scottinpa

You definitely deserve two posts!!! :)

You are almost there!!!!

Well I have been peddling that bike all morning trying to get here and I finally made it... a little late as usual!!! Congratulations Nancy!!! We all knew very early on that you would make it to this day! Privileged to know you!!! Now on to two years!!!! :)

EXCELLENT!!!

Thanks everyone, its nice to know that I was helpful... your quits were always important to me. Sorry Bakon, But if I did play for that team, I bet you would be my first choice! ;)

Note: wasnt sure where to put this, so mods please move where it is appropriate. thanks! Well I am taking a couple minutes to give you all an update. I said I would in a thread a couple days ago, so here it goes. First of all, I do still check in every so often but I rarely post anymore... not for any particular reason, its just seems my time has passed with the forums. I was never the one with the insight and strategies etc in regards to smoking and quitting smoking. I was the behind the scenes guy trying to keep a group together and getting to a full year quit. Posting on behalf of others and trying to keep everybody positive. I made a lot of internet friends. I was on the forums all day and a good part of the night for about a year. It consumed me, but it got me through it and to where I am today..... My quit smoking journey started in january 2013 and it was the beginning of a huge list of firsts for me. It was the reason for me to join my first ever forum. I had never been in a chat room before, didnt know what a PM was... lol! I am still techinically challenged. Those first few months were a serious ride, and I remember people talking about how their lives had changed because of quitting smoking. I thought I understood what they meant, but let me tell you, now I know I didn't . Change is not a strong enough word,, it is more like evolving. I have a totally different outlook on my life now. I am now in charge of a bike group of about 20 people ( it is still growing ). I ride approximately 80 to 100 miles per week on average. I go to a gym at least 5 days per week and pilates once a week. I have lost 50 pounds and am now the waiste size I was 30 years ago when I graduated high school. In addition to operatining my store, I was recently asked to be an auctioneer for one of the local auction houses, I also work on an as needed basis with two other auction companies. I am enjoying my smoke free life... I am so grateful to so many of you for getting me here, wether you knew you were helping or not! Tomorrow I will be 18 months smoke free!!! :) Life is good!!! You all need to stick with this quit, Its a wicked ride in the beginning, but what a great ride when you look back on it! You are all going to love it!! I will be watching! Happy 4th of July!

I could never figure out how he knew people were fake so accurately... whenever there was a questionable new person I would PM him for his opinion.... He was almost always right, it was amazing! Last Fall when he wrote his post letting us know that he was going to die, I cried.... and I already knew. His ability to write was incredible. What a surreal time it was last December.... RIP John! You did good Tiffany,,, Really Good!

You can do it Holski... it took me a pretty long time to feel like my head was above water too.. you will get there!!!

sorry all, but this was the first time I saw this thread... I have been super busy trying to get caught up with my life... I dont know how to explain it but it is sort of like when you paint that dingy looking room in your house so it will look nice and clean like all the others.... only to find out that a different room takes the place as the dingyest room that needs to be painted... It seems as though every time I turn around there is something else that I need to start doing in my new healthy life... It is all good! I do check in from time to time but do not always log in. It is really nice that you thought of me... you are all good people! I am about 3 days away from 18 months smoke free and loving it! I will post an update on what I have going on in a few days.... Tiffany.... You always had the ability to do this but it sounds like you finally got your head in the right place... I am proud of you!!! And I miss seeing you too! Thanks all!!

Chia seed pudding??? is it like a tapioca?? And what do you mean a " half a roll ".... That is like a sample. Give me 3 or 4 rolls for starters please!

You will do fine!!!\ Have Fun!!!

I'm so confused??? :huh:

Broccoli Salad with Sesame Seeds & Cranberries ( OK.. not the lowest in calories, but you can use lite mayo and sour cream ) Ingredients 2-3 broccoli crowns, just the florets, finely chopped (5-6 cups) 1/2 pound 1/2 inch cubes Tropical Queso Blanco cheese 1/2 cup shreaded cheddar cheese 5 bacon slices, crisp-cooked and crumbled 1/3c red onion, diced 1/3c sesame seeds 1/3c dried cranberries, chopped (golden raisins are equally good) 1/4c sliced green onion 1/2c mayonnaise 1/4c sourcream 3Tbl apple cider vinegar 3tsp sugar salt and pepper to taste Instructions Into a large bowl with lid, add broccoli, both cheeses, bacon, onion, seeds, and cranberries. In a small bowl, mix mayo, sour cream, vinegar, and sugar. Pour dressing mixture over salad and toss to coat with lid on bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve (at least one hour, over night is better). Notes You may want to add more mayo vinegar etc. depending on the consistancy you prefer. I prefer mine on the dryer side. almost all of the ingredients can be omitted or subsituted with alternates, I have used red wine vinegar and have used all cheddar cheese. Make it your own with what you like.

Just remember... Gluten Free does not mean good for you, healthy, or low calorie... There are a lot of really bad for you food products that can be gluten free. Read your Ingredients and know what you are eating.

Plantains.... Get some ripe plantains ( they are yellow and sort of firm, or black and sort of firm when ripe ) they taste similar to a banana. Remove the peals and slice the centers into 1/2" slices, Roll the slices in unsweetened coconut flakes set on tray or plate. Cover with plastic wrap and keep in refrigerator. you can eat them just like that, or I have also put a bit of cashew butter on them or a dried cherry. Unlike a banana, these will last covered in your fridge for a few days. They are a nice inexpensive and easy to make snack for that sweat tooth crave and pretty healthy one too. Next time I make them I am going to try throwing some in the freezer

What does that mean??? Sort of here??? I am here!!!!

Tracey... about a year ago I started a diet... I gave up bread, pasta, and potatoes... I did not have to give up sweets and junk food because I did not eat them. I also started biking and now exercise on a regular basis,.. I see on another thread that you are getting motivated in this department as well. So my thoughts for you are to go ahead and have a sandwich or pizza etc every other week...What I did was one week I would have a pasta meal... the next week I would have a sandwich or burger. This way you don't constantly crave these foods that you are doing without. Don't focus so much on the carbs, there are a lot of really good foods out there that have carbs and your exercise will take care of them. The other thing that you have to try is brown rice pasta. It is an excellent alternative for you and anyone else that wants to have less wheat/gluten in their diet. I use the brown rice shell, fettuccini, elbow, lasagna, and tri-color swirls, each of them are very good. When you try them, cook them just like it says on the package, unlike reg pasta it is very hard to over cook. It tastes just like regular pasta to me, the only thing that you need to know is that it does not refridgerate well after cooked. For instance... If I am making a cold pasta salad, I only make enough that will be eaten that day and the next. If not, by the third day the pasta starts getting firmer, sort of. If you are doing a heated pasta dinner it usually is still ok on the 3rd day because you are reheating it. My point is only make what you can eat or you will be wasting it. Note... there are other wheatless pastas out there, but it is my understanding that they are difficult to cook properly so I have not tried them.. the above is fine for me! Oh.. BTW, Just like Colleen, you are not drinking enough wine! :rolleyes:

Why no beans in the chili ?? I thought beans were good for you??

Hhhhhmmm??? You are not drinking enough wine!

I pretty much plant a garden because I enjoy it.. but I am not doing a garden this year.. I am just way to behind with everything else around here. I have way to many farm stands around here that are just too convienient so I wont be lacking fresh home grown produce. This past year has seen a lot of change in my world... Diet and exercise are very important.. I am amazed how people transform... I recently bet two different ladies each had lost over a 100 pounds in the past two years. I could not believe thier before pics.. Your lunch looks great Sarge!!

Friday's @#$%^ KICK IN THE BUTT for Tracey and Jackie!!!

On wednesday I had a 1 hour pilates private.. and I peddled 40 miles. Club opened at 4:40am today, 1 hour with machines, 45 minute spin, sauna, shower and home by 8:00 Yesterday re-measured with the trainer.... My weight has stayed the same in the last two months, but most of my measurements have gotten smaller inspite of getting stronger and having more muscle as apposed to flab. My trainer says I need to eat carbs, carbs and more carbs.. He says I am not eating enough so I am going to focus on trying to eat more before and after work outs. Hard to take carbs on the go though.. nothing is convienient when you have my food restrictions.. In december my body fat was 24.7%,,, yesterday it was 18.1%

Sounds good Sarge... that sounds like it would do me in.. lol I have been a bit busy and not reporting in.... so.... In the past seven days... I have done 6 one hour cycle classes, two 30 minute personal training with weights, about 5 hours of weight and machine work on my own, a 1 hour private pilates session with trainer on the reformer, and I guess I peddled my bike outside about 70 or 80 miles outside. I am so happy to be outside again!