Pushed to the limits? I don't know. Anybody have thoughts on this?

I will say this... I don't think of it as a diet. I don't think in terms of dieting, at all. What I think about is WHAT I am about to put in my mouth. Like Vicki was saying. That seems to work for me. It's like what Ladybug or someone said, "pick what works for you." I did and it was a combination of things.

This week I start the exercising which will be walking. Believe it or not, I'm looking forward to it!

JJ

jawjaw, it's sounds like the same way you quit smoking. Didn't you go cold turkey?

What were the heart healthy recipes? I'm gearing up for a party and everything has cream cheese and/or sour cream! Well, not everything. The desserts only have butter and sugar.