This is a quick post. I haven't forgotten! It's been a busy day. I also had the pleasure of being invite over to MizFit's to be a "guest chef". I am not really sure how I qualified for that but thank you Carla :) So go check out my 2 minutes of fame...hehe
I will be back later with the recipe of the day. I promise, I promise I will get to you all's blogs today (boy, that sounded very country)
Ok, onto the recipe. I think today will be...dessert. Many of you have probably already seen these and maybe tried them but have gotten the recipe off the WW boards in the past.
DIET SODA CAKES
24 muffins at 2 points each or
12 slices of cake at 3 points each
Most Popular:
Ingredients
1 box dry chocolate cake mix
2 egg whites
12 ounces diet cola
Instructions
Mix together and bake in 13 x 9 inch pan according to package directions. Add 2 Tablespoons Fat Free Cool Whip for zero additional points, or “frost” cake with entire 8 ounce container for 1 extra point per serving.
Other flavors:
Orange cake mix with either diet orange or diet crème soda
Yellow cake with diet red or diet cherry
Yellow cake mix with diet crème soda or diet sprite type soda and toss in ½ cup fresh blueberries. (not enough to make point difference)
Spice cake mix with diet root beer
Katschi also submitted a recipe for today.
Turkey Tomato Hash
Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey
1 19 oz can diced tomatoes
1 cup frozen corn
1 onion, diced
1 green pepper, chopped (today I used peas instead)
1 tsp dried dill
1 tsp Mrs Dash Chipotle seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
In a large covered skillet, cook turkey till no longer pink. Add remaining ingredients, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Good news and bad news
I have good news and bad news. Remember, yesterday I said that I was going to start going to WW meetings again. Well, that's going to be put on hold for now and I will continue to plug along on my own. I have all the tools, there is no reason why I shouldn't be able to do it on my own. The reason why is...
My roommate gave me notice last night. I really wanted to wait a few more months to give her notice so I could pad the bank a little, get some things paid off, and of course, I wanted it to be on my time :). However, the blood incident pretty much had put the writing on the wall for her so she started looking. She comes into the kitchen last night and hands me her 30 days notice. She says she found some place considerably cheaper. She pays me $550 a month, which includes everything (electric, water, cable TV, movie channels, Internet access, lawn service, pest control..blah blah blah). Cheaper? What is it, a refrigerator box? Sorry, she makes it sound like I am charging her a fortune! Adios!
What this means is that I will have my house back, when I clean it will stay clean, my utility bills should go down, there will be room in the refrigerator for my things, I will no longer be embarrassed for company to come over and use the "house bathroom", no more smelly, bloody dog, so many things to be excited about. Most importantly, I will be able to walk around nekkid again if I want (don't visualize, it will ruin your breakfast). I can enjoy coming home again and not have to stress over whether she is there or not. This also means that I am going to have to be really strict with my money. No more eating out (this is not a bad thing), hold off on the WW meetings (going to try to keep gym membership) and basically just watch my spending closely. I had registered for some college classes this next semester so I need to see if I can still swing those.
The other good news, I almost forgot, with all the excitement over the roommate leaving..I checked the scale this morning. It is back to where it was before the huge overnight 6lb gain so looking forward to a decent weigh in this week!
I apologize for not coming to visit you all. I am going to try to catch up with all of you today.
My roommate gave me notice last night. I really wanted to wait a few more months to give her notice so I could pad the bank a little, get some things paid off, and of course, I wanted it to be on my time :). However, the blood incident pretty much had put the writing on the wall for her so she started looking. She comes into the kitchen last night and hands me her 30 days notice. She says she found some place considerably cheaper. She pays me $550 a month, which includes everything (electric, water, cable TV, movie channels, Internet access, lawn service, pest control..blah blah blah). Cheaper? What is it, a refrigerator box? Sorry, she makes it sound like I am charging her a fortune! Adios!
What this means is that I will have my house back, when I clean it will stay clean, my utility bills should go down, there will be room in the refrigerator for my things, I will no longer be embarrassed for company to come over and use the "house bathroom", no more smelly, bloody dog, so many things to be excited about. Most importantly, I will be able to walk around nekkid again if I want (don't visualize, it will ruin your breakfast). I can enjoy coming home again and not have to stress over whether she is there or not. This also means that I am going to have to be really strict with my money. No more eating out (this is not a bad thing), hold off on the WW meetings (going to try to keep gym membership) and basically just watch my spending closely. I had registered for some college classes this next semester so I need to see if I can still swing those.
The other good news, I almost forgot, with all the excitement over the roommate leaving..I checked the scale this morning. It is back to where it was before the huge overnight 6lb gain so looking forward to a decent weigh in this week!
I apologize for not coming to visit you all. I am going to try to catch up with all of you today.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Challenge Update
Good morning!
I have updated the challenge status. Good job ladies. I was hoping that this challenge would have helped me and that I would have been some sort of competition for you but it hasn't happened like that. This Thursday I am signing up for the WW meetings. I am not going to try to do it on my own anymore. If it's not working, you have to change it right? Don't get me wrong, I haven't given up (which I am happy to say that this is a first for me to not just throw in the towel). I will never give up. I have reprogrammed my brain (not sure how, but it just sort of happened).
Anyway, have you heard the song "Cupid Shuffle". I absolutely love the beat. I have to get it on my IPod because it just makes you want to move. Even if you don't like hip hop, doesn't it make you want to move? There is a line dance that goes with the song but figured I would show you this video that someone edited and put in the song. It's cute :)
I have updated the challenge status. Good job ladies. I was hoping that this challenge would have helped me and that I would have been some sort of competition for you but it hasn't happened like that. This Thursday I am signing up for the WW meetings. I am not going to try to do it on my own anymore. If it's not working, you have to change it right? Don't get me wrong, I haven't given up (which I am happy to say that this is a first for me to not just throw in the towel). I will never give up. I have reprogrammed my brain (not sure how, but it just sort of happened).
Anyway, have you heard the song "Cupid Shuffle". I absolutely love the beat. I have to get it on my IPod because it just makes you want to move. Even if you don't like hip hop, doesn't it make you want to move? There is a line dance that goes with the song but figured I would show you this video that someone edited and put in the song. It's cute :)
Monday, July 28, 2008
Monday Check-in
Good morning! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.
F called me Friday night and we talked for probably an hour, we haven't done that in a long, long time. It was a good conversation. In fact, he told me that the reason why he is distant is because he doesn't trust himself with me. He could very easily be in a serious relationship with me and it scares the crap out of him because he has screwed up all of the others in the past. He continued to say that he is probably screwing this up too by the way he is handling it. I told him, yes you are. I am past the stage of "crying myself to sleep" or sitting in the corner sucking my thumb but I still love the man. Oh, for the record I really didn't sit in the corner sucking my thumb. I did, however, shed a few tears. He asked me to go to a movie with him. He didn't say when. I guess he won some movie tickets. I told him that was nice to ask me and he told me that "it was our thing".
Then there is 6-pack. I have been getting emails from him every chance he gets to get on a computer. Poor guy. His family and all his friends are telling him what they want to do when he gets back and where they want to take him. He told me last night that he really just wants to lay low the two weeks he is off and sleep in a real bed. Do you believe that these men and women that are fighting for our country, being shot at daily, living in 115 degree heat, away from their loved ones for a minimum of 6 months come home and they get two weeks off. Two weeks?! Our congressmen and women take more time off at the local spa, for pete's sake! It just really aggravates me. Our servicemen and women deserve more.
Ok, onto the Monday morning weigh-in. It was not pleasant. I am not recording it. I am going to weigh myself again in the morning to see if there is any difference because it put me 6 lbs up from last week! Now, several variables are mixed into that. I had that pizza earlier in the week, I haven't journaled the past couple of days, TOM is coming and I am not happy about it. He is bringing bloaty, crampy and fatty with him. So, I am not overly concerned about this 6 lbs. I know I didn't eat an extra 18,000 + calories for the week.
I am prepared today. Bring it on!
F called me Friday night and we talked for probably an hour, we haven't done that in a long, long time. It was a good conversation. In fact, he told me that the reason why he is distant is because he doesn't trust himself with me. He could very easily be in a serious relationship with me and it scares the crap out of him because he has screwed up all of the others in the past. He continued to say that he is probably screwing this up too by the way he is handling it. I told him, yes you are. I am past the stage of "crying myself to sleep" or sitting in the corner sucking my thumb but I still love the man. Oh, for the record I really didn't sit in the corner sucking my thumb. I did, however, shed a few tears. He asked me to go to a movie with him. He didn't say when. I guess he won some movie tickets. I told him that was nice to ask me and he told me that "it was our thing".
Then there is 6-pack. I have been getting emails from him every chance he gets to get on a computer. Poor guy. His family and all his friends are telling him what they want to do when he gets back and where they want to take him. He told me last night that he really just wants to lay low the two weeks he is off and sleep in a real bed. Do you believe that these men and women that are fighting for our country, being shot at daily, living in 115 degree heat, away from their loved ones for a minimum of 6 months come home and they get two weeks off. Two weeks?! Our congressmen and women take more time off at the local spa, for pete's sake! It just really aggravates me. Our servicemen and women deserve more.
Ok, onto the Monday morning weigh-in. It was not pleasant. I am not recording it. I am going to weigh myself again in the morning to see if there is any difference because it put me 6 lbs up from last week! Now, several variables are mixed into that. I had that pizza earlier in the week, I haven't journaled the past couple of days, TOM is coming and I am not happy about it. He is bringing bloaty, crampy and fatty with him. So, I am not overly concerned about this 6 lbs. I know I didn't eat an extra 18,000 + calories for the week.
I am prepared today. Bring it on!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Recipe Thursday
Hmm, I didn't have much to say today. Then I remembered it's Recipe Thursday. I'm not prepared but I still have something for you!
It's really, really easy and you don't even need a recipe card to right it down.
Ready?
No, it's not order in...
...and it has no name.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
If you are counting points, the entire dinner (add some green beans or something) is 6 points (4oz chicken breast, 4 oz baked potato, 1 cup green beans). You can't beat that!
It's really, really easy and you don't even need a recipe card to right it down.
Ready?
No, it's not order in...
...and it has no name.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Chicken breasts (boneless, skinless...however, many you want)
- Can of crushed tomatoes. I like to use the italian seasoned one with oregano and italian seasoning, etc)
If you are counting points, the entire dinner (add some green beans or something) is 6 points (4oz chicken breast, 4 oz baked potato, 1 cup green beans). You can't beat that!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
What are you doing well?
I was bad, very, very bad. I got home yesterday (after not going to the gym, again) and the food I had planned for dinner just didn't sound good to me (major problem). I hadn't had pizza in a long time. I couldn't talk myself out of it and ordered the pizza. You would think that was enough, right? No, I had to go further and order the Chocolate Dunkers. The funny thing, if you can find anything funny about this is that I am not a huge sweets eater. So needless to say I had pizza and chocolate dunkers for dinner last night. I felt so guilty about it yesterday while eating it, I almost through out the rest but I didn't. It is wrapped up in the frig. I did go over my points yesterday A LOT..not just a little but A LOT. I am not going to tell you how many (because it disgusts me) but let's just say I better be really damn good the rest of the week. I am not going to beat myself up over it. Today is a new day and I got my fix, so it should be smooth sailing the rest of the week.
The one thing I am proud of is that in the past when I would have weak moments and go over in points the way I did yesterday, I wouldn't journal it. That part of the day would be empty in the journal. Not today, I went to the Pizza Hut web site and got the nutritional information, calculated the points (no matter, how painful) and journaled it. So today's post is not only about my confession but to talk about the things that we are doing well. We always tend to beat ourselves up and then sometimes we just give up.
Things I am doing well.
1. I drink more water (mainly fresh green/oolong tea) than I ever did. I crave it now.
2. I think about the food I am eating and whether it is worth it? That didn't work so well last night, but most of the time. Even though I had a bad night with my choices, I had turned down donuts, candy and eating lunch out earlier in the day.
3. I make more better choices than bad choices.
4. I exercise..sporadically, but it's more than I used to do.
5. I am journaling everything, no matter how painful it is.
6. I am eating healthier foods.
So, I am not perfect and I never will be. However, for those of you that are struggling and hanging on to that wagon by your fingernails, try to remember that this is a lifestyle change and every little step counts. I am proud of what I am doing well, despite the occasional setback. You should be too.
What are you doing well?
The one thing I am proud of is that in the past when I would have weak moments and go over in points the way I did yesterday, I wouldn't journal it. That part of the day would be empty in the journal. Not today, I went to the Pizza Hut web site and got the nutritional information, calculated the points (no matter, how painful) and journaled it. So today's post is not only about my confession but to talk about the things that we are doing well. We always tend to beat ourselves up and then sometimes we just give up.
Things I am doing well.
1. I drink more water (mainly fresh green/oolong tea) than I ever did. I crave it now.
2. I think about the food I am eating and whether it is worth it? That didn't work so well last night, but most of the time. Even though I had a bad night with my choices, I had turned down donuts, candy and eating lunch out earlier in the day.
3. I make more better choices than bad choices.
4. I exercise..sporadically, but it's more than I used to do.
5. I am journaling everything, no matter how painful it is.
6. I am eating healthier foods.
So, I am not perfect and I never will be. However, for those of you that are struggling and hanging on to that wagon by your fingernails, try to remember that this is a lifestyle change and every little step counts. I am proud of what I am doing well, despite the occasional setback. You should be too.
What are you doing well?
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
BLC Update
UPDATED: I decided to go and add up all the pounds lost that everyone has submitted over the past several weeks. Guess, how much we have lost as a group. Give up?
Hmm, I think the BLC is losing some steam. I am not getting as many weigh ins now as I was in the beginning. My fear is that when I don't get regular weigh-ins (I am not referring to the occasional missed week or just late in the week) is that they fell off the wagon. It is nice to see some of you still going strong! My good news, is that if all goes well I will finally be on the plus side of the total percentage next week. Yay, there will not be a minus sign at my total weight lost!
When updating the status today, I almost started removing people that haven't weighed in since the first week. I may still do that but will wait another week. I will keep them on my spreadsheet that is calculating the percentages but on the status report that you see, I might remove them.
Other than that, I really don't have much to report. My menu yesterday is pretty much how my day went. However, I did add 20 almonds and another small baked potato at about 10p because I was starving. I went and re-calculated my points yesterday and it was off by a little bit in my favor :) so all in all it was a great day eating wise.
I am still just very low on energy so it is making it really hard for me to have motivation to get to the gym. I am going to try again today. It might be time to have my thyroid checked again.
138.8 pounds. That is awesome!!!
Way to go, guys!
Hmm, I think the BLC is losing some steam. I am not getting as many weigh ins now as I was in the beginning. My fear is that when I don't get regular weigh-ins (I am not referring to the occasional missed week or just late in the week) is that they fell off the wagon. It is nice to see some of you still going strong! My good news, is that if all goes well I will finally be on the plus side of the total percentage next week. Yay, there will not be a minus sign at my total weight lost!
When updating the status today, I almost started removing people that haven't weighed in since the first week. I may still do that but will wait another week. I will keep them on my spreadsheet that is calculating the percentages but on the status report that you see, I might remove them.
Other than that, I really don't have much to report. My menu yesterday is pretty much how my day went. However, I did add 20 almonds and another small baked potato at about 10p because I was starving. I went and re-calculated my points yesterday and it was off by a little bit in my favor :) so all in all it was a great day eating wise.
I am still just very low on energy so it is making it really hard for me to have motivation to get to the gym. I am going to try again today. It might be time to have my thyroid checked again.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
It's a great Monday!
I went and saw The Dark Knight with F yesterday and it was actually a good day. I even got a text from him last night to wish me sweet dreams, which he used to do every night. Maybe he is finally coming to his senses :). For those of you that haven't seen The Dark Knight, it was a great movie but I didn't see it as dark as critics have said. Yes, it was a dark role for Heath Ledger. It really is a shame that he isn't here to see it out. He was awesome in it and most of us in the theatre thought the movie was funny whenever he was on screen. You should see it!
2 German potato salad/egg beater english muffin - 8 pts.
1 cup fruit - 2 pts.
coffee = 3pts
German Potato Salad: 140 cal, 3.5 fat, 26 carb, 2 protein, 2 fiber
Egg Beaters: 40 cal, 1.5 fat, 0 carbs, 0 fiber, 6 protein
Whole Grain English Muffin: 130 cal, 1 fat, 26 carbs, 2 fiber, 5 protein
Lunch - 9pts
4 oz chicken breast - 3pts (I baked the seasoned tomatoes on top of chicken and then use the sauce on top of the potato..yum)
Seasoned diced tomatoes - 1 pt
5 oz baked potato - 3pts
1cup fruit - 2pts
Chicken breast: 130 calories, 1g fat, 27g protein
Diced tomatoes: 75 calories, 0g fat 15g carbs, 1g fiber, 3g protein
Baked potato: 145 calories, 1g fat, 34g carbs, 5g protein
Dinner -11 pts
4 oz chicken breast - 3pts
Seasoned diced tomatoes - 1 pt
5 oz baked potato - 3pts
1 cup green beans - 0 pts (43 calories, 9g carbs, 4g fiber, 0 fat, 2g protein)
2 cups 1% milk - 4 pts (110 cal, 2.5 g fat, 13g carbs, 0 fiber, 8g protein..each serving)
33 pts total
1403 calories
16g fat
These totals aren't totally accurate because I don't have the nutritional information in there for the fruit or my creamer but it gives me a general idea of what the totals are. 16g fat isn't too bad...yay!
I don't know if I wrote about this last week at all but I got an email that had a subject line of "A's friend". My heart dropped because I thought it was going to be an email to tell me something happened to A. On the contrary, it was his best friend and it's a female. He apparently calls home every two weeks while out in the field when he can. He talked to her the other day and asked her to email me to let me know that he was ok. She told me that he acted like a 5yr old kid asking her so she assumes that he must really be interested in me. We have been talking every day now so she can give A her stamp of approval...lol. So F better hurry up and come to his senses or 6pack abs might be in the picture :). 6pack abs definitely has advantages over F too...he has that romantic side, believes in that "fairy tale", writes poetry, loves deeply, good looking and he's not gay. F, on the other hand, is quiet, silly, handsome, not too much on the romantic side that I have seen...but something about him when he touches me sends chills up my spine.
Anyway... *sigh
Guess what? I am excited. I lost weight this week...woo hoo! 277.6 YAY...getting closer to the 260s. However, I have to confess I didn't deserve it. I didn't go to the gym all week. I didn't drink my water like I normally do. I had movie popcorn with movie butter, yesterday. I had Olive Garden this week with breadsticks and alfredo sauce. I know I was over on points and possibly on flex points. I didn't journal every meal. However, in my defense I didn't have an entree at Olive Garden (I had the salad), I didn't eat anything else yesterday besides the popcorn...but still not exactly a stellar diet. So I am grateful for those almost 2 lbs.
Also, over the weekend a good friend of mine bought a bike to start training for a triathlon and there is a bike ride in October that I might try to train for. You can sign up for 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-99 or 100 miles. They are giving away 2 $500 bikes as door prizes. I think I might try for the 40 mile bike ride. I need to get on my bike and see how far I can go now. I am not even sure how to start with the training. Start with 5 miles? 10 miles? I don't know, I guess I will figure it out as I go.
My menu for the day:
Breakfast- 13 pts2 German potato salad/egg beater english muffin - 8 pts.
1 cup fruit - 2 pts.
coffee = 3pts
German Potato Salad: 140 cal, 3.5 fat, 26 carb, 2 protein, 2 fiber
Egg Beaters: 40 cal, 1.5 fat, 0 carbs, 0 fiber, 6 protein
Whole Grain English Muffin: 130 cal, 1 fat, 26 carbs, 2 fiber, 5 protein
Lunch - 9pts
4 oz chicken breast - 3pts (I baked the seasoned tomatoes on top of chicken and then use the sauce on top of the potato..yum)
Seasoned diced tomatoes - 1 pt
5 oz baked potato - 3pts
1cup fruit - 2pts
Chicken breast: 130 calories, 1g fat, 27g protein
Diced tomatoes: 75 calories, 0g fat 15g carbs, 1g fiber, 3g protein
Baked potato: 145 calories, 1g fat, 34g carbs, 5g protein
Dinner -11 pts
4 oz chicken breast - 3pts
Seasoned diced tomatoes - 1 pt
5 oz baked potato - 3pts
1 cup green beans - 0 pts (43 calories, 9g carbs, 4g fiber, 0 fat, 2g protein)
2 cups 1% milk - 4 pts (110 cal, 2.5 g fat, 13g carbs, 0 fiber, 8g protein..each serving)
33 pts total
1403 calories
16g fat
These totals aren't totally accurate because I don't have the nutritional information in there for the fruit or my creamer but it gives me a general idea of what the totals are. 16g fat isn't too bad...yay!
Friday, July 18, 2008
5-bite diet
Have you heard about the 5-bite diet? I just heard about it on the radio this morning and I had to look it up. Curiosity, you know!
Apparently, according to Dr. Alwin Lewis, author of Why Weight Around recommends the five bite approach to weight loss. He seems to think that five is the perfect number of bites to take at a meal. Not four and definitely not six, but five bites. Would that be big bites or little bites? If I am eating only 5 bites, good thing I have a big mouth :)
Here are the guidelines:
Drink as much of anything as you want as long as it doesn't contain calories.
Take 5 bites of any food at lunch.
Take 5 bites of anything at dinner.
Take one multi-vitamin every day.
Get a bit of protein a day "on average".
Dr Lewis claims that after three days on this diet you will no longer be hungry: "that then resets what you body sees as full". Once you have reached your weight you can go back to "eating normally". So is this a self-inflicted lap band? I could see how this would re-program your brain and/or your stomach to accept smaller portions of food to feel full. However, how many people that have tried this really stopped at 3 days? Lewis sets an expection of 13 pounds a week in his book. Is he insane? How can that be healthy? I want to see the success stories. Where are the people 2 years later? Did they keep the weight off? Are they healthy?
I think I will just stick with what I am trying to do...limit processed foods, nothing with high fructose corn syrup, more fresh foods, more whole grains and I will take more than 5 bites!
Apparently, according to Dr. Alwin Lewis, author of Why Weight Around recommends the five bite approach to weight loss. He seems to think that five is the perfect number of bites to take at a meal. Not four and definitely not six, but five bites. Would that be big bites or little bites? If I am eating only 5 bites, good thing I have a big mouth :)
Here are the guidelines:
Drink as much of anything as you want as long as it doesn't contain calories.
Take 5 bites of any food at lunch.
Take 5 bites of anything at dinner.
Take one multi-vitamin every day.
Get a bit of protein a day "on average".
Dr Lewis claims that after three days on this diet you will no longer be hungry: "that then resets what you body sees as full". Once you have reached your weight you can go back to "eating normally". So is this a self-inflicted lap band? I could see how this would re-program your brain and/or your stomach to accept smaller portions of food to feel full. However, how many people that have tried this really stopped at 3 days? Lewis sets an expection of 13 pounds a week in his book. Is he insane? How can that be healthy? I want to see the success stories. Where are the people 2 years later? Did they keep the weight off? Are they healthy?
I think I will just stick with what I am trying to do...limit processed foods, nothing with high fructose corn syrup, more fresh foods, more whole grains and I will take more than 5 bites!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Recipe Thursday
I haven't gone to the gym this week. I should be flogged but I haven't been feeling very well, either. Last night I went home and was in bed by 6:30p (very unlike me), which could explain why my back is killing me. I am going to attempt to get there today, it would probably be good for my back to do a little bit of exercise and it might help with my energy level that seems to be non-existant this week.
So onto, our recipe. I haven't tried it yet but plan to this next week when I add more protein to my diet. I found the recipe online somewhere, I just can't remember where (a cancer website, I think) It sounds yummy!
Provolone and Olive Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly coat a baking sheet with sides with cooking spray. Combine the provolone, olives and pepper in a small bowl. Lightly beat the egg white with a fork in a medium bowl. Mix the breadcrumbs and salt in a shallow dish. Cut a horizontal slit along the thin, long edge of a chicken breast half, nearly through to the opposite side. Open up each breast and place one-fourth of the cheese filling in the center. Close the breast over the filling, pressing the edges ¬firmly together to seal. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts and filling. Hold each chicken breast half together and dip in egg white, then dredge in breadcrumbs. (Discard leftovers.) In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned on one side, about 2 minutes. Transfer chicken to the prepared baking sheet, browned-side up, and bake until it is no longer pink in the center or until an instant-read thermometer registers 170°F, about 20 minutes. 242 CALORIES PER SERVING; 9 G FAT; 68 MG CHOLESTEROL; 11 G CARBOHYDRATE; 27 G PROTEIN; 572 MG SODIUM. SERVES 4 READY TO EAT: 50 MINUTES
MY NOTES:
I may skip the browning in the skillet altogether and instead of using Egg Beaters, I might coat in fat free honey mustard dressing and bake.
So onto, our recipe. I haven't tried it yet but plan to this next week when I add more protein to my diet. I found the recipe online somewhere, I just can't remember where (a cancer website, I think) It sounds yummy!
Provolone and Olive Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Ingredients:- 1/4 cup shredded provolone cheese, preferably aged
- 3 TBS chopped California ripe olives
- Ground Pepper to taste
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 -1 1/4 lb total)
- 1 egg white (I will probably replace with egg beaters)
- 1/2 cup plain dry breadcrumbs (I might replace with crushed cornflakes)
- 1/2 TSP salt
- 2 TSP extra virgin olive oil
Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly coat a baking sheet with sides with cooking spray. Combine the provolone, olives and pepper in a small bowl. Lightly beat the egg white with a fork in a medium bowl. Mix the breadcrumbs and salt in a shallow dish. Cut a horizontal slit along the thin, long edge of a chicken breast half, nearly through to the opposite side. Open up each breast and place one-fourth of the cheese filling in the center. Close the breast over the filling, pressing the edges ¬firmly together to seal. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts and filling. Hold each chicken breast half together and dip in egg white, then dredge in breadcrumbs. (Discard leftovers.) In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned on one side, about 2 minutes. Transfer chicken to the prepared baking sheet, browned-side up, and bake until it is no longer pink in the center or until an instant-read thermometer registers 170°F, about 20 minutes. 242 CALORIES PER SERVING; 9 G FAT; 68 MG CHOLESTEROL; 11 G CARBOHYDRATE; 27 G PROTEIN; 572 MG SODIUM. SERVES 4 READY TO EAT: 50 MINUTES
MY NOTES:
I may skip the browning in the skillet altogether and instead of using Egg Beaters, I might coat in fat free honey mustard dressing and bake.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Going to try something new...
Have you heard of the Dr. Andrew Weil's Wellness Diet? Well, it's time I try to do something different. Even though I stay within my points in most cases, I have to admit that I am not always making the best choices. I also have been eating my flex points lately and my experience in the past has shown that I just can't do that and still lose weight. So, it's time to try something else. My problem could be that I am eating my flex points or maybe I am eating the wrong combination of foods, that my "diet" is still not well balanced.
Anyway, I found this article via Yahoo yesterday.
OVERVIEW: Aim for variety, and include as much fresh food as possible in your diet. Minimize your consumption of processed and fast food. Eat an abundance of fruits and vegetables, and try to include carbohydrates, fat and protein in every meal. Most adults need to consume between 2,000 and 3,000 calories a day. Women and smaller, less active people require fewer calories; men and larger, more active people need more calories. The distribution of calories you take in should be: 40% to 50% from carbohydrates, 30% from fat and 20% to 30% from protein.
My Comments: I don't do this. Sometimes my meals are all carbs. So I am going to plan a point friendly menu plan that has carbs, fat and protein in each meal.
Carbohydrates
On a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, adult women should eat about 160 g to 200 g of carbohydrates daily. (Most of this should be in the form of less refined, less processed foods.)
Adult men should eat about 240 g to 300 g of carbohydrates a day. REDUCE your consumption of foods made with wheat flour and sugar, especially bread and most packaged snack foods. Eat more whole grains (not whole-wheat-flour products), beans, winter squashes and sweet potatoes. Cook pasta al dente and eat it in moderation. AVOID products made with high-fructose corn syrup.
Fat
On a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, 600 calories can come from fat--that is, about 67 g. This should be in a ratio of 1:2:1 of saturated to monounsaturated to polyunsaturated fat.
REDUCE your intake of saturated fat by eating less butter, cream, cheese and other full-fat dairy products, unskinned chicken, fatty meats and products made with coconut and palm-kernel oils.
Use extra-virgin olive oil as a main cooking oil. If you want a neutral-tasting oil, use expeller-pressed organic canola oil. High-oleic versions of sunflower and safflower oil are also acceptable.
AVOID regular safflower and sunflower oils, corn oil, cottonseed oil and mixed vegetable oils.
STRICTLY AVOID margarine, vegetable shortening and all products listing them as ingredients. Strictly avoid all products made with partially hydrogenated oils of any kind.
Include in your diet avocados and nuts, especially walnuts, cashews and almonds and nut butters made from them.
For omega-3 fatty acids, eat salmon (preferably wild--fresh or frozen--or canned sockeye), sardines, herring, black cod (sablefish, butterfish), omega-3 fortified eggs, hempseeds, flaxseeds and walnuts; or take a fish-oil supplement (see next page).
My Comments: This shouldn't be too difficult. I only use olive oil, if I use anything and that is usually the spray olive oil. Mmmmmm, I love almonds...not a problem getting those in my diet. I hate fish so will have to make some adjustments there.
Protein
On a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, your daily intake of protein should be between 80 g and 120 g. Eat less protein if you have liver or kidney problems, allergies or autoimmune disease.
DECREASE your consumption of animal protein except for fish and reduced-fat dairy products.
Eat more vegetable protein, especially from beans in general and soybeans in particular.
My Comments: I don't eat nearly enough protein (I don't think) so I think I am going to not only keep track of points but also the actual nutritional information so I have a better idea of what is going in my body.
Fiber
Try to eat 40 g of fiber a day. You can achieve this by increasing your consumption of fruit, vegetables (especially beans) and whole grains. Ready-made cereals can be good fiber sources, but read labels to make sure they give you at least 4 g and preferably 5 g of bran per 1-oz. serving.
My Comments: Now the hard part, putting a menu together. I am going to give myself a week of writing absolutely everything down including the points, calories, fat, type of fat, etc. to see exactly what is going in my body. Now, I am going to try really, really hard to not go out to eat but sometimes things come up. I will, however, do my best to track it properly.
So far for the menu in no particular order...
Provolone and olive stuffed chicken breast (recipe coming Thursday)
Whole wheat coucous or brown rice (some whole grain of some sort..time to experiment)
almonds
walnuts
almond butter (maybe)
edamame
salad fixins
V8 (maybe, to get my veggies/fruit in)
Anyway, I found this article via Yahoo yesterday.
OVERVIEW: Aim for variety, and include as much fresh food as possible in your diet. Minimize your consumption of processed and fast food. Eat an abundance of fruits and vegetables, and try to include carbohydrates, fat and protein in every meal. Most adults need to consume between 2,000 and 3,000 calories a day. Women and smaller, less active people require fewer calories; men and larger, more active people need more calories. The distribution of calories you take in should be: 40% to 50% from carbohydrates, 30% from fat and 20% to 30% from protein.
My Comments: I don't do this. Sometimes my meals are all carbs. So I am going to plan a point friendly menu plan that has carbs, fat and protein in each meal.
Carbohydrates
On a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, adult women should eat about 160 g to 200 g of carbohydrates daily. (Most of this should be in the form of less refined, less processed foods.)
Adult men should eat about 240 g to 300 g of carbohydrates a day. REDUCE your consumption of foods made with wheat flour and sugar, especially bread and most packaged snack foods. Eat more whole grains (not whole-wheat-flour products), beans, winter squashes and sweet potatoes. Cook pasta al dente and eat it in moderation. AVOID products made with high-fructose corn syrup.
Fat
On a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, 600 calories can come from fat--that is, about 67 g. This should be in a ratio of 1:2:1 of saturated to monounsaturated to polyunsaturated fat.
REDUCE your intake of saturated fat by eating less butter, cream, cheese and other full-fat dairy products, unskinned chicken, fatty meats and products made with coconut and palm-kernel oils.
Use extra-virgin olive oil as a main cooking oil. If you want a neutral-tasting oil, use expeller-pressed organic canola oil. High-oleic versions of sunflower and safflower oil are also acceptable.
AVOID regular safflower and sunflower oils, corn oil, cottonseed oil and mixed vegetable oils.
STRICTLY AVOID margarine, vegetable shortening and all products listing them as ingredients. Strictly avoid all products made with partially hydrogenated oils of any kind.
Include in your diet avocados and nuts, especially walnuts, cashews and almonds and nut butters made from them.
For omega-3 fatty acids, eat salmon (preferably wild--fresh or frozen--or canned sockeye), sardines, herring, black cod (sablefish, butterfish), omega-3 fortified eggs, hempseeds, flaxseeds and walnuts; or take a fish-oil supplement (see next page).
My Comments: This shouldn't be too difficult. I only use olive oil, if I use anything and that is usually the spray olive oil. Mmmmmm, I love almonds...not a problem getting those in my diet. I hate fish so will have to make some adjustments there.
Protein
On a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, your daily intake of protein should be between 80 g and 120 g. Eat less protein if you have liver or kidney problems, allergies or autoimmune disease.
DECREASE your consumption of animal protein except for fish and reduced-fat dairy products.
Eat more vegetable protein, especially from beans in general and soybeans in particular.
My Comments: I don't eat nearly enough protein (I don't think) so I think I am going to not only keep track of points but also the actual nutritional information so I have a better idea of what is going in my body.
Fiber
Try to eat 40 g of fiber a day. You can achieve this by increasing your consumption of fruit, vegetables (especially beans) and whole grains. Ready-made cereals can be good fiber sources, but read labels to make sure they give you at least 4 g and preferably 5 g of bran per 1-oz. serving.
My Comments: Now the hard part, putting a menu together. I am going to give myself a week of writing absolutely everything down including the points, calories, fat, type of fat, etc. to see exactly what is going in my body. Now, I am going to try really, really hard to not go out to eat but sometimes things come up. I will, however, do my best to track it properly.
So far for the menu in no particular order...
Provolone and olive stuffed chicken breast (recipe coming Thursday)
Whole wheat coucous or brown rice (some whole grain of some sort..time to experiment)
almonds
walnuts
almond butter (maybe)
edamame
salad fixins
V8 (maybe, to get my veggies/fruit in)
Tuesday blogger challenge update
Good Morning!
Wow, didn't get many weigh ins this week. I still have to update the spreadsheet and get percentages but will have it up shortly. Just keep the weigh ins coming in and I will update as I get them. I didn't lose as much as I would have liked but it was a loss. I weighed myself this morning and the scale was very kind with the first weighing..it said 274 but I knew that couldn't be right. I had a ribeye steak and movie popcorn over the weekend. LOL. So I weighed again and it was 279.2, a loss of .4. Hey, I will take it. A loss is a loss!!!!
I hope all is well in everyone's world.
Wow, didn't get many weigh ins this week. I still have to update the spreadsheet and get percentages but will have it up shortly. Just keep the weigh ins coming in and I will update as I get them. I didn't lose as much as I would have liked but it was a loss. I weighed myself this morning and the scale was very kind with the first weighing..it said 274 but I knew that couldn't be right. I had a ribeye steak and movie popcorn over the weekend. LOL. So I weighed again and it was 279.2, a loss of .4. Hey, I will take it. A loss is a loss!!!!
I hope all is well in everyone's world.
Now, I have to vent. I didn't go to the gym yesterday (shame on me) but I have a somewhat valid excuse. I left my gym clothes and shoes at work. I can't exactly go to the gym in sandals. Anyway, I was so upset with myself later for leaving the stuff at work. It wasn't because I was feeling guilty about not going to the gym, it was because of what I found out when I got home. I really needed to get out of the house! So do you want to know what I found? WARNING: If you proceed, you are going to find me aggravated, pissed off and just darn right unhappy. I was going to start by saying it's because I have a roommate from hell and decided I shouldn't write that because you never know when she might happen upon this blog. My roommate has an older dog. Well this dog is having skin issues. Of course, roommate doesn't take care of the problem the way she should (but that's a whole other story). This dog chewed her butt bloody yesterday (no exaggeration). I come home and there is blood all over my house. All over the floors, all over the walls, all over my leather furniture...you name it, it had blood on it! Ok, so there are blood smears everywhere and the dog is running through the house because she is uncomfortable rubbing her ass up against the walls. I am yelling at the dog to go lie in her bed and she just continues to rub her ass up against the walls. Now, don't get me wrong I love dogs. I love my dog but this dog is starting to destroy my house. She smells, my roommate's room smells, blood everywhere..can you say I'm over it? Several days ago she had blood on the walls and I told my roommate to clean it up. Did she? NO. She is the laziest person I have ever met in my life. Needless to say, when roommate came home last night I had just had enough and told her that she needs to do something with her dog because I cannot have her bleeding all over everything. Take her to the vet, put a cone on her head, cover her in bubble wrap... I don't care! You would think that after me telling her that I am over it, that she would clean up the blood, then? No, of course not. I get up this morning and there is still blood all over the furniture. I didn't even check the other areas because I think I would just flip out.
Breathe...inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. Ok, much better now. I have been trying to put her rent money away to pay off any debt to get debt free. I want to give her walking papers this year but it may come sooner than she would like, if things don't flipping change soon.
Ok, done venting. Thanks for listening :).
Monday, July 14, 2008
Ughh, it's Monday
I'm back, bleh! I thought I would have trouble getting up this morning and I was absolutely right. I didn't have time to do my weigh in this morning so it will have to be tomorrow. I am not overly upset because I didn't do so well over the weekend. It was an interesting weekend, a bit lonely in the long run.
Friday night, it seemed awfully warm in the house. I had been putting together a cat tower for my cat and was sweating horribly. I thought it was just because I was putting this thing together. No, it's because it was 90 flipping degrees in my house. I had died and gone to hell. My A/C decided that it was taking a vacation. Great. I have been off all week and this POS has to quit on the weekend so I can pay emergency rates! I was also going out that evening and how the hell am I supposed to get ready when as soon as I get out of the shower, I am going to need another one. I guess it will be a "hair up" night seeing as I am touching the hair dryer.
So my friend C and I go to a sports bar that we haven't gone to in a long time. We like to shoot pool and so we tend to hang around the pool table. Almost immediately, this man starts talking to me. If someone talks to me, I normally talk back. After awhile, this girl comes over and so I assumed they were together. I asked him if they were a couple and he said "oh no, she's not my girlfriend, she wishes she was". Now, let me make this clear from the get go, I had no interest in this man. Later, the girl told me they have been together for 5 years. He told me at one point that she was jealous of me and that if I would have been blonde it wouldn't have been an issue but because I am brunette it was an issue (he apparently has a thing for brunettes). He was hanging around me more than the girl he came with. Now, I was flattered but stay the F*#$ away from me! I was really starting to get uncomfortable. The girl had other girlfriends there who now are giving me dirty looks. Hell, I wasn't hitting on the guy. In fact, I was ignoring him at this point and he just wouldn't go away. I asked the security guy to keep him away from me because it was starting to appear to cause problems. Anyway, the security guy was cute and wanted an excuse to talk to him :). It didn't help. Luckily, the night was ending.
We went out for breakfast and I got home around 4a and it was still 90 degrees in the house. How the hell am I going to sleep when it is 90? I put the fan in my room on full blast, opened the blinds to the window in the event that there might be some sort of breeze coming through (not a chance) and slipped into bed. It's a good thing I have a privacy fence because I was nekkid as a jay bird and at 90 degrees I didn't care if anyone saw my fat ass sleeping!
Saturday morning I call the 'ol A/C repair guy so I don't die of a heat stroke in my house. At this point, I didn't care how much it cost me! It actually turned out to be not horribly expensive. It could have been much worse. The A/C guy was also kinda cute and very flirty. In fact, he even called me later that night to see if the A/C was still working ok. He is supposed to be calling me today to see if everything is good. Now, how many times does a repair man call you to make sure everything is ok, unless he is interested? If he asked me out, I would go.
So, if you are still here...now onto the movies with F.
The lunch and movie did not go as well as I had hoped. He was rather cantankerous yesterday and that's not like him. Numerous times during the movie he kept looking at his cell phone to look at the time and I could see he was getting antsy, which of course was making me uncomfortable. I asked him afterwards why so antsy and he was just rather arguementative. He is never like that. We got back to his place and I just gave him a hug and said goodbye. He had a paper due by midnight last night which he had not started and had his weekly meeting at 7p so he was stressed for time. He should have just canceled. I did speak to him late last night and he admitted to being cantankerous (his word, actually) and apologized for not being great company. Now, I have told you guys how wonderful I think F is and I still think that regardless of what we are going through but the one thing that I HATE is the selective communication. We can talk about anything..but when it comes to his feelings or emotions that he is not comfortable with he shuts down. I will never understand why it is so hard for men (not all, but many) to say what they are feeling, what they are afraid of, the list goes on and on. I may be totally off base here but I think, in general, men take longer to commit to someone but when they commit they really commit and it takes them longer to get over someone; whereas, I think women commit sooner, will not normally stick around in a bad relationship and move on a lot quicker. Anyone else notice this kind of trend or is it just in my own little world?
Needless to say, after yesterday's lunch/movie I felt incredibly lonely. It would almost be easier if he would just be an asshole so I could hate him but instead he gives me these glimmering hopes that he is coming to his senses. He even sounded a tad bit jealous when he found out I went out Friday night. Again, I am not going to sit by the phone and wait for him. My life has to go on and if he comes to his senses, I may still be there....I may not.
Anyway, it's the start of a brand new week and I plan to continue going to the gym everyday. I hope everyone had a great weekend and a good weigh in. I will be updating the loser challenge as I get the new weigh ins.
Friday night, it seemed awfully warm in the house. I had been putting together a cat tower for my cat and was sweating horribly. I thought it was just because I was putting this thing together. No, it's because it was 90 flipping degrees in my house. I had died and gone to hell. My A/C decided that it was taking a vacation. Great. I have been off all week and this POS has to quit on the weekend so I can pay emergency rates! I was also going out that evening and how the hell am I supposed to get ready when as soon as I get out of the shower, I am going to need another one. I guess it will be a "hair up" night seeing as I am touching the hair dryer.
So my friend C and I go to a sports bar that we haven't gone to in a long time. We like to shoot pool and so we tend to hang around the pool table. Almost immediately, this man starts talking to me. If someone talks to me, I normally talk back. After awhile, this girl comes over and so I assumed they were together. I asked him if they were a couple and he said "oh no, she's not my girlfriend, she wishes she was". Now, let me make this clear from the get go, I had no interest in this man. Later, the girl told me they have been together for 5 years. He told me at one point that she was jealous of me and that if I would have been blonde it wouldn't have been an issue but because I am brunette it was an issue (he apparently has a thing for brunettes). He was hanging around me more than the girl he came with. Now, I was flattered but stay the F*#$ away from me! I was really starting to get uncomfortable. The girl had other girlfriends there who now are giving me dirty looks. Hell, I wasn't hitting on the guy. In fact, I was ignoring him at this point and he just wouldn't go away. I asked the security guy to keep him away from me because it was starting to appear to cause problems. Anyway, the security guy was cute and wanted an excuse to talk to him :). It didn't help. Luckily, the night was ending.
We went out for breakfast and I got home around 4a and it was still 90 degrees in the house. How the hell am I going to sleep when it is 90? I put the fan in my room on full blast, opened the blinds to the window in the event that there might be some sort of breeze coming through (not a chance) and slipped into bed. It's a good thing I have a privacy fence because I was nekkid as a jay bird and at 90 degrees I didn't care if anyone saw my fat ass sleeping!
Saturday morning I call the 'ol A/C repair guy so I don't die of a heat stroke in my house. At this point, I didn't care how much it cost me! It actually turned out to be not horribly expensive. It could have been much worse. The A/C guy was also kinda cute and very flirty. In fact, he even called me later that night to see if the A/C was still working ok. He is supposed to be calling me today to see if everything is good. Now, how many times does a repair man call you to make sure everything is ok, unless he is interested? If he asked me out, I would go.
So, if you are still here...now onto the movies with F.
The lunch and movie did not go as well as I had hoped. He was rather cantankerous yesterday and that's not like him. Numerous times during the movie he kept looking at his cell phone to look at the time and I could see he was getting antsy, which of course was making me uncomfortable. I asked him afterwards why so antsy and he was just rather arguementative. He is never like that. We got back to his place and I just gave him a hug and said goodbye. He had a paper due by midnight last night which he had not started and had his weekly meeting at 7p so he was stressed for time. He should have just canceled. I did speak to him late last night and he admitted to being cantankerous (his word, actually) and apologized for not being great company. Now, I have told you guys how wonderful I think F is and I still think that regardless of what we are going through but the one thing that I HATE is the selective communication. We can talk about anything..but when it comes to his feelings or emotions that he is not comfortable with he shuts down. I will never understand why it is so hard for men (not all, but many) to say what they are feeling, what they are afraid of, the list goes on and on. I may be totally off base here but I think, in general, men take longer to commit to someone but when they commit they really commit and it takes them longer to get over someone; whereas, I think women commit sooner, will not normally stick around in a bad relationship and move on a lot quicker. Anyone else notice this kind of trend or is it just in my own little world?
Needless to say, after yesterday's lunch/movie I felt incredibly lonely. It would almost be easier if he would just be an asshole so I could hate him but instead he gives me these glimmering hopes that he is coming to his senses. He even sounded a tad bit jealous when he found out I went out Friday night. Again, I am not going to sit by the phone and wait for him. My life has to go on and if he comes to his senses, I may still be there....I may not.
Anyway, it's the start of a brand new week and I plan to continue going to the gym everyday. I hope everyone had a great weekend and a good weigh in. I will be updating the loser challenge as I get the new weigh ins.
Friday, July 11, 2008
I hate to sweat...
I hate to sweat, I truly do. However, when I am at the gym I want to sweat. The more, the better! It gives me some weird sense of accomplishment when I can visibly see my shirt sopping wet. It says "look at me, I stink"..no really it says look at me "I just worked my ass off, or at least a few calories of it". Why I think of these things, I don't know...lol.
Yesterday, I only did the treadmill and am kind of disappointed in myself but at the same time I am proud of myself that I stayed on it 30 minutes. Of course, at my gym it abruptly stops at 30 minutes (I had no idea). Thank God, I wasn't running on it. I will have to keep this in mind in the future. Anyway, I digress (as usual). I found the secret to staying on it past when I want I want to (which really is 5 minutes). Read Fitness magazine, not Vogue, not Cosmo, but Fitness. It motivated me! So, today I will be signing up for a subscription. If I am reading about fitness, it makes me want to get my big arse up and move it. Try it the next time you are at the gym.
I peeked at the scale again today. If I stay really good the rest of the week (only a couple more days), it looks like I will have an awesome weigh in. Maybe all these months of it standing still are over! Maybe it was the bodily threats last week. Maybe it's the fact that when I am home all week, I don't really think much about food. There hasn't been any eating out. Of course, that leads me to think that when I have ate out and counted the points, that maybe my points were way OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF! So far, it is looking like 4 lbs (gosh, I hope that doesn't jinx me).
So, anyway I am off to the gym. I promise to catch up with you all on Monday!!!
Oh, and F texted me yesterday and asked me to a movie on Saturday. Of course, I accepted. :)
Yesterday, I only did the treadmill and am kind of disappointed in myself but at the same time I am proud of myself that I stayed on it 30 minutes. Of course, at my gym it abruptly stops at 30 minutes (I had no idea). Thank God, I wasn't running on it. I will have to keep this in mind in the future. Anyway, I digress (as usual). I found the secret to staying on it past when I want I want to (which really is 5 minutes). Read Fitness magazine, not Vogue, not Cosmo, but Fitness. It motivated me! So, today I will be signing up for a subscription. If I am reading about fitness, it makes me want to get my big arse up and move it. Try it the next time you are at the gym.
I peeked at the scale again today. If I stay really good the rest of the week (only a couple more days), it looks like I will have an awesome weigh in. Maybe all these months of it standing still are over! Maybe it was the bodily threats last week. Maybe it's the fact that when I am home all week, I don't really think much about food. There hasn't been any eating out. Of course, that leads me to think that when I have ate out and counted the points, that maybe my points were way OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF! So far, it is looking like 4 lbs (gosh, I hope that doesn't jinx me).
So, anyway I am off to the gym. I promise to catch up with you all on Monday!!!
Oh, and F texted me yesterday and asked me to a movie on Saturday. Of course, I accepted. :)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
It's Wednesday already?
Damn, the week is flying by. Of course it is, I am not working this week.
Today, is also the day that A is going out into the field again so I won't be hearing from him for about a month and a half. This is where he has to dodge being fired at. Please keep him and all of our other military men and women in your prayers. I wish they would just all come home. He wrote me recently, telling me he never understood "that war changes a man", he says he understands now. He also told me that when he comes home, he is not re-enlisting. I secretly hope he doesn't.
I haven't been to the gym yet today but I have been fixing my fence. One of the end posts has been loose for months and I had it tied up so the gate wouldn't fly open. I have been sweating my butt out there digging around it and putting new concrete in. Then, I worked on my jungle. This would also be known as my flower garden in the front of the house. It was way overdue and am about 3/4 done now. My dwarf crepe myrtle is leaning over so I need to find something to tie it up so it's not lying on the ground. Maybe once it is all presentable again, I will take pictures. I tend to like plants that are out of the norm. My house is a sage green color so a lot of the plants are very dark....potato vines, snowball bushes, black elephant ears, pink/peach crepe myrtle and some bright almost neon green ground cover stuff (I have no idea what it's called).
Anyway, I digress. I was just really saying if I don't make it to the gym today I am not going to feel real guilty about it because I have been outside sweating my arse off for the past hour (although I think I am going to still go to the gym). I peeked at the scale this morning. As long as I continue on the current course, weigh in is going to be nice. Woo hoo!
Today, is also the day that A is going out into the field again so I won't be hearing from him for about a month and a half. This is where he has to dodge being fired at. Please keep him and all of our other military men and women in your prayers. I wish they would just all come home. He wrote me recently, telling me he never understood "that war changes a man", he says he understands now. He also told me that when he comes home, he is not re-enlisting. I secretly hope he doesn't.
I haven't been to the gym yet today but I have been fixing my fence. One of the end posts has been loose for months and I had it tied up so the gate wouldn't fly open. I have been sweating my butt out there digging around it and putting new concrete in. Then, I worked on my jungle. This would also be known as my flower garden in the front of the house. It was way overdue and am about 3/4 done now. My dwarf crepe myrtle is leaning over so I need to find something to tie it up so it's not lying on the ground. Maybe once it is all presentable again, I will take pictures. I tend to like plants that are out of the norm. My house is a sage green color so a lot of the plants are very dark....potato vines, snowball bushes, black elephant ears, pink/peach crepe myrtle and some bright almost neon green ground cover stuff (I have no idea what it's called).
Anyway, I digress. I was just really saying if I don't make it to the gym today I am not going to feel real guilty about it because I have been outside sweating my arse off for the past hour (although I think I am going to still go to the gym). I peeked at the scale this morning. As long as I continue on the current course, weigh in is going to be nice. Woo hoo!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Biggest Loser Update
Well, first I need to apologize about the biggest loser update. My worksheet is at work so I won't be able to update it until next Monday. I am off all week, so I'm sorry. I haven't been doing wonderful with my July goals but I will say that I have stayed within my points, journaled everything even if I didn't want to journal it and I did go to the gym yesterday. I will also be leaving shortly to go to the gym today :).
Manuela, I saw that recipe. It looks great. I will try to get it added to the recipes later today or sometime this week.
Hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday!
Manuela, I saw that recipe. It looks great. I will try to get it added to the recipes later today or sometime this week.
Hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday!
Monday, July 7, 2008
The Scale Moved!
Weigh in: 279.6. It's the little things that excite me. It was only a pound but hey, the way things have been going, I am greatful for any little ounce and it puts me in the 270s (barely).
Things have been rough on a personal front. I didn't see F at all this weekend. I wanted to see him for at least the 4th but he made other plans. I spent the 4th alone. I talked to him briefly Saturday night over IM but that was because I messaged him, just to say hi. He has distanced himself from me, yet again. I can't remember the last time he actually picked up the phone and called me. It's been only texts and IMs. I know he loves me and I love him. So you ask, what's the problem? Hell, if I know. My mother and I got into an arguement over him over the weekend. She thinks the worst of people sometimes. She doesn't understand that different people deal with things differently so she just assumes he is hiding something. I really just need to stop talking to her about things. I will not be contacting F anymore. It is going to kill me inside but at this point in time, he needs to show some kind of an effort that I am important to him or he is going to lose the best thing that ever happened to him...me.
Then there is A. I told you about him the other day. He told me in an email that he can't stop thinking about me. It's strange how he came back into my life as my life with F is falling apart. I have to take the "I can't stop thinking about you" with a grain of salt. He is, after all in Iraq and surrounded by a bunch of sweaty men fighting for their lives. He is probably a bit lonely. He says that's not it, but one can only wonder. I know I would be pretty lonely and would probably reach out for something that reminded me of home. Another twist, he's a sign to tell Frank goodbye and wait for him to come home ...lol.
So, there you have it my personal life continues to fall apart but I am coming to terms with it. I don't like it and I am not exactly happy right now but I am past the 'jumping off the bridge' stage at least.
...but I lost a pound and now I am off to the gym!!!
I will check in with you all later :)
Things have been rough on a personal front. I didn't see F at all this weekend. I wanted to see him for at least the 4th but he made other plans. I spent the 4th alone. I talked to him briefly Saturday night over IM but that was because I messaged him, just to say hi. He has distanced himself from me, yet again. I can't remember the last time he actually picked up the phone and called me. It's been only texts and IMs. I know he loves me and I love him. So you ask, what's the problem? Hell, if I know. My mother and I got into an arguement over him over the weekend. She thinks the worst of people sometimes. She doesn't understand that different people deal with things differently so she just assumes he is hiding something. I really just need to stop talking to her about things. I will not be contacting F anymore. It is going to kill me inside but at this point in time, he needs to show some kind of an effort that I am important to him or he is going to lose the best thing that ever happened to him...me.
Then there is A. I told you about him the other day. He told me in an email that he can't stop thinking about me. It's strange how he came back into my life as my life with F is falling apart. I have to take the "I can't stop thinking about you" with a grain of salt. He is, after all in Iraq and surrounded by a bunch of sweaty men fighting for their lives. He is probably a bit lonely. He says that's not it, but one can only wonder. I know I would be pretty lonely and would probably reach out for something that reminded me of home. Another twist, he's a sign to tell Frank goodbye and wait for him to come home ...lol.
So, there you have it my personal life continues to fall apart but I am coming to terms with it. I don't like it and I am not exactly happy right now but I am past the 'jumping off the bridge' stage at least.
...but I lost a pound and now I am off to the gym!!!
I will check in with you all later :)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Recipe Thursday and more...
Well, let me say yesterday was an interesting day. I went out on a limb talking to F and found out what the problem is. I don't understand the logic behind it but now I know where he stands. I told him in a conversation that he confuses the crap out of me but I still love him (I haven't told him that I loved him before other than that slip months ago). He told me he felt the same and that's what is frightening, because it wasn't in his plan. What plan? Do you have a blueprint laying around? He then tells me that we will need to get together soon, if I want. The only thing I can do is laugh right now. This man is so together with everything in his life that I just find it somewhat amusing that I somehow put a monkey wrench into his "master plan" and it scares him. He loves me (girly giggle).
Now, a friend of mine that I haven't talked to in months because he was deployed to Iraq emailed me yesterday. It was really good to hear from him. He is also a remarkable man and he is one of those rare men that are looking for their soul mate. Here's what he wants...
"Finding that one person that will laugh at my silliness, and sit next to me and play video games with me. (not an easy task to find) I wanna fall into their eyes, while they are falling into mine. And it be completely us against the world, and love every minute of it. Letting me take care of them, and taking care of me in return. I wanna have fun with the person I love next, I love to laugh and love making people laugh.....to see a true smile from the person you love is better than anything else in the world. And undying devotion and honesty......I want to look back at my life with that person and think to myself that I would never do it any different. Some people seem to think I'm a dreamer, because that she doesn't exsist. I'm a firm believer in soul mates.....and I will find mine. "
Now, how many men have you heard talk like that, without including men using it to get what they wanted. He is definitely a total package too. If F and I are still together, I might have to find a suitable friend for A. He's got 6-pack abs too..yummy. I did not just say that out loud. :)
Ok, onto the lifestyle change crap...hehe
My July goals aren't doing so well. I am doing some of them but not all of them so that's my early morning confession. I have an excuse and a reason. TOM paid me a visit and I am really tired of TOM stopping by. He brings Lethargy and Bottomless Pit with him. It sure would be nice if he would just come solo. Anyway, I have been exhausted this week so *bows her head in shame* I haven't gone to the gym. ..but, but, but I will. Next week, I am off. I am going every day! If I don't for whatever reason I want you all to give me a kick in the ass. Deal?
So let's see what recipe do I want to give you today (it will also be in my recipe blog)
Baked Beef Ziti
Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 50 min
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
5 PTS
Ingredients
12 oz uncooked ziti
1 tsp olive oil
2 medium garlic clove(s), minced
1/3 pound raw lean ground beef
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add garlic and sauté 2 minutes. Add beef and cook until browned, breaking up meat with a spoon as it cooks, about 3 to 5 minutes; drain off any fat and set pan back over medium heat.
Add oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper; stir to coat beef. Cook until herbs become fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Spoon a small amount of beef-tomato mixture into bottom of a 4-quart casserole dish (just enough to cover surface); top with half of cooked ziti. Next, layer with half of remaining beef-tomato sauce and half of mozzarella cheese. Layer with remaining ziti and then top with remaining beef-tomato sauce; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake until cheese is golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Slice into 8 pieces and serve. Yields 1 piece per serving.
Now, a friend of mine that I haven't talked to in months because he was deployed to Iraq emailed me yesterday. It was really good to hear from him. He is also a remarkable man and he is one of those rare men that are looking for their soul mate. Here's what he wants...
"Finding that one person that will laugh at my silliness, and sit next to me and play video games with me. (not an easy task to find) I wanna fall into their eyes, while they are falling into mine. And it be completely us against the world, and love every minute of it. Letting me take care of them, and taking care of me in return. I wanna have fun with the person I love next, I love to laugh and love making people laugh.....to see a true smile from the person you love is better than anything else in the world. And undying devotion and honesty......I want to look back at my life with that person and think to myself that I would never do it any different. Some people seem to think I'm a dreamer, because that she doesn't exsist. I'm a firm believer in soul mates.....and I will find mine. "
Now, how many men have you heard talk like that, without including men using it to get what they wanted. He is definitely a total package too. If F and I are still together, I might have to find a suitable friend for A. He's got 6-pack abs too..yummy. I did not just say that out loud. :)
Ok, onto the lifestyle change crap...hehe
My July goals aren't doing so well. I am doing some of them but not all of them so that's my early morning confession. I have an excuse and a reason. TOM paid me a visit and I am really tired of TOM stopping by. He brings Lethargy and Bottomless Pit with him. It sure would be nice if he would just come solo. Anyway, I have been exhausted this week so *bows her head in shame* I haven't gone to the gym. ..but, but, but I will. Next week, I am off. I am going every day! If I don't for whatever reason I want you all to give me a kick in the ass. Deal?
So let's see what recipe do I want to give you today (it will also be in my recipe blog)
Baked Beef ZitiServings: 8
Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 50 min
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
5 PTS
Ingredients
12 oz uncooked ziti
1 tsp olive oil
2 medium garlic clove(s), minced
1/3 pound raw lean ground beef
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add garlic and sauté 2 minutes. Add beef and cook until browned, breaking up meat with a spoon as it cooks, about 3 to 5 minutes; drain off any fat and set pan back over medium heat.
Add oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper; stir to coat beef. Cook until herbs become fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Spoon a small amount of beef-tomato mixture into bottom of a 4-quart casserole dish (just enough to cover surface); top with half of cooked ziti. Next, layer with half of remaining beef-tomato sauce and half of mozzarella cheese. Layer with remaining ziti and then top with remaining beef-tomato sauce; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake until cheese is golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Slice into 8 pieces and serve. Yields 1 piece per serving.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Positive Energy
I don't know what it is. Maybe, because it is the start of a new month but I am feeling just so full of positive energy. Ok, maybe not the energy that makes me want to try to run a marathon but it's as if someone has lifted all the painful things from my life. Those painful things are still there but they don't seem as important this week. I guess the best way to describe it, is if someone fed me a bottle of Xanax. I just don't really care. Ok, that's not totally true but I have come to the realization to not stress about the things I cannot control. This is something that relates to every part of life. I am bad about it! I always have been, although I have to say with age it has gotten better. We should all work to reduce the stress in our lives. What does it do for us? Absolutely nothing. For some of us, it leads us to eating. Regardless of how it affects you, no good can come of it.
Here a few ways to reduce stress in your life:
1. We all know physical activity reduces stress. It still amazes me that we feel better after exercising but most of us fight the thought of 30 minutes a day exercising.
2. Talk to someone. Another reason I like the blog. Although if I talked about really, really personal things I would make it more anonymous (you know, like take my picture off of it).
3. Know when it is beyond your control. Learn to accept it for what it is.
4. Get enough rest and eat healthy. Take care of yourself!
5. Go out and have fun.
6. Give to others. Charity starts on this blog. Send your cash, money orders, expensive jewelry to ThinkingThin at 123 Anywhere Street, Anywhere, FL. hehe kidding
Remember, yesterday I mentioned horoscopes? Well, every month Susan Miller puts out a new monthly horoscope and I tend to keep them and just check back to see if any of it was true. In some cases, it has been very true and in other cases somewhat true.
Well, I checked out F's...here is an excerpt.
"When it comes to romance, Saturn's tour of your fifth house of true love suggests you may be in a long-distance relationship or temporarily separated from your sweetheart because of work or study obligations. This situation won't last forever. In fact, by next year (October 2009) you should have your feelings sorted out and be ready to announce a major decision about this relationship. Knowing this, you will know not to put pressure on yourself or your partner - going slowly will be the right choice. "
Ok, that did sound good until I got to the "October 2009". Are you kidding me? If, in fact that is when he has his feelings sorted out, he will be a dollar short and a day late. I don't imagine me still pining for him that long. I love him with all my heart but there comes a time when you just have to let go and I can guarantee you it will be long before that. Picture it...me, 38 years old on September 30th sitting by the phone waiting for F to profess his love to me. Pathetic!!! LOL
Here a few ways to reduce stress in your life:
1. We all know physical activity reduces stress. It still amazes me that we feel better after exercising but most of us fight the thought of 30 minutes a day exercising.
2. Talk to someone. Another reason I like the blog. Although if I talked about really, really personal things I would make it more anonymous (you know, like take my picture off of it).
3. Know when it is beyond your control. Learn to accept it for what it is.
4. Get enough rest and eat healthy. Take care of yourself!
5. Go out and have fun.
6. Give to others. Charity starts on this blog. Send your cash, money orders, expensive jewelry to ThinkingThin at 123 Anywhere Street, Anywhere, FL. hehe kidding
Remember, yesterday I mentioned horoscopes? Well, every month Susan Miller puts out a new monthly horoscope and I tend to keep them and just check back to see if any of it was true. In some cases, it has been very true and in other cases somewhat true.
Well, I checked out F's...here is an excerpt.
"When it comes to romance, Saturn's tour of your fifth house of true love suggests you may be in a long-distance relationship or temporarily separated from your sweetheart because of work or study obligations. This situation won't last forever. In fact, by next year (October 2009) you should have your feelings sorted out and be ready to announce a major decision about this relationship. Knowing this, you will know not to put pressure on yourself or your partner - going slowly will be the right choice. "
Ok, that did sound good until I got to the "October 2009". Are you kidding me? If, in fact that is when he has his feelings sorted out, he will be a dollar short and a day late. I don't imagine me still pining for him that long. I love him with all my heart but there comes a time when you just have to let go and I can guarantee you it will be long before that. Picture it...me, 38 years old on September 30th sitting by the phone waiting for F to profess his love to me. Pathetic!!! LOL
Biggest Loser Update
First things first, there weren't many weigh-ins this week. My guess would be it wasn't a good week and some may have fallen off the wagon. Come on ladies, look at mine. I am headed to be the biggest gainer in the challenge! I continue to play with the same five pounds. More venting on that in a few. Aren't you glad you stopped by?
So, drum roll please..... the biggest loser this week is Quarterlife...weren't you the biggest loser last week too? I am too lazy to go look :). Not only are you top loser this week, but you are in the lead for total weight loss. Manuela is coming in second.
Insert drill sergeant voice here...
Now, the rest of us ladies need to step it up a bit and give these two ladies some competition. What do you say? Let's watch that food, drink that water, and MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!!! I want to see results !!! Do you hear me? MOVE IT!
End drill sergeant voice here...
Now, back to me. It is all about me, you know. This is the only place it is all about me :). I am tired of playing with those same five pounds over and over. It's like those pesty little gnats that just won't leave you alone. No matter how hard you try to get them away from you, they just keep coming back. This week, darn it, those gnats are going to die for good. I have had it. I will not accept a number on the scale that isn't below 280. (Positive thinking is supposed to work, right?). 6 months with the same five pounds is plenty of time for my body to say goodbye, right? At this rate, I am going to be 75 before I lose the weight I want. Boy, that's a pretty site when I can finally wear that bikini...LOL. Anyway, this is the week. This is the week my body will be in the 270s and it will not look back. It has no choice or else it loses a limb. If positive attitude does not work, then it will have to be bodily threats. :)
So, I am one of those that likes to read my monthly horoscope. I hate to admit this, but in many cases the tarot type astrology has been pretty accurate. I received this in the mail today. This is one I wouldn't normally read but I had to share a part of what it said.
The month ends with lovely Venus in opposition with mystical Neptune, when the separation between fantasy and reality might get muddled. Some may fall in love with the first person that comes along, while others may swear they've seen spirits and unicorns!
So, drum roll please..... the biggest loser this week is Quarterlife...weren't you the biggest loser last week too? I am too lazy to go look :). Not only are you top loser this week, but you are in the lead for total weight loss. Manuela is coming in second.
Insert drill sergeant voice here...
Now, the rest of us ladies need to step it up a bit and give these two ladies some competition. What do you say? Let's watch that food, drink that water, and MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!!! I want to see results !!! Do you hear me? MOVE IT!End drill sergeant voice here...
Now, back to me. It is all about me, you know. This is the only place it is all about me :). I am tired of playing with those same five pounds over and over. It's like those pesty little gnats that just won't leave you alone. No matter how hard you try to get them away from you, they just keep coming back. This week, darn it, those gnats are going to die for good. I have had it. I will not accept a number on the scale that isn't below 280. (Positive thinking is supposed to work, right?). 6 months with the same five pounds is plenty of time for my body to say goodbye, right? At this rate, I am going to be 75 before I lose the weight I want. Boy, that's a pretty site when I can finally wear that bikini...LOL. Anyway, this is the week. This is the week my body will be in the 270s and it will not look back. It has no choice or else it loses a limb. If positive attitude does not work, then it will have to be bodily threats. :)
So, I am one of those that likes to read my monthly horoscope. I hate to admit this, but in many cases the tarot type astrology has been pretty accurate. I received this in the mail today. This is one I wouldn't normally read but I had to share a part of what it said.
The month ends with lovely Venus in opposition with mystical Neptune, when the separation between fantasy and reality might get muddled. Some may fall in love with the first person that comes along, while others may swear they've seen spirits and unicorns!
Isn't that cool? I am really hoping for the unicorns! I have always loved unicorns.
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