The E-LAB Project

A little late - Rockin Robins summary

Suzette - 19 points (134#)

Zogo - 17 points (189#)

BC Colorado - 11 points

Valjean - 22 points (148.6#)

I've been very good since Friday.  I've been "eating less and moving more" as Faithie always tells us.  I've been getting up from my desk every 1 - 1 1/2 hours and taking a 5 minute walk (including stairs) through my building (which is a huge college dorm - now all offices).  I hope it helps.

I had a good walk today, plus climbed the stairs at work, but completely offset it with a handful of mini-Reese's cups and a Klondike bar.  Had a bit of a melt-down this evening and used food to comfort myself....

And bcincolorado, beware those veggie burgers.... some can be quite high in calories (if you are trying to limit a bit).  I am a vegetarian and have found a wide range in protein, calorie, and FAT content in them!!! Some of them are higher than a McDonald's hamburger! (The one at Burger King is over 400 calories, compared to a regular hamburger at 260 calories).

For those who are watching soy intake, aren't veggie burgers high in soy?

This from Morningstar:

Ingredients:

VEGETABLES (MUSHROOMS, WATER CHESTNUTS, ONIONS, CARROTS, GREEN BELL PEPPERS, RED BELL PEPPERS, BLACK OLIVES), TEXTURED VEGETABLE PROTEIN (SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, WHEAT GLUTEN, WATER FOR HYDRATION), EGG WHITES, COOKED BROWN RICE (WATER, BROWN RICE), ROLLED OATS, CORN OIL, CALCIUM CASEINATE, SOY SAUCE (WATER, SOYBEANS, SALT, WHEAT), CONTAINS TWO PERCENT OR LESS OF ONION POWDER, CORNSTARCH, SALT, HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN (CORN, SOY AND WHEAT), AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, NATURAL FLAVORS FROM NON-MEAT SOURCES, SUGAR, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, SPICES, GARLIC POWDER, DEXTROSE, JALAPEÑO PEPPER POWDER, CELERY EXTRACT. (not screaming, all caps are from a website cut and paste)

This from Boca Burger:

We blend nutritious soy with delicious extras like garden fresh veggies, cheeses and seasonings into a hearty patty that's a good source of fiber and protein.

I know the full facts about soy and those of us who are hormone positive is still inconclusive so just putting that out there for those who want to watch their soy intake (because it's next to impossible to not have any).

I asked my onco about soy products, she said, "In moderation."   I don't think I ever had a Veggie Burger.  Are they good?

Houston's resturant has a great veggie burger.  I don't know the fat content etc. but it is so big I usually save 1/2 for later.  I've been eating Amy's veggie burgers.  They are all organic and low in fat.   Anyone ever try those?   Hope the ingredients are ok. 

BIRDIES!!! BIRDIES!!!! BIRDIES!!!!!

I'm back!! I'm back!!! I'm BACK!!!!

Our trip thru Switzerland, Germany (short drive thru Austria) and 10 days in Italy with return thru Swiss Alps on day #16 was beyond my wildest imagination. Seriously. We had all sunshine! They kept reporting that the weather was so unseasonably warm. One night they reported that rather than a typical 14 degrees Celcius (sp?) that it had been 28 -- literally double what was to be expected.

Never having been in any of these countries my mind was in my heart most of the time. Travel mercies were met at each challenge. Venice was mind-numbing for an ol' college Art major. Florence ran a close second. My work with our "troops" and their children was the blessing of a lifetime. It was such an amazing experience.

I had 2 conferences the week before departure and our state event upon 24 hours of returning. We are now on our way to Pittsburgh for a Children's Literature conference tomorrow.

I feel something like the prodigal daughter returning from spring break. I have just read thru the dozen pages that I missed while in Europe.

Anyhow. We have been bunked in w our grand-peeps for the last 5 days. All of their family had a horrific virus (I'll spare you the details) and being the generous souls that they are -- they shared their germs with us.

We have both been soooooooo violently ill for about 48 hours. Again edited to save you the details. Still feel like a dish-rag, but the sun is out today & our SIL returned from Iraq this morning!!!!! So those two details combined have me literally singing, albeit silently.

Here's the bizarro news.

I literally haven't stepped on a scale in a month, since we left our home in FL.

Now, granted, the 48 hour colon cleanse is not my recommended weight loss plan, but....... are you ready for this?

I am an all time elab low as of today!!!! which I realize is not a Fri, but unless the Hampton Inn has a scale, this will have to count as my official Friday.

I couldn't belive it:

132.6 pounds!!!!!!

What have I learned from all of this?

I started at 153.6 in Jan of 2010. Had it down to 145-ish by ELAB commencement.

So I have actually lost TWENTY pounds since BILAT!!!

I finally had someone say to me, "My goodness, you've lost a lot of weight! You look so much younger!" At our state conference.

The fact that the weight has come off so slowly, has made our European adventure not the set back that I feared. We were judicious with our choices, having the occasional splurge, but literally walking for 8 to 10 to 12 hours every day. Seriously. At a minimum. That's a lot of walking.

Anyhow. Enough about me.

It's so good to be back.

I have missed you all. Genuinely.

Welcome to our new birdies.

Kudos on the internal challenges!!! GREAT idea!!!!

Congrats on all of the new ELAB lows. Fantastic news on the various extra credit points.

Bookart. Loved seeing your project captured!! Congrats on bringing your conceptual art out into the world.

Ainm. Adding my prayers in triplicate for their tardiness: for your BIL's departure from your midst, your surgery suddenly arriving before your preperations were able to be arranged properly.

Meecie. New job!

The return of seasonal warmth, motivation, gardening, pleasures, activity, health, good choices.

Now. More than ever. I'm completely convinced:

Eat less. Move more.

It would be so fantastic if we didn't have the stresses and the heartbreaks and the set backs and the drugery and the grumpies and the over-wheledness and the side effects and the nagging concerns and the slumps to contend with, but alas: Earth.

So we must dig a little deeper and do what we know and learn from one another till we get a better grip.

Our very own Ainm has hit her marvelous 100 pound mark. Fanfare and fireworks!!! [Alas we weren't able to meet in person, this trip.] So we know this is possible: the making of choices, stringing them like pearls into shining necklaces of beautry.

So many here are putting one foot forward, restarting and recharging, despite all of the unexpected that is hurtled in their direction.

Here's to a whole month of individual wise decisions!!!!

Thanks so much for o2b for keeping our hummers organized, despite your not feeling well.

FaF - great post.  Taking the weight off gradually is really the best, so our setbacks and plateaus really work in our favor in the long run.  Congrats on the 20 lbs. and kudos to Ainm on 100 lbs - WOW, both are great accomplishments. 

Really helps me to get back on track so I'm leaving work in a few minutes to hit the gym before small home Bible study group tonight.

Geez - Am I the first one to check in.  Is it really Friday...

Checking in for Hummingbirds:

Friday check in = 3 points

Weight maintain at 143 = 1 point

Water = 7 points

Exercise 5 hours = 10 points

Nothing extra

Total = 21 points

Checking in for Roadrunners:

Friday = 3 pts

Wt down (178.2 - almost back to all time low) = 2 pts

Water = 4 pts (just can't seem to increase)

Exercise = 6 pts

Only 15 pts this week - Ugh!

N3ypb, thank you for the challenge, but next time I conceed to you, it was sooo hard.  It really showed me what I can do, but next week it will be lower in the exercise pts. since I'm adding in crunches and walking.  I have this muffin top that will not go anywhere and prevents me from wearing so many of my clothes.  Thank you again,  Karen  o2bhealthy will be logging in for me, since I can't figure out how to do columns, thank you o2b.

Hummingbird check int -

Friday check in - 3 pts.

Water - 7 pts.

Exercise 0 8 pts.

Weight same as last week - does that count for 1 pt?

Total - 18 pts.

Ainm - gentle hugs to you!

Faithie - sounds like you had a great time. You must share some of the pictures you took.

This weekend I am doing a 5K fundraiser walk for breast cancer with my sister up in Milwaukee, WI. At least I'll get some additional exercise points for next week!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Good grief Ainm, you rack up way more points than me and you're in the hospital - boy, that really is sad!!!!!!  (but glad you came through okay and the bp probably will work itself out)

Oh, okay then I have something to look forward to - finally (maybe) getting more points in one week than you do.  Not that I like the reason I may beat you but since you are the all-time best I'll take it!