2012 (Biggest Loser) Tug Weight Loss Thread

[Elan]

This would be easier if I hadn't gotten that french fry cutter I requested for Xmas. I blame my wife!

 

[DonnaD]

OK, count me in too

I have been attending WW meetings and making progress slowly since mid-September, but we are in Mazatlan for 6 weeks ending on 2/18 when I will go back to meetings. I have been swimming about a mile a day most days and we have chosen our food for our unit carefully so that our choices are healthy. I am hoping that I will find out that I have lost some weight upon my return home. I don't see a scale in the gym. I was down 17 lbs. when we left home so I hope I can see progress. I will follow this thread and join all of you in our "glorious quest"....I want to stay healthy so I can be part of our children's and grandchildren's lives...I want to continue to enjoy travelling to our timeshares as we move more fully into full retirement...
This thread is a good support thread for all of us. thanks for starting it....
DonnaD

 

[Passepartout]

This would be easier if I hadn't gotten that french fry cutter I requested for Xmas. I blame my wife!

Hey, It coulda been worse. You might have asked for and received a pie maker or home brewing outfit. You can oven-bake the fries. Not entirely harmless, but better than those at the Arctic Circle.

Jim

 

[pjrose]

With you on that!

I thought it was to start the 31st, and since this is only the 2nd, and my WW weigh-in is tomorrow , I figured that would be close enough! Anyway, that's when I'm starting!

ok, I weighed in today. It wasn't good, but I suppose that just gives me more of a challenge.

So the plan was to start today.....why, oh why did DH decide to make baked ziti for dinner?

At least I was too full of ziti to get popcorn at the movies!

But then there's Sunday.....I'm making wings (simmered briefly first to get rid of some fat, and then roasted on a rack so more will drip off, I hope), and mini-pies (see Jim's post above LOL). So many challenges.....

 

[dioxide45]

Sorry guys and gals. I determined after the huge number of people that said they were in, there was no way I could keep track of anything, let alone teams for friendly competition.

Our local grocery store had beef tenderloin on sale for $6.99/lb. I trimmed it and cut it in to filets myself. So, tonight for dinner we had a baked potato with fat free sour cream, corn, and I made a pan sauce with some mushrooms. It was great. We don't get filet at restaurants because it was always so expensive for what you got. This was much cheaper and better for us than the ribeye at Outback Steakhouse.

It is now about portion sizes for us. Before when we would each have a big ole ribeye, now we will have a 5oz filet. We will still have some ribeye, but will split one every once and a while instead.

As for those BBQ potato chips that I crave, where a serving is 1oz, in the past I would probably eat 4 or 5, you can't eat just one . Proper portion is now our focus. So one serving every couple weeks is better. I can still have what I like, but just need to control how much of it I eat. We know we have to make this a lifestyle change in order for it to work long term.

MyFitnessPal is great as long as you are willing to log your food intake. It will keep track of calories, fat, sodium, protein, and other nutritional data. You set it up with your information and it sets your daily targets for you. We aim to get as close to all of those targets as we can.

 

[dioxide45]

ok, I weighed in today. It wasn't good, but I suppose that just gives me more of a challenge.

So the plan was to start today.....why, oh why did DH decide to make baked ziti for dinner?

At least I was too full of ziti to get popcorn at the movies!

But then there's Sunday.....I'm making wings (simmered briefly first to get rid of some fat, and then roasted on a rack so more will drip off, I hope), and mini-pies (see Jim's post above LOL). So many challenges.....

By not frying the wings, you are cutting out a lot of calories and fat. However, wings are not the best chicken because of the dark meat and high amount of skin in proportion to the meat. That said, I still love chicken wings and won't want to deprive myself too long. Though of course I like mine breaded and fried. Those will be out except for the extremely special occasion.

Now instead of 12 breaded and fried wing with buttery buffalo sauce, it will be six baked wings with a sweet chili sauce. Still not great, but much better.

 

[pjrose]

By not frying the wings, you are cutting out a lot of calories and fat. However, wings are not the best chicken because of the dark meat and high amount of skin in proportion to the meat. That said, I still love chicken wings and won't want to deprive myself too long. Though of course I like mine breaded and fried. Those will be out except for the extremely special occasion.

Now instead of 12 breaded and fried wing with buttery buffalo sauce, it will be six baked wings with a sweet chili sauce. Still not great, but much better.

Mine get no sauce - I sprinkle the raw wing sections with either Good Seasons Italian Dressing mix, or Hidden Valley Ranch ditto, and/or chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder. That's it. Maybe have some fat-free or low-fat dressings available for dips.

And you're right, they aren't the best meat - but I only eat them about once a year. The ones that our grocery sells in a big frozen bag are HUGE - four sections is plenty.

 

[Elan]

Hey, It coulda been worse. You might have asked for and received a pie maker or home brewing outfit. You can oven-bake the fries. Not entirely harmless, but better than those at the Arctic Circle.

Jim

Yeah, if she'd bought me a still, I'd really be in trouble.

I could bake the fries, but after my daughter informed me that my double-fried homemade fries blew away McDonalds, it's gonna be hard to do 'em any other way.

 

[heathpack]

Yeah, if she'd bought me a still, I'd really be in trouble.

I could bake the fries, but after my daughter informed me that my double-fried homemade fries blew away McDonalds, it's gonna be hard to do 'em any other way.

While you're at it, you might as well double fry em in duck fat. That would seriously taste the best. Ooh, and then whip yourself up a nice garlic aioli. If you're going to eat the calories, they might as well be the tastiest possible.

THEN hit the gym. For 2 hours.

H

 

[Elan]

While you're at it, you might as well double fry em in duck fat. That would seriously taste the best. Ooh, and then whip yourself up a nice garlic aioli. If you're going to eat the calories, they might as well be the tastiest possible.

THEN hit the gym. For 2 hours.

H

We've done the garlic fries. And sweet potato fries. All fantastic.

 

[dioxide45]

Yeah, if she'd bought me a still, I'd really be in trouble.

I could bake the fries, but after my daughter informed me that my double-fried homemade fries blew away McDonalds, it's gonna be hard to do 'em any other way.

Nothing beats double fried home made french fries. I cut the fries and let them soak in cold water for a while, then fry them for about 10 minutes at 325, then turn up the heat to 375-400 and flash fry them for about a minute and a half to two minutes. Just add the cheese curds and gravy and it is perfect.

 

[dioxide45]

We've done the garlic fries. And sweet potato fries. All fantastic.

We also do (well did) the garlic Parmesan fries. I usually clarify some butter, then stir in some Parmesan cheese and garlic power. Drizzle over the fries and voila.

This thread really isn't helping with the weight loss...

 

[Elan]

Nothing beats double fried home made french fries. I cut the fries and let them soak in cold water for a while, then fry them for about 10 minutes at 325, then turn up the heat to 375-400 and flash fry them for about a minute and a half to two minutes. Just add the cheese curds and gravy and it is perfect.

I also soak in cold water to remove as much starch as possible. Sometimes even overnight.

Haven't tried the cheese curds and gravy, but sounds good.

Is this still the weight loss thread?

 

[Elan]

We also do (well did) the garlic Parmesan fries. I usually clarify some butter, then stir in some Parmesan cheese and garlic power. Drizzle over the fries and voila.

This thread really isn't helping with the weight loss...

We use minced garlic, butter and chopped fresh parsley for garlic fries. Adding the parm seems like it would help with adhesion. May have to try that next.

 

[heathpack]

Good News: Walked four hours yesterday- at Disneyland

Bad News: consumed one giant corn dog and a large percentage of an over-large bag of kettle corn

Good News: Went to gym this am. Elliptical 3.2 mi, 350 cal, 34 min. Cognizant of the corn dog and still feeling peppy after the elliptical session, swam a full mile. First half mile steady pace, 22:38. Second half mile, swam "fast" (for me) every 2nd half lap, 17:54. It is possible that I miscounted laps and only swam 14 laps in the second half- looking at the time, I would say that is likely. I thought it was going to take me a really long time to build up to a full mile swimming. I would love to knock that mile swim time down to 35 min. But first things first: my April Y Tri.

H

 

[jlf58]

Been on a diet since 5/2 so have a head start , down, 88 LBS.... more to go...I do the gym 6 days a week. I tried to break my all time best cardio workout yesterday and did it.
Stairmaster
level 2/3
80 minutes
1001 calories burned.


I average about 500 a day but figured what the hell.

 

[pjrose]

Been on a diet since 5/2 so have a head start , down, 88 LBS.... more to go...I do the gym 6 days a week. I tried to break my all time best cardio workout yesterday and did it.
Stairmaster
level 2/3
80 minutes
1001 calories burned.


I average about 500 a day but figured what the hell.

Congratulations!

 

[pjrose]

Nothing beats double fried home made french fries. I cut the fries and let them soak in cold water for a while, then fry them for about 10 minutes at 325, then turn up the heat to 375-400 and flash fry them for about a minute and a half to two minutes. Just add the cheese curds and gravy and it is perfect.

I thought this was a way of supporting ourselves through weight loss - just reading about these is making me gain weight LOL!

 

[BevL]

Fries, cheese curds and gravy = poutine.

Just ate one tonight - am preloading before I start my diet Monday. I eat about two a year. I think I can still hear my arteries screaming!!

 

[dioxide45]

Okay, tonight it was a split chicken breast with an overnight spice rub. Pan seared and then finished in the oven. Whipped up one large boiled potato and with a little salt and about a quarter cup of 2% evaporated milk. Great "mashed potatoes". Also some whole wheat pasta with cut up mushrooms cut, slowly poured in some evaporated milk over medium heat and then added a little Parmesan cheese. All quite good and rather filling.

Also spent 30 minutes on the treadmill at the gym.

 

[heathpack]

Biked 15 miles yesterday in 1:28 on my clunky $37.50 mountain bike.

Weigh-in this am: one pound lost in week 1. The game plan in one pound per week. So far, so good.

H

 

[heathpack]

Elliptical 2.85 miles, 315 cal in 30:00
Then swimming 1/2 mile in 19:36

About 500 cal overall.

H

 

[Kaye]

Haven't heard in almost 3 weeks - what's up! Okay, just starting to read TUG again (been off awhile), although LT member. Joined WW last month, not doing great on the scale - YET. Following the diet, but maybe not getting in ENOUGH points (isn't that wierd, because I'm eating all the time).

I'm a Type 2 diabetic, and no control of my sugars. In the past month, my sugars have dropped about 50-60 points, so I'm definitely succeeding in the right direction. Controlling the diabetes is my ultimate goal - weight loss is only a portion of this. Scale wise, at home, I've lost 15 lbs since November.

Would love to read other's efforts, even if no team competition took off.

Favorite go-to items - NEW FAVORITE - 0% fat greek yogurt with strawberries and small amount of granola - all new to my diet, but CRAVING this stuff. Just once per day, but forget desert - just put this in front of me.

And, peanut butter. Okay, I know - go light. But WW has always been about taking some small amount of good fat, and peanut butter apparently has it. And, when I work out, I crave this. Fortunately, a little has always been good enough for me, but again - making room in the diet for this stuff.

 

[heathpack]

Secret Weapons?

Haven't heard in almost 3 weeks - what's up! Okay, just starting to read TUG again (been off awhile), although LT member. Joined WW last month, not doing great on the scale - YET. Following the diet, but maybe not getting in ENOUGH points (isn't that wierd, because I'm eating all the time).

I'm a Type 2 diabetic, and no control of my sugars. In the past month, my sugars have dropped about 50-60 points, so I'm definitely succeeding in the right direction. Controlling the diabetes is my ultimate goal - weight loss is only a portion of this. Scale wise, at home, I've lost 15 lbs since November.

Would love to read other's efforts, even if no team competition took off.

Favorite go-to items - NEW FAVORITE - 0% fat greek yogurt with strawberries and small amount of granola - all new to my diet, but CRAVING this stuff. Just once per day, but forget desert - just put this in front of me.

And, peanut butter. Okay, I know - go light. But WW has always been about taking some small amount of good fat, and peanut butter apparently has it. And, when I work out, I crave this. Fortunately, a little has always been good enough for me, but again - making room in the diet for this stuff.

Interesting post, Kaye, about the Greek yogurt. Last year I lost 35 pounds and Greek yogurt with strawberries and some crunchy Kashi is one of my secret diet weapons.

I love this stuff. 6oz Fage 0% Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup frozen supermarket brand sliced strawberries, 2 T Kashi Go Lean Crunch, about 150 calories. It is my standard lunch dessert. Why is this such a great diet food? Mostly the trick is that Greek yogurt is much higher in protein than regular yogurt, which for most people translates to better satiety. I also think the lack of sugar helps a bit, I find this very refreshing but most commercially sweetened yogurts cloyingly sweet. I also really like the crunch, it gives a nice textural contrast.

Anyone else have any good secret weapons to share?

H

 

[heathpack]

Scrapped out a 3000 cal deficit last week despite an overwhelming urge to snack (which I mostly succumbed to, damn you Cheez-Its!).

Swam about 1.75 miles, biked 15.5 miles, ellipticaled about 10 miles, walked about 5 miles, XBox Kinect Zen Energied 20 min (Tai Chi like exercise), plus XBox Kinect bowled 6 games. Total calories burned about 2400. Exercise is my only hope.

Am a total of 1.5 pounds down since TUG BL started. I lost all the easy weight last year. Now every pound seems to fight for its life!

H