It's really easy to make your own salad dressings. I make up a small batch every couple of days. The fun thing is you can be so creative...no batch is quite the same as the last. It's cheaper, fresher and better for you. Start with some vinegar and olive oil (and I sometimes omit the oil); add a main flavor, e.g. - low sodium soy sauce; hummus; miso paste or mustard; add an enhancer - herbs, garlic; chillies; hot sauce; dried seaweed; anchovy paste, lemon juice, etc. I put mine in a small jar with a tight lid - pour it all in - I don't even bother to measure anymore - I eyeball it. Put lid on and give it a good shake. Yummy! And I make enough for 2 or 3 servings, as I eat a salad most days. If you have to take your lunch with you - keep your dressing seperate from the salald until you are ready to eat.

Count them. Those calories may seem low...but added together - they add up quickly. Plus there are items that you think have almost no calories ..but they do...watermelon is an example!

Congratulations...it is hard, so celebrate!...enjoy the moment and keep the next goal in focus.

Good Luck! Tomorrow is always a new day and a new opportunity to do better. Tracking all your calories will be very helpful and an eye-opener! While eating right and exercising is optimal for weight loss - they don't always have to go hand in hand. I have lost 35 pounds by just counting calories and no exercise - other than the odd walk. However, I knew it was a matter of time before I plateaued and really needed to start working out. So I am now 2 weeks into daily exercising. But we face daily challenges and there will be days when you won't be able to exercise...don't throw in the towel and eat everything in sight...stay on track and if you can increase your exercise the next day - great. Whether it is avoiding extra calorie - by putting that cookie back in the box - or doing 10 minutes of exercise, or 10 minutes extra...it all helps. I really think planning ahead will help a lot too. If you know tomorrow is a no exercise day - be more careful with calories. Pack your lunch; keep a stash of healthy snacks nearby; adjust tomorrow plans based on todays successes or lack of. It's not easy - but being in control will make you successful!

Maybe you need to think about your current weight goal differently. You say you thought this would be ideal and now you are disappointed that it isn't and you want to lose 10 more pounds. I chose my initial goal as 160 pounds. Although this is 45 pounds lighter than where I was in December..it is still not an ideal weight for my height. However I chose 160, because I could remember a time when I was that weight (many years ago!) and it felt achievable to me. If I had put 150 pounds or 140 pounds...it seemed just so far away, I'm not sure I would have made it. However, I knew that if/when I did make it to 160...then I would almost certainly introduce a new goal of somewhere in the 140-150 range. It's ok to do this in stages. I just felt that it was more achievable for me. So you could look at it in the same way...you have almost reached goal one...celebrate it and onto goal 2. It's ok to be frustrated and disappointed....acknowledge it, banish it and now time to take control and work thru it. That's why FS and the support you get here is so beneficial...we all need help and motivation. Good luck!

Congrats on your loss so far...and so close to goal. I can imagine your frustration. I can also understand that because you are so close...you feel you can ease up a little and not work so hard. Perhaps you need a new motivator or incentive. What could you reward yourself with when you reach goal....something that will really incent you to push your way there. It also sounds like you need a new plan now that you are almost at goal. In the beginning we know we have to eat less, be more active, track calories, make smart choices, etc. Now that you are close to maintenance mode - what does that look like; how many calories can you consume; how hard will you exercise, etc. Whether you decide to lose another 10 pounds or not....perhaps write up a plan for what maintenance mode looks like for you. That might help you visualize the next phase, make better choices and not slide backwards. You have done an amazing job of making it this far...you will make it to goal...and you can make this lifestyle work for you. Outline what you have to do to make it and take control....a few weeks from now you will be thrilled to be where you are.

For me the number one tool has been tracking my calories...it's eye opening in the beginning. Then it becomes a way to control and plan intake. Reading and sharing stories, tips, comments on FS has also been helpful. I know exercise is so beneficial and I have started a daily routine, however, I have done the whole exercise, gym thing before and have always given up eventually...so I hope I can make it a lifestyle thing from here on...but only time will tell. Although so far it has been for the benefit of fewer calories...I can see that in the future I will certainly continue to eat more vegetables in my diet than I ever did before. Realizing this is a lifestyle change and commitment and not a diet will be key as I eventually move into maintenance mode. I'm committed to it now and I don't want to go back to where I was...so hopefully these new found good habits will continue.

Congrats...I bet it feels great. Good luck with maintenance.

I too love chips...I would take them over ice cream and cake any day. Unfortunately I don't have a dehydrator. But they sound good. you could probably add some seasonings for varied flavor...onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, etc.

As mentioned above - there can be so many variables...time of day; time of month; what you ate; water retention; how much sodium you consumed; what you are wearing. I find I am off from my doctors scales by 5 pounds every time compared to my home scales. What matters is that you keep track of your weight using the same scale on a regular basis at the same time each day/frequency. Don't stress too much about the discrepancy. If you are seeing progress - clothes looser, you feel more energetic, feel better, etc - then you are doping something right!

I switched to almond milk (unsweetened) as of January. It tastes different from regular milk - so adjust your expectations...it will not taste like cows milk. It was an adjustment for me...but now I am used to it. I cannot drink my coffee without milk or creamer - so it was worth it for me to switch due to the low calories. I use about 1/4 cup per large coffee mug and that's only 10 calories. I actually prefer the unsweetened almond coconut milk to the vanilla flavor. (Assuming you like coconut). For me - it was worth switching..I've saved a lot of calories. Try it - worst case you don't like it and try something else. I don't think you can say you will waste calories - as 1 cup is only 40 calories if you have the unsweetened kind...and still relatively low if you have the sweetened version. Plus one cup won't impact intake that much! You might find it easier to adjust if you use it with cereal, rather than drinking it straight, as it will take on some of the cereal flavors. I would recommend it.

As busymom mentioned - Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred is only 20 -25 minutes - and it has 3 levels of difficulty. The baby can sit and watch you do your jumping jacks!!

Just did day 1 of 30 day shred. Owww! My knees are like jelly. But I plan on making through all 30 days. I have not been doing any exercise except some walking, so this kicked my butt. How long before you moved up to level 2, and then level 3? How are you tracking this in exercise? I have taken measurements today, so I am excited to see where I'll be at day 30! I imagine tomorrow will be tough, but I'm hoping it gets better after a few days! :oops:

I agree with ghenne about mixing up your salads...and storing misc items in the fridge is a great way to do it. My salads are never the same each day. I will throw leftovers in too...rice; green beans, salmon, couscous etc. Try nuts, fruit, a few croutons for crunch, a little cheese. When you mix in a lot of complementary items - you don't need a lot of each thing. 1/2 an ounce of cheese works just fine with other veggies. You can define what a salad is to you....it does not have to include lettuce....be creative. Re when to cook/prep - do it when you have time. I will sometimes cook or prep something for the next day, while I'm making dinner. Chopping 2 lots of veggies is just as easy as chopping one lot. If you are a morning person - by all means prep while the coffee is brewing. You can chop/prep most veggies ahead of time...so do enough in one go for the week and store them.

I love to cook...which is one of the reasons I had put on weight over the years. I now try to channel that passion into learning about new and healthy foods, new cooking techniques and creating lower calorie versions of favorites. I go to the grocery store weekly and buy foods for the coming week. I plan out meals in advance and load up on fruits and vegetables. I like to make enough for leftovers for my lunch the next day. I have salads most days...and have looked for ways to make them more exciting - but healthy. I make my own dressings. I think if you plan ahead...and buy the food - you will be less likely to waste it and less likely to order in. I think it's important to make your own food whenever possible when on a weight loss journey - that way you control everything you put in your mouth - not just calories - but things like sodium - which can be very high in processed foods. Make enough for leftovers. Make up individual salads at the beginning of the week and store in tupperware..just leave out the dressing till ready to use. Keep healthy snacks in the fridge. Look for other motivators to keep you on track. Track calories on FS; keep too tight clothes nearby to try on regularly; keep a journal; create rewards for mini milestones. There are hundreds of healthy recipes out there. Look in FS, pinterest; google searches, cooking light, etc. Start experimenting...try something new. Good luck

Congratulations. Don't forget that moment...one more way to keep you motivated.

That would be great to have it here...send FS a suggestion!

Just wanted to share a quote that I keep nearby - that helps me stay on track...maybe it will help someone else too. "A year from now you will wish you had started today"

Congratulations

Congratulations. It's great when you manage to drop so much weight or enough weight where you really notice the difference. You are giving yourself the best gift ever - a healthy body. Keep it up!