Oddly enough...Pickles. Try eating dill pickles. Here's an article I found to back it up from weightloss.about.com =) "I tried it!": The Pickle Craving "Cure" It was something I said, "Yeah, right!" to. Years ago my friend told me that a sure-fire way to beat a craving was to eat a pickle the moment it hit. I wasn't willing to try on that day. There was no way I was going to reach for a dill pickle when all I wanted was the biggest hot fudge sundae ever. I inhaled the sundae while he munched a pickle. Years passed and the tip never crossed my mind... Fast forward to this morning. I got a ravenous sugar craving and found I had some rice cereal-marshmallow squares on hand. Now, at 90 calories a square, it might not have ruined today's calorie count, but I had the distinct feeling that I would have eaten all 12 of them (It's been one of those days!) which definitely would have done my diet some damage. So, instead I gave my pal's pickle trick a try (Say that three times fast!). I am pleased to report -- the pickle craving "cure" worked! My friend claimed it was eating something sour that does away with the sweet craving and he must have been on to something. Those squares lost all their appeal within seconds and here I sit over an hour later and I've not been tempted yet to go back to that box of treats. So, the next time a pesky craving has you "in a pickle" give this tip a try!

Watched the news last night, and thought it was interesting that Oprah is talking about her weight gain again. Has anyone ever heard back from writing the show? I haven't.

Greg and I would go too for the 14th =) His side of the family typically has a family reunion every year in AZ the week of President's Day....so we'll be out in that neck of the woods anyway and could swing through there on our way! =)

GREEN SEA TURTLES: Despite my great eating week. Weighed in at 169.7, a GAIN of .6 this week, sorry team! =( =( =( Sat: 5 Sun: 5 Mon: 4 Tue: 5 (should be 10+++!) Wed: 4 Thur: 5 Fri: 5 all that goodness....and still showed a gain for this week :( Hopefully my official FS weigh in on Monday will show a loss...or it will be my first gain I'll be recording since March!

GREEN SEA TURTLES Weigh-in and Week total: Week 2: Weight 169.1 (lost 2.2 pounds) Sat: 5 Sun: 4 Mon: 5 Tue: 5 Wed: 3 Thu: 4 Fri: 5 Total: 31 points

Okay, I just wrote up and submitted my letter to the Oprah show...I had to downsize it tremendously due to the 2000 character maximum!! Here it is, so you can see what I posted...not sure what everyone else sent. ______________ FatSecret.com (FS), its more than just a weight loss community; its an outpouring of support on all levels. I encourage you to log onto FatSecret.com & check out my profile, Cheeks. I got married this past August 2007, a month later we found out that I was in pre-menopause/ovarian failure at age 38. Turns out, I have a genetic defect called Fragile X. Being an emotional eater, this news was devastating, & before we knew it, it was 7 months later, & we were both 30+ pounds heavier. March 2008 my husband did a search & came across the FS site. We logged on, created profiles, & after a week of moving through the in's & out's of the site, we realized how beneficial the site really was. You could add food values, it would calculate points, keep a running tally. I found myself commenting on other members journals (one of the best features on this site in my opinion). Before I realized it, I was sharing my life with "strangers" on the site, and letting them into a part of me that I wouldnt have necessarily shared with someone I knew at say work. I read other profiles & realized that some were also experiencing things I was. As a result, I have actually been connected with someone who knows exactly what I'm experiencing because she also has the Fragile X gene. Again, I ask you to log onto the site, see all the benefits it has, read journals, profiles, see all the encouragement everyone gives to other members, no matter what type of diet they are on (Atkin's, South Beach, Weight Watchers, etc.). Everyone is on this site for the same reason, to lose weight & receive support that they weren't getting elsewhere. Oh, did I mention its FREE? Well…it is. I'm not sure who created Fatsecret.com, but I can tell you that there isn't a day that goes by that I don't silently thank them for creating such a fantastic, supportive site.

I'm in as well :) I'll write something tonight and send it in to Oprah as well to join on this fatsecret Oprah band wagon :) thanks for getting this started! =)

Only a 3 for me for yesterday (wednesday). I was good all day yesterday until we went to friends for "game night". They had sooo much food out! Cheese, dips, crackers, chips. I just stayed with carrots...and this Josephs spinach dip with a few crackers....BUT....I at least didn't do it without checking the package first! So, I was aware that I would be over on points last night, but felt like I definitely ate less than I would have if I hadn't checked the package first :) Happy BEACHing! =)

I posted my recipe to the main site =) My beaching has been pretty good especially considering the fertility meds. I have been right on track, and haven't given into any temptations. Sat = 5 Sun = 4 Mon = 5 tue = 5 We'll see if I can keep it up the rest of the week!

[u]GREEN SEA TURTLES[/u] [b]AND[/b] [u]BLUE LAGOONIES[/u] Mini Challenge for week one...the recipe(s): It was hard doing a side, and definitely would have been easier doing a main dish! so good challenge Imluuvd! Being the good wife I am :) I'm helping gbags out too with posting one for him...poor hubby is working WAY too many hours....and is also going to school for his MBA. This week has been brutal for him. =( [u][b]My recipe: [/b][/u] Sweet-Potato Salad with Chili-Lime Dressing 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks 1/3 Cup extra virgin olive oil (I always cut WAY back on this) 2 TBSP fresh lime juice 1 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1/4 Cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves salt and pepper to taste 1/2 medium sized red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/4 inch dice 4 scallion, white and light green (LIKE GREEN SEA TURTLES!!!) parts finely chopped Place the sweet potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until just tender, approx 7 to 10 minutes. Do not overcook or your salad will be mush and falling apart. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. While potatoes are cooking. make the dressing. Whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, cilantro, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Add the red bell pepper and scallions to the potatoes and toss with the dressing. Season again with salt and pepper. Serve warm or refrigerate and bring to room temperature before serving. Makes 6 servings. Benefits: Sweet potatoes are low in Sodium, and very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin B6 and Potassium, and a very good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Manganese. Red Peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C, contain high antioxidant levels and are linked to a reduced risk of heart disease. [u][b]GBAGS RECIPE: [/b][/u] Black Bean Mango Salad 1 Mango, peeled, pitted and cubed (we use 1 or 2) 2 TBSP fresh cilantro 4 green onions, thinly sliced 1 red pepper, chopped 1/2 cup frozen or fresh corn 2 15 oz cans black beans, drained and rinsed 3 TBSP fresh lime juice 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp minced fresh garlic (2 cloves) 1 tsp ground cumin 1 dash of chili powder 4 Cups chopped romaine lettuce leaves Mix all the ingredients, except the lettuce. Allow salad to stand at least 15 minutes before serving. (Can be made a day ahead and kept refrigerated, but add the mango and another splash of lime juice before serving). Serve on a bed of chopped green lettuce. Benefits: Black beans are a very good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber, as are most other legumes. In addition to lowering cholesterol, black beans' high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal, making these beans an especially good choice for individuals with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia. Mangoes are very nutritious and excellent source of carotene as compared to other fruits. 100 gms of edible portion of the mango contain about 1990ug of beta-carotene (vitamin A), which is much higher than in other fruits. Happy B.E.A.C.H.ing!!! =)

Way to go Green Sea Turtles! We are doing great!! Keep it up!

Team Green Sea Turtles Not sure where to post this...in individual teams...or in the group one...sooo posting to both. Start Weight: 174 Week 1 weigh in: 171.3 total lost of 2.7 this week! (soooo close to the 160's!) Mon: 3 Tue: 5 Wed: 4 Thur: 5 Fri: ?? (are we recording this day on a guess??) (Not sure if we are suppose to record the Sunday as well? if so, Sun: 4) Yesterday's 5 should be a 10!! I had soooo many challenges with our company BBQ...and cake and ice cream...BUT...I RESISTED!!!! I ran my butt off to make it a successful fun outing for the office. I am proud of myself....the only weight watcher friendly stuff, well...stuff I cared to count, was watermelon...and pickles...hahaha, after the event, I went upstairs and heated up my SmartOne!

Team Green Sea Turtles Not sure where to post this...in individual teams...or in the group one...sooo posting to both. Start Weight: 174 Week 1 weigh in: 171.3 total lost of 2.7 this week! (soooo close to the 160's!) Mon: 3 Tue: 5 Wed: 4 Thur: 5 Fri: ?? (are we recording this day on a guess??) (Not sure if we are suppose to record the Sunday as well? if so, Sun: 4) Yesterday's 5 should be a 10!! I had soooo many challenges with our company BBQ...and cake and ice cream...BUT...I RESISTED!!!! I ran my butt off to make it a successful fun outing for the office. I am proud of myself....the only weight watcher friendly stuff, well...stuff I cared to count, was watermelon...and pickles...hahaha, after the event, I went upstairs and heated up my SmartOne!

Don't get stressed out. =) General rule of thumb with any kind of weighing is to: 1) Weigh yourself on the same scale 2) weigh yourself at the same time of day Weight can fluctuate depending on what you eat for the day, or what your body is going through (maybe water retainage). It all evens out. Just stay focused, keep on the plan...it will work, and you'll notice a difference! Good luck! =)

GREEN SEA TURTLE TEAM! =) I get 5 Tally points for yesterday...I was really GOOD! I sooooo badly wanted to have that extra ice cream last night, which would have jetted me over my points...but I resisted. Today will be more challenging, headed to lunch with a co-worker that is going out on maternity leave...and she wants THAI food....ARGH! my weakness! I will resist on the Pad Thai, or other coconut sauce dish...and get the healther option...and make sure I eat sensible tonight! Go team!! =) =)

Is everyone on board for either Sea Turtles or Green Turtles, sounded like it in the postings? I like turtles over froggies, only because turtles are found in both ocean and lake beaches...if we are keeping in beach form =) hahahah Plus...it reminds me of Hawaii! Soooo would love to be there again!

Even though I'm routing for my GREEN TEAM, I am proud of my Gbags on the Blue Team for getting his butt up and working out! Its especially hard when I'm still laying in bed and its dark out! Way to go baby! =) Keep it up! we are doing this! =)

hahah Albright! I can't possibly be on a team called the Seahawks.....I'm a die hard Patriots fan! heheheh Steelers fan eh? We are rivals! =) =) I like Sea Turtles too =) Banned excuse: Calling it "quits" and "giving up" for the day once I eat something bad. Changed Habit: If I have a weak moment and eat something that shoots me over my points, I'm not going to look at it as a failed day, I will continue to watch what I'm eating for the rest of the day. As for my day yesterday.....I ended up at a 3...BUT....I found out that is because Aunt Flo came to visit, which has a tendancy to make my snacking go a little crazy, especially on salty things. So overall...I only went a few points over...but....to get a perfect 5 for my banned excuse, I need to eat at my points....and make that decision to not eat more! I did manage to wake up this morning...and do Aerobics "on the beach" for 35 minutes....sooo that was good! Hope you are all having a great day! =)

Here we go GREEN Team! The only things I could think of so far are: Sea turtles Sea glass Seaweed I'll post others as I think of things....but Green is hard! hahahah Hubby (gbags) is on the Blue team….soooo there will be a little friendly rivalry going on at home! Hehehe =0

I want to join too! =) Here is my B.E.A.C.H (love the name!) Banned excuse: Calling it "quits" and "giving up" for the day once I eat something bad. Changed Habit: If I have a weak moment and eat something that shoots me over my points, I'm not going to look at it as a failed day, I will continue to watch what I'm eating for the rest of the day.