Skinny Habits

Reasons for Overeating

2009-08-09T14:00:00.001-07:00

I just read a very powerful post on Roni's site. She talks about emotional eating and it is really great. Here is a little quote:

“You will not lose weight until you value yourself more.”

It really made me think about myself and my own habits. I feel that since my IVF attempt in June, when I have let "getting pregnant" go, I am finally making some progress with getting in shape. I feel like a big weight has been lifted (not pounds, but figuratively :) and I can see what a toll this (infertility) has taken on me, mentally and physically. Out of the past 6 years, I have been trying to get pregnant for 4 of them, and pregnant and having a newborn, the other 2.

Now, I feel like I can make fitness goals. It is exciting.

I can't wait to see what happens.

I promise to post more...

Yo-Yo Exercising

2009-07-14T23:02:00.000-07:00

My poor body. Due to my fertility treatments, I have been a yo-yo exerciser. Just when I thought I had started to get in better shape, I stopped. Then half-way started up again. Then stopped again. You get the picture, right.

So yesterday I started 30 Day Shred AGAIN. I thought I was going to DIE!!! I couldn't finish the push-ups, or the lunges, or the side to side arm lift things. Jillian would have been screaming at me could she see the wimp that I was...(Thank goodness she couldn't.)

So today I tried to talk myself out of doing it again. I thought about doing the Biggest Loser Power Sculpt video, but I knew that it wouldn't be as hard, and when every muscle in my body hurts, something must be right? or wrong... :) So the little angel on my shoulder won out over the little wimpy devil, and I did it again. Yea for me. I even managed on both days, to do 30 mins on my elliptical after. Even though I felt like Jello.

So I probably ate a bit too many calories today, and started picking my body apart, and then I thought about how I can only do better if I can keep up the workouts. I saw major improvements before I stopped last time, and now, with no (forced) stopping in sight, I am so excited. Maybe I can really get into shape this time for the first time in YEARS!

Update

2009-07-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

Haven't posted in a while, and wanted to post an update. After dealing with infertility for the past few years, we finally did IVF last month. Well, I found out a few things about my body, and getting pregnant was a long shot. Suffice it to say, that the treatment didn't work, and I am not pregnant.

So we are giving it a rest for a while. It has been close to impossible to try to think about weight loss and cooking and recipes, and since those things weren't a priority, neither was blogging about them. But now that fertility treatments are over for a while, I am ready to get back on track!

The Plan:
I am not going to be super strict with counting points, but I will have them in the back of my mind as I eat and cook. I still will be making weight-watcher dinners and trying out new recipes, but I am going to try to lose the rest of my weight by eating reasonable and incorporating a great workout. We'll see how it goes. I did gain about 5 lbs last month and I am hoping to lose that soon.

I am just excited to have my life and body back! I am excited to see what kind of progress I can make. Wish me luck!

Orange Creamsicle Protein Shake

2009-06-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

While we are on the topic of protein shakes, here is an idea that I came up with when I had some orange juice around. (I don't keep it on hand that often because of the calories) My daughter loves "shakes" so I can make this one and split it with her:

Orange Creamsicle Protein Shake
2 Servings/2 pts ea.

12 oz. orange juice
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I use designer whey)
3/4C cup ice cubes
1-2 tablespoons sweetener (I use Splenda)

Blend well and split in half. Enjoy!

Special K Protein Shake

2009-06-14T12:18:00.000-07:00

Ok-more beverage posts...
The folks at Special K contacted me and asked me if I would like to try a sample of their new(ish) protein shake. Of course, being a sucker for anything free and easy, I said yes. A couple of days later the shake arrived and I immediately had to try a taste. I am not a regular consumer of protein shakes; I only occasionally mix up my own with Designer Whey Protein powder, but rarely buy the pre-made ones.

Back in the day, when I was working full time, I would buy the Slim Fast shakes, or the Costco ones to help me get breakfast in. Of course I liked them, anything chocolate and sugary is good to me. However, they never filled me up for more than a couple of hours.

They sent me the Milk Chocolate flavor, which was very tasty. There is 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, which is nice since most protein shakes don't have nearly that amount of fiber. In Weight Watcher's terms, they have 3 points.

Summary:
Tastes Great (Similar to Slim Fast)
3 Points
A great snack, but it wouldn't work for ME for a meal replacement

There is a Reason for the Slacking

2009-06-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

So a couple of months ago I mentioned that I was going through IVF to try and get pregnant. Well that first round got cancelled because my body was not responding very well to the drugs, and not enough follicles (which contain the eggs) were developing. So that round turned into artificial insemination, which wasn't successful. So this month we have gone through the whole IVF process, which has resulted in only one healthy embryo, which was implanted yesterday. So you can understand why my posts have been few and far between. Now I am on bed rest for several days and finally have lots of time on my hands.
So send your positive thoughts my way that this little embryo sticks!

P.S... We don't even want to talk about how I have been eating the past couple of weeks. The good news, is I have maintained my 128 lbs through all this up until Monday when I was weighed before my egg retrieval surgery.

SoBe Lifewater 0

2009-06-01T15:34:00.000-07:00

Here is another good option for naturally sweetened flavored waters. Personally, I like the VitaminWater 10's a little better, but these are pretty good too.

These are really interesting flavors:

Black and Blue Berry: Husband loved this one
Yumberry Pomegranate: Pretty Sweet, toddler's favorite
Fuji Apple Pear: Interesting and Different, we all like it

Skinny Habit: Watch What You Drink

2009-05-27T10:49:00.000-07:00

OK-I am back!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I get tired of plain old water to drink. I know it is the best thing for you, but I like to have other options for beverages that are healthy, and get the biggest bang for your calorie. So this week (or two or three...notice I changed the heading to be Skinny Habit instead of Skinny Habit of the Week) I am going to focus on Skinny Beverages. As always, you are welcome to chime in with your faves.

How about we start with the new flavored waters.
VitaminWater 10
Lemonade: 5 Stars-Love it! It has the perfect amount of sweet.
Orange: 4 Stars- Like it
Tropical Citrus: 3 Stars- Like It
Acai-Blueberry-Pomegranite: 1 Star- Not a huge fan

With these type of waters, they can be a little too sicky-sweet for me, so I am pretty picky. I like that the new ones are naturally sweetened, so that is a plus.

What do you think??? I love comments!

Next post, will review the new SoBe LifeWater 0s.

Bad Posting

2009-05-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,
Sorry for not posting this week... I have been sick and am leaving for a mini-vacation today. Will be back next week!

Interesting Vegetable Ideas

2009-05-08T23:24:00.000-07:00

I have come across some great blogs with some interesting vegetable ideas. I haven't tried these yet, but they come from awesome sites, and look great! Here are some that I can think of right now...

Zucchini Pizza Bites

Cauliflower "Spanish Rice"

Cauliflower Fritters

Stuffed Mushrooms

Zucchini Lasagna

Spaghetti Squash Salad w/Tomato, Basil and Feta

Cauliflower Cream

Garlic-Honey Asperigus

Easy Veggie Ideas

2009-04-30T22:06:00.000-07:00

What are some great ways to eat lots of veggies throughout the day? Here are some of my favorites:

1. Pita Pizzas or Calzones
-Start with Western Bagel Alternative Pita
-Spoon some low cal pizza sauce
-Pile on the veggies
-Top with a little bit of mozzarella cheese

2. Weight Watcher's 0 point vegetable soup
-Can freeze in individual servings

3. Quick Egg White Veggie Omelet

4. Broccoli Salad (Lasts for a few days in the fridge)

5. Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers
-Frozen veggies with cheese sauce you steam in the microwave
-1 pt. for huge serving

These are my top 5, what are your ideas?

The Best Broccoli Salad Ever!

2009-04-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

I never thought I could eat raw broccoli until I made this salad. You can use florets, or broccoli slaw mix. Either way, it is amazing! My husband wants me to make it every week and he can eat 2 cups at a time.

8 Servings/ 2 pts. ea (about a cup)

2 bags broccoli slaw or 8 cups chopped broccoli
7 T Sweet Poppy Seed Dressing (I used Trader Joes, but another brand at 2 pts. for 2 T would work too)
1/2 C Dried Cranberries
1 oz. candied pecans, chopped
2 oz. light feta cheese, crumbled

Mix everything together and enjoy!

Container Vegetable Garden

2009-04-21T17:00:00.001-07:00

As part of my quest to make vegetables a bigger part of my life, this year I decided to plant a container vegetable garden. This type of garden is perfect for people who do not have a big planting area or maybe just have a deck or patio and no yard at all. Now is the perfect time of year for doing this. I am not a gardener, and do not consider myself to have a "green thumb" at all.

But how great will it be to be able to eat garden fresh vegetables in a couple of months?

For those of you who are interested, this is how I got started:

1. I bought/found my containers and saved a lot of money by using storage containers instead of traditional pots, which are expensive. I went to Walmart and bought some big buckets for $8 each, and drilled drainage holes in the bottom with my husband's drill. The plastic pots that size were $14. Then I found a couple of rectangular storage bins laying around in the garage, and drilled holes in them too!

2. Then I went to Home Depot and bought my potting soil. I bought the cheapest one that would work for vegetables, because you can add your own fertilizer/plant food. The big bags I bought were $4.99 each, versus $13 for Miracle Gro.

3. Then I went to a gardening center/nursery to buy my plants and plant food. You can buy them at Home Depot or Lowes, but as a beginner gardener, I wanted to talk to someone knowledgeable about which plants to buy. The plants are about the same price anywhere, anyway.

4. Came home and filled my pots with soil, and mixed in my plant food, and planted the plants.

This happened last Thursday, and they have already grown at least 3-4 inches already! It is very exciting. I encourage everyone who has even the tiniest sunny place to plant a veggie or some herbs. It is really a fun thing to do with kids, or even with your partner. And not to mention, a really smart thing to do in this economy.
Patio Tomatoes
Zucchini
Green Beans
Green, Yellow and Red Bell Peppers
Grape Tomatoes

Skinny Habit of the Week: Load up on Vegetables

2009-04-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

Last week's Skinny Habit actually lasted about two weeks, so I thought it would be good to introduce the next one. Load up on vegetables. Another one that is so simple in theory, but I think it is hard to actually do every day.

I love vegetables. I love some raw, some cooked. I still don't think I eat enough of them, except at dinnertime. I think my difficulty is not having quick, easy, accessible veggie options. If I have to wash, cut and steam them,(except at dinner time, when that is normal) I probably won't eat them and will choose an easier snack or lunch option.

We know why vegetables are good for us, but why are they essential for losing and maintaining weight?

1. They are low in calories and high in volume
2. Most of them are high in fiber
3. They contain a lot of water which fills you up
4. They can help reduce food cravings
5. The nutrients from veggies can help our physical and emotional well-being

So my goal with this week's posts, is to explore all the possibilities with veggies. Any tips and advice on how you get more into your diet are welcome!

Breakfast Musings

2009-04-15T09:27:00.000-07:00

While my daughter eats breakfast, and I sit at my computer eating mine, I thought I would read a few of my favorite blogs. This post made me think.

I started the in-vitro process this month. Gave myself injections every night, and went to almost daily doctor's appointments to check the progress of my follicles. (The fluid-filled sack the eggs grow in.)

Once the follicles start growing, any real exercise is off-limits. So to make a long (and painful) story shorter, after about 8 days only 3 of my 10 follicles were responding to the medicine. In-Vitro was cancelled and replaced with Intrauterine Insemination. So that was done on Saturday and Sunday. Now I am just trying to keep my stress levels low so that it has a chance of working.

What does this have to do with anything? Well, Roni's post made me think about exercise. I had to stop exercising and it was an almost-daily habit to get a great work-out in. Right now, I am told to take it easy, and with my particular fertility doctor, if I do get pregnant, NO exercise at all is permitted in my first trimester, as I am considered high-risk. I can't even walk the dog I don't have.

I would have thought this would have been a welcome break, and it was at first. But I miss it. I can't believe I do. I miss feeling the sense of accomplishment. I miss the energy it gave me. I miss the endorphins it released. I miss the sense of becoming stronger and fitter.

Don't get me wrong. I am not complaining about this process I am going through. Any future child is worth all this. But I have learned something about myself, that Roni in her post has discovered also. I really do love exercise and can't wait until I can add it back into my life.

Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt

2009-04-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to eat with breakfast is greek yogurt. For 2 WW points, it is a great way to start off your day right. This morning I had open face egg white sandwiches with Oikos Honey flavored greek yogurt on the side. I am really full for only a 5 point breakfast.

A few little facts about this yummy, thick, tart and creamy yogurt:

*110-120 calories for each 5.3oz container
*Fat Free
*13-15 grams of protein
*Comes in plain, vanilla, honey and blueberry
*You can download coupons off the Oikos Website
*So much more satisfying than regular yogurt!

Give it a try. It is super good.

"Skinny" Monkey Bread

2009-04-12T21:38:00.001-07:00

Here is a super yummy recipe for monkey bread that is low in points/calories. To make it a filling breakfast, I added some banana and eggs to make a great weekend breakfast. Great for Sunday brunch, or for a holiday breakfast.
6 Servings-3 Pts. ea. (about 130 calories)
8 Servings-2 Pts. ea. (about 100 calories)

1 Tube Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits (Small Blue Can, comes in packages of 4)
1/4 C Splenda
1 t. Cinnamon
1/4 C Brown Sugar
2 T light butter
2 t. milk

Preheat oven to 400. Spray a pie pan with butter flavored non-stick spray. Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces. (I used a pizza cutter and it worked great) In a large zip lock bag, pour in the cinnamon and splenda. Put the biscuit pieces in the mixture and shake till coated. Place each piece into the pie pan. In a small saucepan, heat the brown sugar, butter and milk. Boil for 1 minute, and then pour over the biscuit pieces. Bake for about 8 minutes. Cut into 6-8 servings.

Skinny Habit of the Week: Eat a Good Breakfast

2009-04-07T21:37:00.000-07:00

This sounds more like common sense than a "skinny habit," but this is one habit that really helps in weight loss and maintenance. The days that I either skip breakfast or eat a wimpy one (ie. just grab a bar or something) are the days when I really struggle to eat right.

On those days, I am usually starving by 11am, and then am cranky and miserable until I get some lunch. I am impatient with my daughter, and when I do eat, I usually compensate and eat more. Some days, the compensation doesn't stop with lunch.

I have been in maintenance mode for a couple of weeks now (as I have started my in-vitro process) and have been eating a little more for breakfast than I used to. I am noticing such a difference in my hunger levels. I am noticing that it does carry into the whole day. I am less hungry over-all and more satisfied with the other meals.

Some of my breakfast staples:

Liquid Egg Whites
Alternative Bagels
Fiber One Frosted Mini Wheats
Peanut Butter Puffins or Reg. Puffins w/
Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (40 cals/cup)
Banana or other fruit
Bran Muffins
Greek Yogurt
Oatmeal

I mix and match, for a breakfast of 5 or 6 WW pts. Sometimes I microwave some egg whites and eat them with a bit of light melted cheese on a bagel. Sometimes I have my cereal with fruit and a muffin on the side. Other times I eat some fruit and greek yogurt with eggs, or with cereal. The more filling, the better.

If you aren't currently eating a filling breakfast and trying to lose weight, give this a try and see what happens!

Chocolate Torte

2009-04-05T15:47:00.001-07:00

OK. Let's be honest here. Once in a while we all need something sweet. And according to my Skinny Habit of the Week, it is important to not over-indulge.

My solution is simple. If you are a chocolate lover like me, and you make this dessert, it would be REALLY HARD to over-indulge. This dessert is so rich and satisfying that it kills all cravings. You really cannot eat two.

Craving Killer Chocolate Torte

4 Servings/4 pts ea.
(about 215 calories)

1/4 C fat free vanilla yogurt
1 t vanilla extract
4 lg. egg whites
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
3/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder (tastes better with a good brand)
2 T instant no-sugar added vanilla pudding
1 T whole wheat flour (can use white also)
1/2 t. salt
Four 3 1/2" diameter ramekins
Light Vanilla Ice Cream

Preheat the oven to 350. Spray each ramekin with non-stick cooking spray. Place them in a baking dish filled halfway with water. In a medium mixing bowl, with a whisk, mix the yogurt, vanilla, egg whites and sugar. Once combined, add the cocoa powder, pudding, flour, and salt. Mix until just combined, and no lumps remain. Pour into the ramekins, equally.

Bake for 24 minutes, or until tops are shiny.

Take out of water bath and cool in ramekins for 7-10 minutes. Turn ramekins upside down on plates and tortes should come right out.

Cool for another five minutes and then top with your favorite low-fat or fat-free ice cream.

My favorite is Breyers Fat Free and it is awesome. You definitely cannot tell it is fat-free. Only one point per serving, also.

Blog Post Spotlight: Treat Yourself

2009-04-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

Wow.

A friend of mine, Melanie (who actually guest posts here once in a while) emailed me a link to a great blog post about "treats." It fits right into my Skinny Habit of the Week. Here is a snippet, and I know you will want to read the whole post:

"I wonder why you can’t get this simple lesson to stick in your head. The days you eat well are the days that you feel brighter and cheerier. You get more done. You aren’t plagued by headaches. The kids are positively affected by your happier outlook. You enjoy them more and they enjoy you.

You call your indulgences “treats”? No, dear self. A treat is something that makes you feel good. Try a few chapters of a favourite book. A bubble bath. A cuddle session with your kids. Try turning on a fun song and dancing. Try eating something you enjoy that nourishes your body and your self-respect both."

Check it out.
I promise it will not be a waste of time.

Why Limits Are Good and What Not to Do

2009-04-01T20:56:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, 3/18/09

Jen, alone while husband is out of town: I think I'll try a new treat recipe tonight. Roni's Whole Wheat Dried Fruit and Walnut Oatmeal Cookie recipe looks good.

Jen goes to the store and buys dried cranberries and mini chocolate chips to substitute for the walnuts.

Jen puts daughter down for bed, and makes the cookies. 36 to be exact.

9:30 pm: Jen eats 2 cookies right out of oven, having to see how they turned out. Not bad!
Puts another batch into oven, then goes into the living room to watch her tv show.
9:37: Jen comes back into kitchen and grabs 2 more cookies. Goes back to the show.
9:43: Jen comes back into kitchen and grabs 2 more cookies. Goes back to the show.
9:50: Jen comes back into kitchen, switches batches and grabs 1 more cookie. Last one, I promise.
10:00: Jen comes back into kitchen and grabs 3 more cookies.
10:30: Jen puts cookies away as she is turning into one and is worried for her mental health.

Thursday, 3/19/09

8:30 am: I'll just grab one of those. They are almost like having oatmeal for breakfast.
10:30 am: Jen eats 2 more cookies.
3:00 pm: Jen eats 10 cookies.

8:30 pm: Husband comes home.
8:40 pm. Husband sees cookies and tastes one. Husband likes. Husband wonders why they are almost gone.

Jen makes no comment. Jen has nothing to say.

Skinny Habit of the Week: Set Limits for Treats

2009-03-30T21:08:00.000-07:00

In other words: DON'T BINGE!

If anyone saw The Biggest Loser episode a couple of weeks ago when the black team had 24 hours of luxury, you know what I am talking about. One 24 hour period of binging can ruin your weight loss.

I happen to know what I am talking about here. My weight loss has been stalled for a couple of months now due to my less-than-stellar ability to set limits on weekends. (And some weekdays but we will talk about that later.)

How many "skinny people" do you know that eat 10+ cookies in one sitting? (Not talking about teenagers here...) And if you do know any of these people, either they have SUPER METABOLISM (which I covet) or they are bulimic.

All kidding aside, binging is really an unhealthy habit. It is the attempt at filling a hole that can't be filled with food. The trick is to find out what hole you are trying (in vain) to fill up.

I think a lot of the time, we are trying to create happiness with food. If we are not happy, we need to think of ways to bring more joy into our lives. What are things that make us happy? Maybe it is learning, meditating, playing a sport, playing games, taking a class, crafting, sewing, doing nice things for others, etc. How many of these things can we incorporate into our lives to fill up those empty places? Excess food doesn't work. It just makes us fat and even more miserable.

You Don't Have to Think Before You Eat This...

2009-03-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

Thai Chicken and Vegetable Curry

4 Servings/5 pts. ea.
1 1/4C per serving

2 t. canola oil
1 med. red bell pepper, cut into 1-2 in. thin strips
1 med. onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T. minced fresh ginger
1-2 t. red curry paste, to taste (can be very spicy, so start out small and add more later if needed)
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 in. cubes
1 C reduced sodium chicken broth
1 C lite coconut milk
1 T fish sauce or soy sauce
1 t. light brown sugar
1 1/2 C cauliflower florets
1 zucchini, chopped
1 T lime juice
Lime wedges

Heat oil in a large skillet over med/high heat. Add pepper and onion, and cook until it begins to soften. Next, add garlic, ginger and curry paste. Stir. Add chicken, cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 min. Add broth, coconut milk, fish(soy) sauce, and brown sugar and bring to a boil. Add cauliflower and reduce heat to med-low, simmer, stirring occasionally until chicken is cooked through and cauliflower is tender. (about 10 min) Halfway through (at 5 min left), add chopped zucchini and lime juice. Cook until chicken and veggies are done. Serve over rice and garnish with lime wedges.

THIS TURNED OUT AMAZING! Of course I forgot to take a picture, but I will definitely be making this again and will post one later...

Not Thinking Before You Eat

2009-03-26T23:07:00.000-07:00

2 Weekends Ago:

Friday Night - Out to Dinner with Friends at Lazy Dog Cafe
Appetiser: 5-6 Pieces of Flatbread
Entree: Roast Beef and Cheddar Sandwich on huge bun
french fries

Dessert at a Friends House
large bowl of ice cream
3 huge homemade chocolate chip cookies

Saturday Night - Home alone taking a much needed break from my almost-3-year-old who just about drove me psycho during our trip to the OC Swapmeet
Dinner: In N Out Cheeseburger and fries (eaten in bed)
Dessert: 8-10 Oreo cookies (Made a special trip to the store to buy some) (also eaten in bed)

Sunday - We had guests in town who went to my other favorite burger place (TK Burger) for lunch. They called us and wanted to know if we wanted to join them. No Hesitation. YES!
Lunch: Big Cheeseburger and Fries

No Thought Whatsoever (or maybe some serious denial....)
Sound familiar to anyone???

Skinny Habit of the Week: Think - Before You Eat It

2009-03-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

Think-Before You Eat It

I think this is one of the most important Skinny Habits. When I don't even bother to think about the nutritional value of things before they go down the chute, I know I am waaay off track.

Sometimes I think about it and eat it anyway, and that is still way better than not thinking at all. It shows that at least I know what I am doing, and am aware. Awareness is the first step in developing this habit.

The times when I have stayed off track for the longest amounts of time (and gained the most weight), were the times when I just ate whatever I wanted and didn't think at all. Or maybe I started thinking but then blocked those thoughts out in denial.

The Skinny People that I know always think about what they are about to eat. They may not be counting calories or points, but they are aware of the food choices that they make ALL THE TIME. They know what choices are healthy.

As I go through in-vitro and possibly become pregnant, I need to follow this habit. I will not be in weight-loss mode, but I need to make healthy choices throughout this process. I don't want to gain a ridiculous amount of weight like I did last time. I want to be healthy this time. And I know I can do it!

Blog Changes...

2009-03-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

So I am changing things up a bit. I am going to start having a weekly skinny habit that I focus most of my posts on. I think that this will be a great way for me to mix things up a bit. I have been off the (eating) wagon completely for a couple of weeks. Off the blogging wagon, too. My posts have been half-hearted and I haven't been putting the thought and effort in that I would like to. So hopefully I can do a better job!

Craziness

2009-03-18T16:26:00.001-07:00

I feel like such a slacker on posting lately. I have had so much on my mind that there aren't a lot of great post ideas that have been popping up. My almost-three year-old has been having behavioral problems the past couple of weeks, my husband just switched companies and is out of town all week, and...I am going to start in-vitro in a couple of weeks. Which, not surprisingly, is very scary and intimidating.

So much has been going through my mind, and I am a little bit ashamed to admit that part of my crazy thoughts have been about the potential weight I could gain as I go through this process, (you have to stop exercising and be on bed-rest for a while.) I know, it is the last thing I should worry about, but I feel like I have worked so hard for this progress I have made, and worried that I won't be strong enough to be super strict with my eating while dealing with all of the drugs that I have to take, etc. (That is another story in itself, how many drugs I have to take...)

Then, pregnancy. I gained over 50 lbs last time. I have a small frame, and near the end of my term, I could barely walk because my body couldn't handle all the weight. It was miserable. I am DETERMINED to not gain that much weight again, but I have to admit I am really scared.

I am opening up like this because I would like to come to terms with it all before the process actually happens. I don't want my brain and all these fears to ruin everything.

So bear with me, and I will hopefully be able to at least post some of the time. Just may not be as frequently as I have in the past.

Fiber Quiz

2009-03-16T15:28:00.000-07:00

Think you know all about Fiber?? Well you are probably right. (I was pretty good...)

To test your knowledge and to play a fun little game, go to Fiber Friend Face-Off for the opportunity to get some great coupons for Fiber One products and to enter to win some cool prizes. I just printed one for a dollar off of a Fiber One cereal. In this economy, every dollar counts!

Great Quote

2009-03-13T15:58:00.000-07:00

Recovery is always more important than perfection.

Deep Dish Meaty Pizza

2009-03-10T21:03:00.000-07:00

After making poor eating choices for a week and a half, I am determined to eat right this week. I don't know if I have gained any weight from my little sabbatical and I am not going to weigh myself for a while to find out. I will just eat right for a couple of weeks and see where the scale goes. It is interesting that I am able to bounce right back after that long of a slump. I think it is great. In the past, when a week like that has happened, it turned into months. Maybe this time I am creating "skinny habits!" :)

Anyway, enough about that. Tonight I made a great dinner. It satisfies the pizza craving, but you don't need 3 or 4 pieces to fill you up. (Yea, I am talking from experience. There was a day when I would split a large pizza with my husband who is a big guy. I am nowhere as big as him. How could I eat as much as a grown man????)

Deep Dish Meaty Pizza

6 Servings/6 Pts. ea.

1 lb extra lean ground beef (4% fat)
1 can diced tomatoes with garlic, basil and oragano, drained (Hunts has no high fructose corn syrup)
3/4 C Pizza Sauce (I used Trader Joes Pizza Sauce in a jar)
1 sm. onion or 1/2 of a large-chopped finely
1-2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
5 1/2 oz. shredded part-skim mozzarella
1 T parmesan cheese
1 Can Pillsbury Thin Crust Pizza Dough
sprinkle of dried basil

Preheat the oven to 425. In a large skillet, saute the chopped onions. Add the ground beef and break it up while it cooks. Once the ground beef is cooked, add the diced tomatoes and pizza sauce. Stir till heated through. Set aside. Spray a 9 X 13 baking dish with cooking spray. Unroll the pillsbury dough and place it into the pan, adjusting it until about 1 inch goes up the side of the pan. Bake in the oven for about 5-7 minutes, till it partially cooks, but is not brown. Remove from oven, and top with the ground beef mixture. Place the sliced tomatoes on top, and then sprinkle the shredded cheese until covered. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese, and lightly sprinkle some dried basil to finish it off. Bake for 15 minutes and cut into 6 squares.

I served this with the baked "fried" zucchini and ranch dressing, and it was a great filling 7 point dinner!

This is souper!

2009-03-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

Hi! I'm Jen's dinner swap partner, Melanie, and every now and then if she really likes something I make, I try to remember to stick the recipe up here. I don't know if it's because we're beachside that our weather is suffering from multiple personality disroder right now, or if that's just Spring any where, but one day you wake up and it's a beach day and the very next is a definite soup day. If you love soup weather, this is a really good recipe. Total crowd pleaser. If you beef it up with some whole grain Goldfish crackers sprinkled on top, it makes a great lunch all by itself.

Bell Pepper-Tomato Soup

2 tsp olive oil
2 medium garlic clove(s), minced
1 medium onion(s), diced
1 medium carrot(s), chopped
1 1/2 tsp herbes de Provence
3 medium sweet red pepper(s), or orange, sliced**
14 1/2 oz reduced-sodium chicken broth
28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
1 tsp table salt
1/2 cup(s) fat-free creamer, or fat-free half-and-half
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp sugar

In a large pot, heat oil over medium-low heat. Add garlic, stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add onion and carrot. Cook until onion is tender, about 5 minutes.

Add herbes de Provence, cook, stirring until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add peppers. Cook until begins to soften, about 5 minutes. (See footnote: You do not need to cook peppers if they are charred and peeled.)

Add broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Cover; simmer for 25 minutes. Stir in salt, pepper, half-and-half and sugar. Purée in small batches; briefly reheat, if needed. Yields 1 cup per serving.

**The bell peppers are awesome if you roast them. Just halve them, remove the seeds, and place them face down on a foil covered cookie sheet under your broiler for fifteen minutes until charred. Remove them from the heat and seal them in a Ziploc bag for fifteen minutes, then remove the charred parts (comes off easily in your hands). It really adds a lot to the flavor.

This makes 8 servings at only 1 point per serving!

You can check out my blog where I dump out all my random thoughts for a low calorie sweet and salty snack I love here.

Top 100 Healthy Mom Blogs

2009-03-07T21:14:00.000-08:00

RNCentral.com just posted their Top 100 Healthy Mom Blogs. (And they put me on it! YEA!)
There are some that are familiar to me on the list, and others that I definitely want to check out. If you are looking for more blogs to read (I always am and even though I subscribe to tons, I still look for more! I think I'm addicted...), they cover just about every health-related topic, including:

*General Healthy Blogs
*Eating Right
*Managing Stress
*Pregnancy and Newborns
*Losing Weight
*Working Out
*Going Green and Organic
*Mental Health
*Relationships

Check it out!

Blog Post Spotlight: Laura's Life with the D-word

2009-03-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, I read a post on MizFit that really resonated with me. I love MizFit's blog. She talks about so many great things. From exercise to food and all things in between. This post is actually a guest post, by Laura from Life of L. It is about her relationship with what she calls The Diet, and her hope that someday it will become a lifestyle. Here, she says:

"I have an on again/off again relationship that I'm not proud of. For about nine months, it was solid as a rock. I was faithful and attentive, and everything felt just right. Then the newness wore off. I'd gotten what I'd wanted, and I moved on. But before long, I had to go back. I just couldn't take being away anymore.

Because my pants were getting too tight.

The relationship of which I speak is with the D word. Some may call it a lifestyle change, or healthy living, or eating right. But for me, it's still very much The Diet."

As much as I always say that I am changing my lifestyle into a healthy one, and am not on a diet, I definitely relate to what she says here:

"Someday, I think my relationship with The Diet will mature to the point where it is a Lifestyle and no longer something I'm going steady with one day, and leaving for Cake the next."

I definitely think that making this a lifestyle is a work in progress. It's ok to go steady for a while first before making that ultimate committment. I think that is the best way, that way we can learn how we want and need that relationship to be, and make mistakes along the way. Once we have learned what things work for us, we can commit for life. This is my goal, anyway.

Hopefully this makes sense. If it doesn't, ignore my words and go check out this post, because it was great!

Southwestern Corn Chowder

2009-03-02T18:03:00.001-08:00

If you are in a hurry, and need a quick but absolutely delicious meal, you have come to the right place. This corn chowder recipe is from a friend of mine and I made a couple of simple changes to lighten it up. Everyone who has tried it has loved it!

8 Servings / 4 pts ea. Ea. serving is about 1 1/2 C.
1 lg. onion
2 t. cumin
2 T light butter
2 T flour
2 T chili powder
2 cans corn, drained
1 lg can chicken breast
2 (16 oz.) jars salsa
2 cans fat free chicken broth
8 oz. 1/3 less fat cream cheese
8 oz. fat free cream cheese
chopped cilantro

In a large saucepan, combine light butter, onion, cumin, chili powder and flour. Saute onions until transparent. Add corn, chicken breast, salsa and broth. Bring to a boil. Turn heat to low and add cream cheese. Stir until melted and dissolved. Add cilantro for garnish.

Such a Small Thing

2009-02-27T20:58:00.001-08:00

Had a little moment today that I wanted to share. I had a minor surgery today and when I was filling out some of the paperwork, I came across the BMI chart. Not sure why they want to know, but you are supposed to find your height and weight and circle your BMI.

I found the closest ones to my stats (I am kinda in-between) and found that I have dropped a whole column on the chart from the last time I saw one of these charts. (A few months ago) It was so nice to be in the middle of the "normal" section.

Such a small thing, but a great feeling regardless!

Jillian Michael's - 30 Day Shred

2009-02-26T17:50:00.000-08:00

Last week I won an exercise DVD off of a blog called It's A Lifelong Journey. I'd heard about this particular workout video from other bloggers and was super excited to give it a try. It is called Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred.

So Saturday morning I popped it into my DVD player and gave it a try. "Try" being the operative word here. Honestly, it kicked my butt. It was only 20 minutes and for someone who (delusionally) thinks of them self as reasonably in shape, I realized the harsh truth.

To break it down:

There are three 20 minute workouts on the video. Level 1, 2 and 3. I did Level 1. Following a short warm-up, the workout is split up into interval training. 2 Minutes of Strength, 2 Minutes of Cardio, followed by 1 Minute of Abs. This process is repeated 3 times with different exercises. Then you have a brief stretching period to cool down.

For those of you who want details, you do pushups, jumping jacks, jump rope (without the rope), lunges, squats, crunches, and many other forms of torture. No resting for the weary, either. She says, "No Rest! If you want your body to change, you have to ...!" So I have done it twice and both times I thought I was going to pass out. I was supposed to do it this morning too but that is another blog post....

Right now on Amazon this video is pretty cheap. For a workout that really works you out in 20 minutes (everyone has time for that) it's a great deal. (I've linked to Amazon at the top of this post)

Really Good Light Ranch Dressing

2009-02-24T19:52:00.000-08:00

Tonight I made baked "fried" zucchini,

which I got from Gina's Weight Watcher Recipe Blog. It definitely needed ranch to dip it in. I am not a fan of reduced fat ranch dressing from the store, so here is a great recipe:

Makes 16 Servings/2T each Serving/.5pts ea.
26 calories/1.5g fat ea.

Ranch Salad Dressing/Seasoning mix, 1/2 pkg.
1 1/2 C. Reduced Fat Buttermilk
4 T Light Mayo
4 T Light Sour Cream

Whisk all ingredients together and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Winner of Swissmar Borner Mandoline Slicer

2009-02-24T16:00:00.000-08:00

We have a winner! Random.org selected Emily C. as the winner of the Swissmar Borner Mandoline Slicer! Congratulations!

Progress Photos

2009-02-22T15:30:00.000-08:00

Every weight loss blog needs progress photos (in my opinion) and I have been a slacker. I looked in my photo archives to find the "befores," so they don't show me as well as the last ones.

Oct 2006:
Highest Weight (besides during/right after pregnancy)
160lbs (ish)
6 months post baby
Did Weight Watchers while I nursed and got down to 136 lbs in June 2007. (The weight stayed on until I stopped nursing. Wasn't one of the lucky ones!)

Stayed around 140 (+/- 5 lbs) till Aug. 2008 and started the blog:

In Progress:
Sat. Feb 21, 2009
127.4 lbs

Give Away: Swissmar Borner V-Slicer Plus Mandoline

2009-02-18T16:00:00.000-08:00

I am so excited. I have something AWESOME to give away. The great people at Swissmar have agreed to give away a mandoline slicer to one of my blog readers.

Let me tell you about this mandoline. I got mine a couple of months ago on Amazon as a birthday present for myself. It got great reviews. I LOVE IT! I use it almost every time I cook. It is great for slicing and dicing almost every kind of vegetable and works on many fruits as well. It takes all the work out of making beautiful salads and veggie medleys. For those of us who are trying to eat more vegetables, it is an essential item to have. After getting my mandoline, my chopper (that I used to use to chop onions) has been retired. And I use my food processor way less, too. This is just so fast and easy, and the clean-up is nothing.

Here is what the mandoline looks like:

Here are some of the cuts it makes:

Here is a video (bear with me, it is my first one!) demonstrating how easy it is to use:

Here are the contest details:

The contest will run through Monday, Feb. 23. No entries will be accepted after 12pm. I will announce the winner on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

For 1 entry: Leave a comment with your name, email address, and blog address if you have one.
For 1 entry: Write a post on your own blog/website with a link to this contest, and leave me a comment telling me what you did.
For 1 entry: Subscribe to my RSS feed, or let me know you are a subscriber already. Leave me a comment letting me know.

Each person can have a maximum of 3 entries.

This contest is open to U.S. residents only, for shipping purposes.

Rut Follow Up

2009-02-17T22:26:00.001-08:00

First I want to say thank you for all the supportive comments I got after my last post. Thanks so much!

So now that I am not in the moment (the one where I was sick from eating too much) I can see things a little bit more rationally.

Bottom line, weekends are going to happen. Yes, I want to lose weight. But more importantly, I am trying to live a sustainable healthy lifestyle. To me, losing the weight quickly is not as important as living my life in a way that is possible for the long term. I am going to have to learn how to deal with weekends. They aren't going away. I am going to have to figure out a way to make things work. Maybe extra exercise. Maybe small portions of the things I want to eat. Make trade-offs.

What are some ideas that have worked for you when it comes to weekends?

Rut:Part 2

2009-02-15T22:19:00.000-08:00

OK. I am having major problems with weekends. Sundays actually. They are killing me.

Saturdays are my flex point days. I am lax on one meal and have a treat. Sunday I am SUPPOSED to be back on track. But my friends and/or husband likes to plan meal get-togethers on Sunday nights. A fun night with friends, little ones running all over the place, and lots of food.

Tonight was no exception. We were invited and asked to bring my peach cobbler. Let me tell you about this peach cobbler. This is my grandma's recipe, who is from the south. I used a whole cube of butter in each pan, and that is half of what the recipe originally calls for! It is so yummy. Can I ever resist that stuff? NOT AT ALL!
(This is why I rarely make it)

So not only did I have two helpings of the peach cobbler, I ate a plate full of dinner, quite a bit of chips and guacamole, vanilla ice cream and a brownie!

As I write this, I am scaring myself. I seriously binged tonight. And I didn't exercise today like I had planned.

Who am I to write about Skinny Habits? More like BAD HABITS.

OK. Moving on.

Now that this is done and can't be reversed, I need to make a plan. I am going to exercise like crazy this coming week. Stay on track with my eating.

No excuses. I can do this.

Win Jillian MIchaels 30 Day Shred Workout DVD

2009-02-11T21:30:00.000-08:00

I have heard great things about Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred Workout DVD. Click here to win one!

Rut

2009-02-11T20:54:00.000-08:00

I have been in a huge rut the last few days. It started with a gain on Saturday. Not a huge one, but a gain regardless. Used my flex points for the day, so ate a few treats.

Then Sunday, went to a goodbye party for some friends of ours that are leaving town, and ate reasonably until I tasted the coconut cupcakes. I tried to stick with one but ended up eating 2. That started a downward slide for the rest of the day, and for the life of me I just couldn't rebound back.

Monday, the plan was to get up early, exercise and eat right. Instead, woke up with horrible cramps and could barely get out of bed at all. No exercise and no counting points.

Tuesday, still had cramps, so no exercise. Ate ok until after dinner. I was hosting a baby shower at my house and they had a chocolate fountain. Still, I thought I would do ok. Filled up my plate with mostly fruit, and one little rice krispy treat. Lightly drizzled chocolate on everything. That would have been ok, until I went back and got 2 more rice krispy treats. Then I ate a candy bar (that I won at a game) after everyone left.

Today I think I have somewhat gotten myself together. I woke up, exercised, and ate ok today. Even though I am (trying to be) back on track, I still feel like I am in a rut. I had all these plans for the blog, with new ideas for posts, and have done nothing. Other projects in my life are on hold too, while I try to pull myself together.

Anyone else have these kinds of weeks? When you cry for stupid reasons? Where its only Wednesday and it feels like Friday?

Cuties Winners

2009-02-09T18:53:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the following people. They will receive a 5 lb box of Cuties California Mandarins sometime this week!

Michelle in OH
Carolyn in NC
Jessica in IL
Jean in NE
Melanie in CA

Thanks for all your participation!

Blog Post Spotlight: For My Daughter

2009-02-08T20:49:00.000-08:00

I have decided to try to spotlight a few amazing blog posts each month. As I read all of the blogs that I follow, I like to take note of the ones that really make me think about my own life. This week, I read a great post on Wii Fit Mommies about one woman's quest. Here it is in her own words:

"I want to raise my daughter in a home where weight is NOT an issue. Where it is commonplace to participate in physical activity after dinner. I want her to not even think twice about her weight. That will happen first and foremost by me taking charge of my own life and refusing to be ashamed of how I look, of what I weigh."

In this day and age, there is sooo much emphasis on the way women and even young girls look. I have heard even the littlest girls talk about how they don't want to be fat. I, as a mother, see it as my responsibility to raise my daughter (and any other future kids) healthy. Not only physically healthy, but emotionally healthy. Like Jenn, who wrote the post, I don' t want weight to be an issue in my family either. I want my children to see my example of living a healthy life. I want my children to see that eating healthy, exercise and a positive self-image (which I am trying to improve upon) is a normal part of life.

This is my own quest, and a work in progress. I am really glad I am learning these lessons now, when my daughter is only 2 1/2. Hopefully by the time she is old enough to think about these things, the habits I am trying to form now will be really set in place.

Kettle Baked Potato Chips- Salt and Vinegar

2009-02-07T18:15:00.000-08:00

One of my weaknesses is Salt and Vinegar potato chips. They are my favorite potato chips of all time. I could eat and eat until my mouth was sore. Up until recently, they have been on my banned food list.

Now Kettle brand has come out with a baked version that tastes amazing. They taste like potato chips, only less greasy, and the flavor is just right. 2 WW points per oz, and when you weigh it out, it is quite a decent portion. I found mine at Whole Foods, but I need to find a closer place to buy, as the Whole Foods is kind of far from me.

If you are fan of Salt and Vinegar chips, you have got to try these!

Creamy Blended Mushroom Soup

2009-02-06T15:10:00.000-08:00

So I used the Cream of Zucchini soup as my inspiration, and made a mushroom version. With mushrooms, most people either love them or hate them. I love them. There is a little French restaurant that I have gone to occasionally that makes the best mushroom soup. My version (to me at least) tastes just as great! (With a lot less fat I am sure. The only thing mine doesn't have is the crusty french bread to go along with it!)

I made this on Monday, and ate a bowl with lunch several times this week. It was great.

So if you are a mushroom fan, keep reading. If not, this post is not for you.

2 pts/Cup

2 T butter
2 C chopped onion
1/2 C brown rice
8 C chicken broth
1 1/2 lbs mushrooms (I used 2 portabello and the rest-white button)
1/2 C light sour cream

In a large pot on medium heat, melt butter. Add the onions and rice and saute till onions are golden and soft. Add 4 C broth, bring to a boil, reduce heat to med low, and stir frequently until rice is soft, about 30 min. Meanwhile, finely chop the mushrooms, (I used a food processor). When rice is cooked, add 2 more C of broth, and the mushrooms. Raise the heat back up to medium. Cook until mushrooms are soft. Using an immersion blender, blend until desired consistancy, adding the additional 2 C broth once it is blended. (Or you could take out of the pot and use a blender) Heat till hot, and turn off the stove. At the end, add the sour cream and stir till incorporated.

By the way, I did not take a picture. It is just brown soup.

Hungry

2009-02-04T18:05:00.000-08:00

I don't know what is going on with me but the past couple of days I have just been so hungry. It seems like nothing fills me up. I am not eating any different than any other weeks, so I don't know what is going on. It is frustrating.

Last night I caved in to a McDonald's ice cream sundae. The day before I just could not stop eating and snacked on all kinds of stuff. Today it is somewhat under control, but the evening has just begun.

Funny how this happens, and other weeks aren't so hard at all. I just have to keep telling myself that this is life, and that it will all come out in the wash.

I have also been trying to drink more water this week. My lips are chapped and my skin is so dry it is crazy. I am not a water drinker by nature; I don't really like it. So this is a new goal of mine, to try to sip water all day. I didn't do so well today, as I woke up not feeling good and didn't exercise. Exercise gets me started early with the water drinking and it is easier to refill the cup and keep it going all day.

My cold from last week turned into a Sinus Infection, and I am taking antibiotics to hopefully get rid of it. I can't wait until it is gone and my energy is back. Maybe its the drugs that are making me hungry.... :)

Fun Valentines Day Giveaway: Cuties California Mandarins

2009-02-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

This Valentines Day, send your child to school with a fun, unique Valentine! The folks at Cuties have donated 5 boxes (5 lbs each) of special Valentines Cuties to lucky blog readers!

These special Valentine Cuties are bite sized, easy-to-peel, and super sweet mandarin oranges that make the perfect classroom treat. They are a great healthy alternative to candy. Each one has a special Valentines Day sticker on it, with sayings such as, "Kiss a Cutie," "U R A Cutie," "Sweet Cutie," and "Valentine Cutie." Kids love the removable stickers.

To win one of these boxes, here are the guidelines:

1. For One Entry, write a post about the giveaway on your blog or website, and leave a comment below with the link.

2. For One Entry, subscribe to my blog RSS feed, and leave a comment telling me you did so. If you are already a subscriber, just write a comment telling me and that counts as an entry also.

This contest is open until Midnight this coming Friday (the 13th...). The winners will be announced over the weekend. This contest is for U.S. residents only, for shipping purposes.

Thanks for playing!

SuperBowl Sunday

2009-02-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

Let's not talk about it.

How funny was The Office?

Weigh In Saturday

2009-01-31T10:48:00.000-08:00

I lost another 1.8 lbs!!!

I think its because I didn't exercise a lot. Every time that happens I lose more weight. Annoying, huh. But I guess it's because exercise builds muscles, which weighs more than fat. But I am ok with losing slower, and being more healthy by exercise. I am not going to let the scale rule my life. I want to reach my weight loss goals with muscle, rather than without it.

Last week I started to take my measurements, so I can see the progress that way. I am going to take them every 2 weeks. I think that it is a better way to see results, and more accurate.

Well, we are off to a birthday party for Emily's little friend, so will post more later!

Trader Joes Fast and Easy Meals (Part 3): Frozen Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina

2009-01-29T19:39:00.001-08:00

Another great find is Trader Joe's Frozen Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina. As you can see,
it is only 3 points per cup, and that is plenty, as long as you doctor it up a little. It comes with the gnocchi, and frozen sauce nuggets, and frozen cheese nuggets, both which melt into a gooey cheesy sauce in the pan.

This time around, I added butternut squash cubes, and sliced zucchini. I also added some breaded chicken cutlets (also from Trader Joes, 3 points for 2) to make a meal for 6.5 points.

This is what I did, but you could virtually add any veggies you like, as well as any source of protein for a quick, healthy, easy meal.

Off My Game

2009-01-28T22:38:00.001-08:00

It seems like every time I am on a roll, and life is going smoothly, something happens. Last week, I was waking up early every morning, getting my workout in, and having extra time to take care of my responsibilities.

This week, I am really struggling. My husband gave me his nasty cold, and it is a crappy one. I feel ok during the day, but in the morning and at night, I feel pretty rotten. It is hard enough to get out of bed in the morning when my toddler is shouting "MOMMY" from her crib; I am definitely unable to get up any earlier.

Today I decided that I would try to get a work-out in. I got on my elliptical and my goal was 30 minutes. I usually do at least 45 so I thought that was taking it easy. After 26 minutes I almost passed out. I had to lay on the floor for about 5 minutes to recuperate. Ridiculous.

One good thing that I have accomplished is this: In the past, when I got sick, I have used it as an excuse to eat bad. I usually have thought to myself, "I'm sick so I should be able to eat what I want."

This time around, I have managed to eat right. I feel the lack of exercise, but at least I am not blowing it on the food front. Knock on wood that I can stay strong. Why is it that our minds come up with the lamest excuses to fall off the wagon?

Great Give-away

2009-01-26T19:26:00.001-08:00

I am a big fan of using a kitchen scale. Not a day goes by that I don't use mine. Scales let you get accurate portion sizes, and sometimes it is easier to weigh than measure.

If you currently don't own a kitchen scale, you are missing out. So:

Check out the scale giveaway on Roni’s Weight Loss Blog! I can win an Affordable Food Scale from Eat Smart and so can you! Click here for contest details!

Trader Joes Fast and Easy Meals (Part 2): Frozen Chicken Fajitas

2009-01-26T17:18:00.000-08:00

Saturday night, I whipped up another fast and easy Trader Joes meal. Each bag contains frozen peppers and onions, as well as some sliced chicken breast. Each bag is only 2.5 points. (2.5 servings, each serving has 90 cals, 1 g. fat, 2 g. fiber(1 pt))

Add a couple of 2 pt. tortillas, some light sour cream and ff refried beans, and you have quite the dinner! I used two bags for me and Brian, but didn't use all the veggies. I put them in another freezer bag to use another time.
Not bad for about 10 minutes!

Pistachios

2009-01-25T20:56:00.000-08:00

When was the last time you ate a pistachio? It had been a while for me. Thanks to Everybody's Nuts, and Wonderful Pistachios who sent me some sample pistachios, I got to eat them today. I was reminded how good they are!

Here are some little known facts about pistachios:
1. Pistachios are the most nutrient dense nut
2. Pistachios are a "super food"
3. Pistachios are full of antioxidants
4. Pistachios are one of the lowest fat and lowest calorie nuts
5. Pistachios are one of the highest fiber nuts

Pistachios are known as the "skinny nut" and yeild the most nuts per serving: 49 per oz compared to 23 almonds, 14 for walnut halves, and 18 cashews.

As I ate this snack in front of the tv today, (I had about 30 which is around 100 calories) I was surprisingly satisfied. It takes a little while to eat them, as you remove the shells, which is a great way to make the eating experience be more satisfying and take longer.

Everybody's Nuts and Wonderful Pistachios recommends setting out bowls of pistachios on Super Bowl Sunday, instead of other high-fat snacking foods. I think it is a great idea.

So if you want a great salty snack, pick up some pistachios, instead of those potato chips, you won't be sorry!

Trader Joes Fast and Easy Meals (Part 1): Trader Ming's Mandarin Orange Chicken

2009-01-24T10:55:00.001-08:00

I don't know about everyone else, but it is really hard for me to want to cook on the weekends. I think if I wasn't careful, I would eat out every day!

As I am trying to save money(and eating out doesn't help the budget), I decided to browse Trader Joe's frozen aisle for some inexpensive, quick and easy weekend meal ideas. Last night, we tried the first one.

Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken

For one cup, it is 5 WW points, 230 calories, 8 g. fat, 0 g. fiber. It tastes just like a Chinese restaurant's orange chicken, with much less calories and fat. It is frozen, and comes with sauce packets. You just bake the chicken in the oven for 18 minutes, and heat up the sauce, mix and serve.

We mixed in some steamed broccoli and served it over brown rice (again, frozen from Trader Joes to save time) for a delicious weekend dinner, saved some money and stayed on plan.

Hidden Veggie Meat Pasta Sauce

2009-01-23T15:17:00.000-08:00

I am a big fan of beefing dishes up with veggies. Not only does it make the meal much bigger for the same amount of WW points, it also can save you money. You can use less meat, which is expensive, and have your entire meal be much cheaper, and you don't even know what you are missing!

Whenever I make this meat sauce, it is slightly different, as I don't use a recipe. I am going to try and remember the exact measurements I used, but you can vary the amounts of spices you would like to use.

5 Servings/2 pts ea. (about 3/4 C) (This is only for sauce, you need to add additional points for pasta)

1/2 large onion or 1 small onion, chopped finely
1/2 lb. extra lean ground beef (4% fat)
1 large zucchini (grated)
5 oz. sliced mushrooms (chopped finely (I use food processor)
3 cloves garlic, minced or crushed (can add more if you wish)
1 T oregano
1 T basil (can add more if you wish)
3 cans diced tomatoes (garlic, basil and oregano style, the ones with no sweeteners)
1 sm. can tomato sauce
2 T tomato paste
1 T Worcestershire Sauce
1 T balsamic vinegar

Spray large skillet with cooking spray. Cook onions until soft. Add ground beef and cook till brown. Add shredded zucchini and finely chopped mushrooms. Add garlic, oregano and basil. Stir till combined. Add add 2 cans diced tomatoes, sauce and tomato paste. The third can of diced tomatoes you need to blend up in food processor or blender until tomatoes are finely chopped. Add to sauce mixture. Finally, add the balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire Sauce. Bring to a boil and then turn down temperature to low and simmer for a while. I simmered it for 1 1/2 hours, that is great if you have the time, but it probably needs to simmer at least 20-30 minutes to blend flavors.

When I served this over high-fiber or whole wheat pasta, my husband really liked it. It makes a very nice serving size with the pasta, and is very filling. He was very surprised when I told him that it was full of veggies. Your family will never know!

It All Evens Out

2009-01-21T18:56:00.000-08:00

During these last few months, there have been some discouraging weeks, where I feel like I did everything right, and lost barely any weight. Then there have been weeks where I really didn't stay on plan, or didn't exercise enough, or whatever. And surprisingly sometimes I lost weight on those weeks. There were weeks where I was stuck in a plateau.

There have been days where all I wanted to do was eat eat eat. Chocolate, breads, sweets, crazy cravings. There also have been days when I wasn't even hungry for all my points for the day. Yesterday, after dinner, I had 3 points left, and I wasn't even very hungry. But because they were there, I ate a granola bar. I could have done without it.

Even though these ups and downs have happened, I'm learning to see the bigger picture. I have lost almost (hopefully by next weigh in) 10% of my body weight. That is such a great feeling. Did those frustrating weigh-ins really matter in the long run? No. It may be taking me longer to lose this weight than I thought it would originally, but I am learning to be ok with that too. I am learning to "love the process."

Check out Roni's post on this. It really is mind-altering. Learning to love the process is just as important as loving the result. It is so true.

Thanks Roni!!!

So next time I (or you) have a bad weigh-in, or we eat out of control for a day, or whatever the challenge may be, we need to realize that it will all even out in the end, as long as we love the process and not quit.

Warm Zucchini and Corn Salad

2009-01-20T19:15:00.000-08:00

Today started off with a great start. I actually got out of bed early, and got my workout in before 8:30. (I am NOT a morning person) This gave me time to shower, eat breakfast, get my daughter ready and leave the house by 9:45 for Mommy and Me Ballet class.

Today was my cooking day, and not only was I cooking for my cooking group (we now have a third member), but I made dinner for 2 other families, one who just had a new baby. I was cooking from 1:30 till 5:15 non-stop. Won't be doing that again for a while... Since I was cooking for a large amount of people, I decided to make my yummy creamy chicken enchiladas. I made a couple of small adjustments to the recipe which made it even better.

As a side, I made this really tasty Warm Zucchini and Corn Salad. It is a great side dish for Mexican food. You could eat it as a dip with chips too, I guess.

Here is the recipe:

4 Servings/1 pt. ea. (about 2/3 C)

1 1/2 cups whole kernel corn, frozen
2 1/2 cups diced zucchini
2 T green onion, chopped
1 t. olive oil
1 T lime juice
1/8 t. freshly ground pepper
1/2 t. salt
2 T fresh cilantro, chopped

Toss corn, zucchini and green onions with olive oil. Pour into large skillet, and cook, stirring frequently, until zucchini is fork-tender. Remove skillet from heat, and mix in lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper.

I love finding healthy side dishes that go with Mexican food. It seems like rice and beans are your only option, and to eat rice and enchiladas is a bit too many points. Anyone have any other sides that you eat with Mexican food? I would love to hear them...

Product Review: Kellogg's Fiber Plus Antioxidants Bar

2009-01-19T12:04:00.000-08:00

I was at the grocery store and they were handing out samples of some new fiber bars, comparable to Fiber One bars. I grabbed one and was really surprised by how tasty it was. Way better than Fiber One bars, in my opinion. The bars are a tiny bit smaller, but not by much.

They come in two flavors, Chocolate Chip and Dark Chocolate Almond, which is the one that I bought. 2 points a piece, 130 Calories, 5g fat, and 9g fiber. The Chocolate Chips have a little less calories.

Check them out!!!

Forever Plan

2009-01-18T12:36:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about how in the past, I've done Weight Watchers, and lost some weight, and went back to the same bad eating habits, and gained the weight all back.

What is going to make this time different? I was gung-ho in the past also, and still "fell off the wagon." I am not sure I know the answer, but I think my thought process is different this time. I feel like I now know that this is not just a temporary way of living. This is my forever plan. I will ALWAYS have to live like this, eating right and exercising.

And you know what? I am OK with it. Yesterday was my flex day (where I eat my flex points) and though it is fun to not have to be as careful, I do notice I don't feel as good at the end of the day. I feel sort of energy deficient, lazy, full or something.

Another thing that makes this time different, is all the blog reading and writing I am doing. It is so motivating to see other "regular" people (not celebrities with trainers and chefs and nannies) who can lose the weight and keep it off. Reading these stories and following the good examples of my fellow bloggers really helps me see the big picture in a way I have never experienced. Thank you for your stories.

I am counting on myself this time. This time is for real. Forever.

Feed the Hungry by Losing Weight

2009-01-14T16:20:00.000-08:00

For all you people out there who are actively losing weight, why not kill two birds with one stone?

General Mills has teamed up with NBC’s The Biggest Loser and Feeding America to encourage people to get fit and feed the hungry. You can pledge to lose weight at PFPChallenge.com and for every pound lost, General Mills will donate 10 cents, equivalent to one pound of groceries, to a local food bank based on the ZIP codes of participants.

Whether you are an avid The Biggest Loser fan, in need of dropping a few pounds, or just want to feel good and make a difference, the Pound For Pound Challenge is an easy way help eliminate hunger in America. The Pound For Pound Challenge gives Americans the opportunity to assist in hunger relief and help families in their neighborhoods by simply pledging to lose weight and get healthy.

Here are the ways you can participate in the Pound For Pound Challenge:

· Pledge to lose weight at www.PFPChallenge.com or www.biggestloser.com. You can also donate directcly at these sites.

· Mail-in the Pound For Pound lids and seals from specially-marked General Mills products. For every lid or seal mailed in, General Mills will donate 10 cents to Feeding America. Brands with the Pound For Pound lid or seal are included in this press release.

· Donate directly to Feeding America by visiting www.PFPChallenge.com or www.biggestloser.com.

Soup and Sandwich Dinner

2009-01-13T19:18:00.000-08:00

I thought I would have a soup and sandwich dinner tonight. I made my favorite french dip sandwiches and they turned out great. For once I didn't overcook the meat. I added a photo to the post if you want the recipe.

The soup I made was Cream of Zucchini, and it was amazing- 2 pts. per cup. I got the recipe off of A Veggie Venture and if you click on the link, you can get the recipe. Every recipe I have gotten off of that blog has been amazing. So if you are looking for more ways to eat more veggies, look no further!

The soup was restaurant quality, in my opinion. She offers variations in preparation, so this is what I used: I used chicken broth for the liquid, stuck with the brown jasmine rice that she uses, and followed the recipe pretty much exactly. The only thing I did differently was use a hand-held blender and blended the soup right in the pot instead of transferring to a blender. I think it saved me a little time. I used light sour cream and tasted wonderful.

I also began thinking of other veggies I could use to make it, mushroom, or cauliflower would be great variations....

Check it out!

Mexican Deep Dish Pan Pizza

2009-01-12T19:55:00.000-08:00

Mexican Deep Dish Pan Pizza

6 Servings/7 pts. ea.

Krusteaz Cornbread Mix
8 oz raw extra lean ground beef
1 small onion, chopped

1 zucchini, shredded
Taco Packet

½ C Water

1 ½ T Ketchup

1 Can Black Beans
1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
bell pepper, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make cornbread as directed, except bake in a 9 X13 pan. Bake for approx. 14 minutes, till golden brown.
Meanwhile, brown ground beef along with onions and zuchini. Add taco mix, ½ C. Water, Ketchup, and Beans. Cook till most of the liquid is absorbed.
Remove cornbread crust from oven and top with meat, cheese, and remainder of chopped vegetables. Add pan back to oven and cook 5 minutes more to melt cheese.

Garnish with cilantro. Cut into 6 pieces.

Bad News, Bad Eating

2009-01-12T19:45:00.000-08:00

Had a bit of a rough weekend. Got some very bad news, and had a hard time moving past it. Saturday I used my 35 flex points, but yesterday was just a bad eating day. A bad EMOTIONAL eating day. I knew it. I didn't want to stop it even though I recognized it. I am OK with it, because it ended with yesterday.

Sometimes we need to be OK that we are human and will never be perfect. I knew I was making horrible choices, but once in a while that will happen. The trick is to set limits. Though I didn't say it to myself during my pity party, I knew it would stop with the end of the day.

And today I got up, exercised and ate right. That is what habits are for! We just need to stay the course until it is a habit, and it really isn't that hard.

Great Contest

2009-01-10T22:44:00.000-08:00

Just found a new contest on a great blog, This Mama Cooks on a Diet. She is giving away 6 workout DVD's. Check it out!

Weigh In Saturday

2009-01-10T10:31:00.000-08:00

Lost another 1.2 lbs this week! YEA!!

All in all it was a great week back. I felt good, ate well, and exercised. No stomach-ache from eating too much, no indigestion or heartburn. My husband ate right too this week-he was a daily Tums taker and didn't need it at all this week. Hmmm what does that tell us? No-brainer. This is how I want to live my life. Healthy and feeling good.

That is just physically. Emotionally, eating right does a lot for me too. I feel more in control of my life. I have more self-esteem because I am respecting my body and self when I treat it right. I feel great when I have less fat to obsess over. (Maybe I shouldn't be admitting that one...) Though I haven't graduated to any new sizes, my clothes are no longer too tight. I feel comfortable in them and am even starting to feel attractive again. I haven't felt that way in a long time. (That's another one that is probably too much information...)

Finally, as my mushy thoughts wind down, I am just feeling grateful that I am learning this lesson now instead of 20 years from now. I am grateful that I will have the opportunity to be a good example for my daughter, and any future children and show her/them a healthy way of life. I am grateful that because I embrace a healthy lifestyle, I will have the energy to keep up with my kids. And hopefully live a long, happy, healthy life.

What are your thoughts as you live a healthy lifestyle?

Wii Fit

2009-01-07T19:22:00.001-08:00

For my birthday I got a Wii Fit. Up until today, I have only done it once- for a lot of reasons. It is really hard to find time without my 2 1/2 year old trying to steal the wimotes and jump on the balance board. My goal is to continue my elliptical workouts every morning, and add in the wii fit 3 other times a week. Originally I was planning on doing it at night which is just not happening. By the time Emily is in bed, it is usually 8:30 or 9pm and I just don't have any energy left. So today I tried something different, I did it during naptime. It was awesome. I did yoga and strength training, going through each exercise that I have unlocked, some of them twice. I ended up having time for 36 minutes of exercises. I broke a sweat, and felt the burn on many of the exercises.

I was browsing through my blog subscription list and came across a link to a fun blog called Wii Fit Mommies. For anyone who has a Wii Fit and wants to learn great ways to really get a good workout, this site is for you. I haven' t had time to really peruse the site in detail but what I have read is helful. There is also a forum, which I am excited to read.

Anyone have (and use) a wii fit? Any tips for a newbie?

The Brownie Experiment

2009-01-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I watched an awesome video on WWChic's blog about making black-bean brownies. I have heard about this recipe for some time, but never had the guts to actually try to make them. So the video motivated me. Today I bought a brownie mix, and made them. I wanted to see if they were better or worse than No-Pudge brownie mix. Here are my findings:

1. Both black bean and No-Pudge are 2 points per brownie.
2. No-Pudge brownies are bigger.
3. No-Pudge brownies and black bean brownies are both good; I would say they are pretty equal in a taste test.
4. Black bean brownies are a lot more work to make than No-Pudge. It took me forever to puree the beans, not to mention the cleanup.
5. Neither Black bean nor No-Pudge are as good as original brownies, but they will do the trick for a chocolate fix.

Summary: I think I will stick with No-Pudge brownies as they are easier to make, and you get more for your points.

Shrimp with Feta and Roasted Vegetables

2009-01-05T19:09:00.001-08:00

Made this recipe for dinner last night. The inspiration recipe was in my church cookbook, and with a few changes, wa la! Perfect for Weight Watchers.

4 Servings/5 pts. ea. + Pasta

6 Roma Tomatoes, cut into eighths
large bunch of asparagus, chopped into bite sized pieces
2 T Olive Oil
2 T minced garlic
3/4 t. kosher salt
3/4 t. freshly ground black pepper
1 lb uncooked shrimp, peeled (I use Costco brand)
1/2 C. chopped fresh parsely (can use Italian parsley)
2 T lemon juice
4 oz reduced fat feta cheese, crumbled
Orzo pasta (I had 1 oz. [uncooked], husband had 2 oz.)

Preheat oven to 450. Place tomatoes and asparagus in large baking dish. Sprinkle the garlic and drizzle the olive oil over the veggies. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper and toss. Place on top rack of oven and roast for 20 mins. Remove baking dish from oven and stir in the shrimp, parsley, and lemon juice. Sprinkle with the feta cheese. Place back in the oven until the shrimp are cooked, 5-10 mins. Toss with orzo pasta.

It's a New Year's Miracle!

2009-01-04T14:00:00.000-08:00

Drumroll please.....

I lost weight!!! When the nice little lady told me my weight yesterday morning, I couldn't believe it. I was down about 1.2 pounds. It had to be getting the stomach flu twice. That is the only way I could have lost weight with the way I was eating over the holidays.

I felt really grateful, when at the meeting, I sat next to this nice lady and she told me that she gained 9 pounds in December. It is so easy to let good habits slide, and crazy how the pounds can pile on so fast. It seems like ages sometimes for me to even lose 2 pounds, but they are so easy to gain back! I sure wish it was the opposite.

Yesterday went fine, I ate well all day, except later, some friends convinced me and Brian to go out for dessert. I had to use most of my weekly 35 points, and it is only day 2. Oh well. No cushion for the rest of the week, but that Pizookie from BJ's pizza was sure good. (If you haven't tried it it is a cookie in a pizza pan topped with ice cream)

I haven't posted new recipes for a while, but I will try to get some more up soon!

Good First Day

2009-01-02T20:04:00.000-08:00

So today started out a little rough. Didn't make it to weigh-in. Am definitely going tomorrow morning. I threw up in the middle of the night- I think I ate a crappy dinner too late at night and it didn't sit well. So I didn't get very much sleep, and woke up late. After all that, I was definitely motivated to eat right today, though.

I had a birthday a few days ago, #33, and went to the mall today to do a little b-day shopping. It was actually fun. They had a great sale at Banana Republic. I hit the grocery store on the way home and then came home and had a cooking fest.

To help the cause, I made my blueberry bran muffins for the week, some homemade 0-Point veggie soup for snacks, and made a yummy dinner also- Beef Stroganoff and steamed broccoli.

I have points left for a treat, and am still deciding what I want to do with them...

Anyway, will post my new weight tomorrow. Am going to try to get through the whole weekend sticking to the plan.

New Start

2009-01-01T16:09:00.000-08:00

I am back!

In more ways than one. I have really let my eating habits slide a lot more than I had anticipated. I had nothing "skinny" to say since I have not been following any good habits in the last 2 weeks or so. Today is no exception. I hate to admit it, but today, I have slipped back into old thought patterns, thinking that since I am starting back on the plan tomorrow, I should eat all the things I won't be able to. But hey, nobody is perfect.

I actually am looking forward to eating right. I have more energy, feel better about myself, and plain old just feel better when I eat the right foods.

I am going to start with a weigh-in tomorrow morning. I haven't been in over a month. I need that accountability.

Here we go 2009!

Fruity Slaw

2008-12-17T14:51:00.000-08:00

I really did drop off the planet for a while. I have been so crazy, between the stomach flu, a Hawaii trip, coming back from the Hawaii trip, getting ready for Christmas that I literally have had nothing to say about weight loss. I "vacation ate" while I was gone, but I was ok with that. You have to be flexible. Since I have been back, I've been pretty good, eating wise. It really was easy to get back on track. Like I've said before, lifestyle-not diet. I haven't weighed in in a while, and I need to get to a meeting. I will be happy if I am maintaining this month.

Now I would like to post a yummy recipe. I made Taco Soup for dinner last night and tried to think of a side that would go with it, besides a green salad. I get sick of them. So I came across this recipe and it was really good - light and fruity.

Fruity Slaw (Sorry no picture)

6 Servings/1 Pt. each

Salad:

3 C cabbage, grated
1 C tangerines, sectioned and thinly sliced
1 C grapes, quartered
1/2 C celery, thinly sliced
1 lg. apple, cored and diced

Dressing:

1 C nonfat plain yogurt
1 t freshly grated lemon zest
1 t lemon juice
1 1/2 t honey

Mix together salad ingredients. Mix dressing ingredients. Chill seperately till serving, then mix all together. Makes 6 servings - about 1 C each.

Think I Lost a few Pounds Yesterday

2008-12-10T11:26:00.000-08:00

A quick but definitely not fun way to lose weight. Was it worth it? I would say no.

Yes, you guessed it, I was down and out yesterday with the stomach flu. Am trying to recuperate today; I think it has passed. Thank goodness! We leave tomorrow to go to Hawaii for a long weekend, and I was afraid that we would have to cancel the trip. That would have really sucked.

So as I lay in bed trying to regain my strength, I thought I would check on my blog. Much to my surprise, I was nominated for an award!

Thanks so much, Diva on a Diet! This really made my day.

The Fabulous Award Rules:

1. You have to pass it on to 5 fabulous blogs.
The WW Chick
Liz Rosenbaum Fitness

Back to the Fridge
A Veggie Venture
Bitch Cakes

2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions:
Blogging, Family, Cooking, Reading, Friends

3. Make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them.
Diva On a Diet

Weekend Reflections

2008-12-08T15:43:00.000-08:00

Fell off the wagon on Friday night, had a binge day on Saturday, but reigned myself in yesterday. Hopefully today is successful too. I wish eating well on weekends wasn't so hard. I feel like it is pretty easy to stay on track during the week, but Friday night hits, and we usually go out. Then we usually go out a lot on the weekend. That is probably my biggest problem. I grocery shop weekly, and don't seem to plan meals for the weekend. Maybe I should start. But in the past, when I do plan those meals, the food ends up going bad when I eat out anyway!

I feel like there aren't enough Weight Watcher friendly options for eating out. Maybe there are and I just don' t think about them. My staple places seem to be Mexican, and sometimes you just get burned out on that stuff.

Any ideas?

I have decided that I will continue to do my best through the rest of the holiday season, eat good most days, but I am not going to be so hard on myself if I eat some holiday treats. If I can get through the next 3 weeks without gaining, it will be a victory. If I lose any weight at all, it will be a HUGE victory. This is the best I have eaten (during the holidays) in years. PROPS!

What are your goals during this month? Would you be happy to maintain, or are you planning to lose?

Lifetime of Habits are Not Easily Broken

2008-12-05T16:09:00.001-08:00

Today I got up and did not want to exercise. We were heading out to Disneyland so I knew that we would walk a ton. (Not a good excuse)

Disneyland was ridiculous today. It was sooo crowded. We mistakenly thought that it wouldn't be crowded the weekend right after Thanksgiving, but it was awful. No more Friday Disneyland trips. So with the crowds, the long lines and a cranky toddler, we left early. As we were leaving, we stopped for lunch in Downtown Disney. We went to the Rainforest Cafe, because we thought it would be fun for Emily, my daughter.

It was a great atmosphere but the food was disappointing. I ordered lettuce wraps, trying to be healthy. When they arrived, I realized that they had a certain seasoning in them that I can't eat. Every time I come across it, it almost makes me nauseous. So I asked if I could order something else. There was nothing on the menu that looked remotely good to me, except for the most fattening items, like a big juicy burger. Which I almost ordered out of desperation. I finally chose a thin crust margarita style pizza, thinking that I would just eat a couple of slices. So the pizza came, and I ate a few slices and it wasn't even that great! ( I also munched on my husbands bruschetta) I didn't over-eat, but I know that I ate way too many points due to my food choices. And it wasn't even that good. What a waste. So I drove home, thinking about how tired I was, and how I really should burn off those calories.

Here I am, and I still have not worked out. I have an elliptical machine, and it is as easy as walking in the other room and getting on it. I am really trying to get the motivation. I also just grabbed a couple of handfuls of m&ms from the fridge out of my daughter's potty training stash. Great.

Or not so great. But I just read Roni's daily post and she said something that struck me. She said that the habits that brought you to your current state (of a higher weight than you want to be) evolved over time, and you didn't gain the weight all at once. Likewise, changing these habits is not going to happen overnight either. It might even take as long to get back to where you want to be.

This really made me think. Over the past 8 1/2 years, I have for the most part, eaten whatever I want, and not made exercise a consistent part of my life. I have had intervals where I did ok but it was not my lifestyle. That is a long time. Before those years, I didn't really need to watch what I ate, so really my whole life up to now I have developed habits that I now want to break. Ouch. No wonder it is so hard to change.

I am now going to give myself props for the changes I have made. For making this goal and really giving it my best effort. I hope all you readers do the same.

Now I am going to get off my butt and go exercise.

Exercise Motivation

2008-12-04T22:01:00.001-08:00

I notice that if I don't exercise first thing in the morning that most likely it wont happen. However, today, I actually exercised at around 3 in the afternoon. Which is a miracle because usually that is the time that I hit an energy low. I put my daughter down for a nap, and I usually spend her naptime either blogging, checking my email, reading a book, cleaning up around the house, or sometimes I even nap. But today I was motivated.

Why? I ask myself. Why am I motivated to exercise 5-6 times a week? I am not an exercise lover, per say. The answer is food. When I exercise, just knowing that I burned that extra 400-500 calories a day allows me a tiny bit of leniency in my daily food intake. With weight watchers, I am allowed 20 points a day at my current weight. The plan does allow me to use my exercise points, but I find if I do that, then I don't really lose the weight easily. So I don't use the points. What I do instead, is allow myself a half teaspoon of butter on that roll, or a tiny handful of chocolate chips or whatever. It makes up for not being perfect with my eating. This is the only way. I am learning that I need that tiny bit of leeway.

What are your exercise motivators? I would love to hear from you.

Product Reviews

2008-12-03T17:09:00.000-08:00

1. Alpine Valley Breads and Rolls

I first discovered this company when I lived in Arizona, where their factory is. This delicious whole grain bread (usually 1 point per slice) quickly became a staple at our house. They use simple ingredents, and the bread is soft and amazingly tasty. My mother-in-law came to visit once and came back to California determined to find out where they sell it here.

Made a trip to Costco yesterday and found their organic whole wheat dinner rolls. Super hearty and delicious for only one point.

They have a great selection of different types of whole grain breads. Just go to their website to find out where to purchase - they sell in about 8 states currently.

2. Kahiki EasyCrisp Egg Rolls

Get daily emails from Hungry Girl and this was one of her product finds. The vegetable ones are 1 point each, and the ones with chicken are 2 points each. Each eggroll comes with a little sauce packet. I gobbled one up for lunch today. Quite good. My only complaint was that there was not enough dipping sauce for my taste, I need to pick up a jar of sweet chili sauce so I can dip to my hearts content. I found mine at Vons, in the special/health foods freezer department. You can click on the link and find out where to get them near you.

3. Delallo Vodka Pasta Sauce

Found this little gem when I was shopping for a quick Saturday night meal. Amazingly, it is only 80 Calories per half a cup, compared to a lot higher in most other creamy sauces. Comes out to 2 points per serving, which isn't bad paired with a high fiber or whole wheat pasta. We've had it twice this week because it was so good! I found it at Albertsons, but you can order it off their website, too.

P.S. This photo is not exactly the one I bought, mine didn't say cheese and cream underneath. So not sure if its the same one but I wanted a photo!

Great Blog and easy breakfast idea

2008-12-02T16:11:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Roni, I came across an awesome blog today. The name of it is Dani Spies, which is the author's name. She has great healthy recipes, cooking videos and other great tips. I just learned the truth about white whole wheat flour, and how to properly chop an oni on. Check it out if you have a few minutes!

Yesterday I make the yummiest breakfast. It was also super quick to make. I call it the
Easy Microwave Omelette. What I did was chop some veggies (I used bell peppers and tomatoes) and put them into a microwavable plastic container (sprayed with cooking spray) with lid.

Then I put about 1/2 slice of cheese over the veggies. I topped it off with 1/2 C of liquid egg whites, salt and pepper. Then I loosely topped it with the lid, (not on tight) and put it in the microwave. I cooked it until the egg whites were firm.

Wa la! In five minutes you have a great healthy breakfast! For only 2 points!

Lean Crock Pot Roast Idea and a Cool Contest

2008-12-01T15:11:00.000-08:00

I was shopping for my Sunday dinner, thinking about what I wanted to make, and had an idea. I thought about my beef stew recipe, and how the flank steak just fell apart like pot roast. Since roasts are so fatty, I thought I would try a pot roast with flank steak, which is super lean, and only one point for each ounce, cooked.

I cut up onions, potatoes, and mushrooms, and lined the bottom of the crock pot with half of the onions. I put the trimmed flank steak on top, and put baby carrots and the rest of the cut up veggies on top. I added one can of golden mushroom soup, which is like 80 calories a serving, and 1/2 packet of onion soup mix, and about 2 T Ranch seasoning mix. I also added about 3-4 cans of water. However, for seasoning, you could do whatever you wanted.

I turned the crock pot on low for 8 hours and it turned out great! Since the meat is so lean, it does need a bit of the gravy on top, but the meat just falls apart. Great lean option for a nice comfort-food dinner.
(Sorry about the blurry photo, I turned the flash off to get the right color.)

Contest:

I entered the Mary Lou's Weigh Platform Giveaway!

Check out Roni’s Weight Loss Blog for more information.

Wahoo's Fish Taco

2008-11-29T15:23:00.000-08:00

For those of you in California, Colorado, Texas and Hawaii, there is an awesome place that I am sure you have eaten at. Wahoo's. I love Wahoo's because there are a few great healthy and low point choices and you don't feel deprived.

A great addition to any meal is the Chicken Tortilla Soup. Without the tortillas, it is only 1-2 points per bowl, and is great. It is a little on the spicy side, but delicious.

For a 4-5 point lunch I get the soup and a taco. They have great fish, chicken, or veggie tacos and the point range is between 3 and 4 points each.

For dinner, a great option is the bonzai burrito. It is a delicious burrito filled with teriyaki grilled veggies, and beans, rice and your choice of meat. It is a huge burrito, and the fish is only 12 points, the chicken 14. Another option is to get the soup and split the burrito in half and you have a very filling meal.

Last, the kids bowls are another lunch option. For the fish bowl, that comes with rice and black beans it is 7.5 points. Chicken is 8. Much better than the adult sized bowls, which range from 18 to 21 points.

For those of you who live in other states, I am so sorry. Wahoo's is one of my favorite places!

Bump in the Road

2008-11-29T15:13:00.000-08:00

Well, it was inevitable. Thanksgiving was what it was, and I was ok with eating. But Friday, the plan was to get right back on track. Didn't happen. The day started out wrong when I didn't get my usual morning work-out in due to sheer laziness. I told myself I would work out later, and later never came. Then my husband talked me into Cheesecake Factory for lunch. I can never order healthy there. The double-scoop ice cream at the movies last night was too hard to resist.

Why is it so easy to slip back into bad habits? You'd think that after over 3 months of successfully changing my eating habits for the better, it would stick a little. Is it really possible to change and actually prefer the healthier choices? Or is it always going to be hard? I can't really answer that question right now. Any thoughts?

So on a positive note, today I am back on track. I have come to terms with my little "bump in the road." Not beating myself up, instead I am moving forward. Got up, worked out, and made myself a healthy breakfast. Did fine at lunch, and am determined to make it through the day making good choices.

Also, yesterday I bought myself my early Christmas/B-day present- a Wii Fit. I am so excited to get going. I have heard such great things about it, and it will be a fun way to get a few additional work-outs each week.

Hope you all had a great holiday.

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

2008-11-25T18:37:00.000-08:00

Haven't posted a recipe for a while, so I finally made a good dinner, and remembered to photograph it! Am having a much better day than yesterday. I was so tired yesterday from jetlag, and was totally disfunctional. My eating was horrible too, and I had no self-control. I had nothing to say about Skinny Habits.

Today, I woke up and worked out immediately, before I could get distracted. Then we met up with a couple of friends at Disneyland, and walked around the park a ton. That had to be good. It was my night to cook in our dinner club, so I had to make something easy, and this recipe is perfect when you need to whip something yummy up fast.

8 Servings/6 Pts. ea.

1 cup chopped onion
16 oz. shredded cooked chicken breast
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1 cup salsa
3 oz. 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
8 flour tortillas (Find ones that are 2 pts. each for this recipe)
1 1/2 cups enchilada sauce

Preheat oven to 350*F. Spray a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat until hot. Add onion, and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the shredded chicken, cheese, salsa, cream cheese, and cumin. Cook 3 minutes or until hot, stirring constantly. Separate 1/2 C of the shredded cheese and put aside. Dip each tortilla in enchilada sauce, coating. Shake off excess. Place about 1/2 cup of the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla, and roll up. Place in a 9 x 13 inch baking dish which has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Pour any remaining enchilada sauce evenly over top, and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese. Cover and bake at 350*F for 30 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and cheese is melted.

Another tool for a cardio slacker

2008-11-24T08:29:00.000-08:00

by Melanie J.

Uh-oh....it's one of those mornings. I'm tired because I didn't sleep enough, I have an extra kid at home since school's out, I put on a pound over the weekend, and I really need to work out. Chances are my normal kickboxing class at the gym is out of the question because the babysitting room will be extra full, so there's going to be no one barking at me and telling me what to do.

So now what?

I do best with group exercise classes when it comes to cardio because I get less bored and being around other people forces me to step up my exercise game. But if it's not possible to make one of the classes, then I've learned to have a variety of other options lined up so that I get my cardio done anyway. I have several different exercise DVDs from tae bo to cardio dance on hand and can always check more out from the library for a dollar. I know which cable channels have exercise programs in the morning that I can follow along. These are good options for me, but the best one, the one I have the most chance of sticking out...is walking.

But that's because I have a secret weapon: my iPod.

You've all figured this out already, right? But if yours is full of high energy music chosen to keep you moving, then....we use our iPods differently. I've found something else that works even better to keep me going longer: podcasts. There are dozens, probably hundreds, of these little gems available for free from iTunes on every subject you can imagine. I just load my iPod up with ones that sound interesting, load the baby into the stroller, and hit the pavement with my heart monitor ticking off the calories I've burned. Learning about something new or getting caught up in a story while I'm doing my super cool power walk makes it easier to go just a little farther because then it's not about burning just a few more calories; it's about finding out what happens next in the podcast. And I burn a few more calories anyway.

Perfect for a slacker like me that can't always get out the door just because I should. It's that little extra bonus that makes lacing up my sneakers slightly more likely and every small victory counts. Especially this week!

Back on Track

2008-11-23T21:07:00.000-08:00

Well, tomorrow came and went, along with my "eating right" mentality. It was so hard to eat good. I did walk a TON so hopefully that helped.

So I haven't weighed myself, I will wait till my next weigh in, on Saturday. Great. Right after Thanksgiving. Gotta be really good this week because I am definitely eating Thanksgiving dinner.

It wasn't that hard to get back on track today, though. (Got home last night) In prior "dieting" times, I have always (after falling off the wagon) said, "I will start again on Monday." Since this time I am not dieting, (I am changing my lifestyle), it was a no-brainer to eat healthy right away. It feels so good to have eaten right today. I really like the way I feel much better.

So many of my favorite bloggers have talked about the "not waiting till Monday" to start eating right, after a screw up. We have to change our ways if we want this to work. We aren't going to be perfect in our eating. We will always have times where we have more calories than is ideal. What we have to do is be ok with that, and not think that since we blew it, we might as well keep blowing it. If we quit, we will never make it on this journey. Procrastination will just set us back even more. Just more weight to lose.

In fact, just read a post on this very topic, concerning Thanksgiving. It was a great one.

Better Day

2008-11-18T13:15:00.000-08:00

Today I really tried to eat better. For breakfast I had a low-fat yogurt parfait, with fruit compote and granola. Breakfast is tough here because there are pastry shops all over the place, and I have to completely ignore my urge for chocolate croissants.

For lunch, I had a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a roll, which couldn't have been that bad.

Snack, well, I went to Harrods and came across their food section. They had a whole department just for chocolates. I had to sample a few. They were amazing. And tiny. I had about 4.

We ate dinner at an Italian place, and I had a chicken, mushroom and tomato pasta with marinara sauce. I tried to eat just a small portion of it, less than half. Hopefully it did the trick and I manage to maintain....

Why is it so hard to have will-power on vacation?

More tomorrow...

Old Habits

2008-11-17T14:06:00.000-08:00

Some good news and some bad choices...

Weighed in on Saturday and lost 2.6 lbs! Finally got past my "happy weight" of 135-136 lbs. This was really exciting. Total lbs. lost is up to 11.2 lbs.

That was the good news. The bad news is that I left that evening to go on a trip to the UK. My goal was to not gain this week, and I am NOT off to a good start. I can only hope that all the walking I am doing will help me. I have to eat better starting tomorrow.

This is how my day went:

Breakfast started out ok. Had some light strawberry yogurt, one tiny pan au chocolate pastry, and a cup of mixed fruit.

At lunch, I had good intentions. I ordered the potato and leek soup at a cafe, and a hot chocolate because I was so freezing. (It was bone-chilling cold outside and I am NOT used to it) The soup tasted like water. I couldn't even eat more than 2 bites. So I had to order something else, and there wasn' t a lot of options. The only thing that looked like it would taste good was a ham and cheese croissant sandwich. So I ate it, and it was really big.

Oh, boy. Dinner. Had lost my good intentions. Slipped into Old Habits. Went to a Portugese Chicken place called Nando's. Had 1/2 chicken meal with 2 pieces of pita bread, and part of a salad. Not horrible, but then I decided to order desert. They make the best molten chocolate cake here. They call it Chocolate Fondant Pudding. It is luscious, and they serve it with super rich and yummy vanilla ice cream. I ate it and didn't even feel the guilt.

What am I doing? No more. Tomorrow I have to be in control. How sad would I be if I gain back the weight I just lost?

Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.
Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.

I have to fall asleep chanting this...

Easy Beef Stroganoff

2008-11-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

Decided to look into my recipe archives and post another favorite! I love Beef Stroganoff. This recipe is is one of my favorites- it doesn't taste low calorie/fat at all! And it is sooo easy.

4 (HUGE) Servings/5 pts ea.

4 T Onion Soup Mix
2 sm. onions, chopped
2 10 oz. packages sliced mushrooms
1 lb. sirloin steak, trimmed and chopped
1 1/2 C fat-free sour cream
2 t. cornstarch

Spray medium/large skillet with nonstick spray. Brown steak and remove from pan. Spray pan again with nonstick spray. Saute onions and mushrooms until soft.
Add meat to vegetables, and stir in the onion soup mix. Heat till bubbly, then add sour cream a little at a time, until meat is done.
If sauce is too thin, add corn starch and stir till it reaches your desired consistancy.

Serve over whole wheat/high fiber pasta. (Will need to add points)

Emotional Eating Anyone?

2008-11-13T15:41:00.001-08:00

I am leaving on a trip to England on Saturday, so I tried to get a few things done today. One of the things on my list was to go to the library, return some books that are due, and get some books for my daughter who is staying with Grandma. We arrived, put the books on a cart that said, "RETURN BOOKS HERE" and went to the children's section.

After browsing for some books for my daughter, I went to check them out at the front desk. The librarian scanned my card, and mentioned that there were a few books due in a couple of days. I asked which ones, and he gave me the names of a couple of books I just turned in. He asked me where I put them, and I said, "On the cart." He started to get really frustrated, and said that I should have given them to him to check in, not put them on the cart. He got up, and said that now he had to look all over the library to see if he could find them, and glared at me like this was my fault. So I waited while he checked all the shelves for them.

He finally comes back (without finding any of the books) and lectures me again and again about how things should be done. He tells me we have to put a hold on the book, and said that tons of people "claim" to return books but aren't telling the truth. So after about 10 minutes of lecturing me, he then asked me if I put a parking pass on the car. I said no. He asked me if I ever read signs on the road. Then, he lectured me again for 5 minutes on reading traffic signs.

At this point I was ready to scream. Finally the checkout nightmare was over, and as I was leaving he said something else about the situation. I turned to him, and said "Then you need to remove that sign that says 'RETURN BOOKS HERE' because that is what I did. I just followed the instructions. You are making me feel like this is all my fault. Have a great afternoon." And then I left. On the way home, I started crying because he was so mean. (Am having an emotional day)

(Wondering what the point of this story is? It's coming...)

So after I got home and put my daughter down for a nap, I immediately walked to the pantry and found the first chocolate item I could find. Thank goodness I don't keep very much in the house. So I ate some Granola Bites, which are only 2 pts.

I was done with the Bites and about to go get more, when it hit me what I was doing. I felt sad, and immediately tried to "fix it" with chocolate. So upon realizing this, I decided to stop the impending binge.

Now, after venting this long story, I feel much better, and don't need a chocolate fix any more.

Feta Stuffed Zucchini

2008-11-13T15:23:00.001-08:00

I've mentioned it before, but me and 2 friends do a dinner swap. We each pick a night, and make dinner for all 3 families (small families). Then the Thursday dinner, we rotate. It is the greatest thing ever. Most weeks, you make only one dinner, and the other nights, dinner is brought right to your door! We are all doing Weight Watchers, so we write the points on a sticky note. Anyway, we all are driven to try to make good, well-rounded dinners, with sides.

While trying to think of good side dishes and vegetables, I came across an awesome blog called A Veggie Venture. On it she lists vegetable dishes by Points, and alphabetically. I was browsing through her recipes and found this amazing one called Feta Stuffed Zucchini. It looked amazing, so I made it this week. It was super yummy!

Wednesday Workout Tip from the Queen of Slackers

2008-11-12T22:11:00.000-08:00

by Melanie J.

So it's almost Thursday and this is a little belated, but I wanted to share my Wednesday Workout Tip with you guys, something I'll try to do every week.

Know first that I hate working out. At least, I do while I'm thinking about exercising and then while I'm exercising. But I like how I feel after, whether it's because of the endorphins or my gradually shrinking waistline, I'm not sure. Since I want to keep my downward scale trend (21 pounds and counting), I have become the master at finding little tricks to get myself up and at 'em with cardio everyday. So here's the first one:

A heart rate monitor.

Yep, it's that simple. No matter what kind of cardio I choose (and maybe I'll blog about that next Wednesday) a heart rate monitor that I bought last spring from Target has pushed me to get just a little more out of each workout. It's a pretty straightforward device. A digital wristwatch picks up and displays my heart rate and calories burned so far from a slim strap that goes around my chest. The plainer ones will just do the heart rate, which my husband finds sufficient. For me, though, having that little number of calories I'm burning grow bigger and bigger is exactly the kind of instant gratification I need to keep me going with my exercise. If I'm pooping out but notice that I've burned 320 calories, I find myself thinking, "I'll just go until 350" and then I find it's easy just to push to 400 after that. If I'm getting bored with my cardio (because the elliptical trainer at the gym? Snooze fest), I just go faster and harder to get the calories burned faster which is a nice challenge to my usual rhythm.

The monitors range from $50-100 depending on the features you want, but mine (a Polaris) has been worth every penny because I know I've burned thousands of extra calories over the last few months that I wouldn't have without my little wristwatch telling me how close I was to a new goal and level of success.

I also blog about random and what I think are hilarious life slices at my other blog, Write Stuff.

Super Yummy Chocolate Cupcakes

2008-11-12T19:30:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I decided to try out a new recipe from the Hungry Girl Cookbook. It's called Death by Chocolate Cupcakes. They turned out super yummy! Really moist and flavorful and only 2 Pts. each.

When they were done, my daughter (she's 2 1/2) scarfed one down. She loved it. (Because she, like me, is already a chocoholic) Then, after seeing me take a picture of one, she decided to go get her camera and play foodie photographer.

12 Servings/ 2 Pts. ea.

Ingredients:
2 cups moist-style chocolate cake mix (half of an 18.25-oz. box)
Two 25-calorie packets diet hot cocoa mix
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
2 tbsp. semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
1 tsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)
1/8 tsp. salt

Directions:
Place chocolate chips and the contents of both packets of cocoa in a tall glass. Add 12 oz of boiling water. Stir until chips and cocoa mix have dissolved. Put glass in the freezer to chill for 25 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350. Once cocoa has chilled, stir it, and mix with all other ingredients in a mixing bowl. Whip batter with a whisk/fork for 2 minutes. Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray, or line it with baking cups.
Evenly spoon batter (which will be thin, but your cupcakes will rise) into the pan. Bake for 15-17 minutes. Cupcakes will look shiny when done.

1 cupcake
Calories: 108
Fat: 2.5g
Fiber: 1g

Lunch Musings

2008-11-11T14:41:00.000-08:00

Today I went to lunch with my daughter. I was going to take her to McDonald's so she could play, but when I walked up, I looked in the window and saw the line a mile long. So we decided to go somewhere else. We ended up at Baja Fresh, and I looked up on my blackberry what I could eat there on Dotti's Site. (She has tons of restaurants and the nutritional value of menu items.) I found that their baja ensalada with chicken was only 6 points, so that is what I got. As I ate my healthy salad, I started to think about my eating habits in the past. I used to get burritos with rice and chips, or even the loaded nachos. Burritos are a whole day's worth of points/calories for me. (20 something) Nachos? 2 DAYS worth of points/calories. (50!) No wonder American's have such a hard time with being overweight. Things people THINK are healthy are full of more fat and calories than they could possibly imagine. I am so glad that I am making this change in my life. I want to be healthy. I want my family to be healthy. I will do everything I can to make this happen.

Liz Rosenbaum Fitness Blog

2008-11-10T15:17:00.000-08:00

I just came across a really good blog on healthy habits and fitness. She is doing a give-away right now that any mom would appreciate. The winner of the contest will receive a cute divided plate that has pictures of the type of foods that should be in each section for portion size. I think it is genius; it helps kids see the types and portions of food to be healthy. I am working on improving the eating habits of my toddler, and loved the idea. Check it out!

It Has To Be Different This Time

2008-11-09T21:13:00.000-08:00

I have been struggling the past couple of weeks. I have missed 2 or 3 weigh-ins for one reason or another. I feel like I've hit a plateau and I have only been back on Weight Watchers for about 11 weeks. I now weigh about 136 (Starting weight this time was 144) and have been at this weight (+ or - a pound) for 3 weeks now. I am still exercising, and still counting points. I've messed up a couple of times, but not too badly. I feel like this is my body's "happy weight." It is the weight that I can always reach with a little effort, but it seems to be impossible to go lower. I am only 5'3" and that is still higher than I want to be.

Roni, one of my inspirations, said in one of her blog posts, that if you quit, you will definitely fail. This really helped me today. I had gotten home from church, eaten lunch, and put my toddler down for a nap. All I could think about was chocolate chip cookies. I could not get them out of my head. I wasn't too worried, though, because I knew I wasn't going to go to all the effort of baking them. So I ate a Healthy Choice Fudgesickle instead. I watched a couple of recorded shows with my husband (The Office and Grey's Anatomy) and the chocolate chip cookie bug hit me again. I still wasn't that worried until I walked into my kitchen and saw that my husband had taken me seriously and there was a package of Pillsbury Cookie Dough sitting on the counter, thawing out. It had been hidden by him in the freezer.

Now what to do? I wanted those cookies more than anything. Here was my conversation to myself:
"It would just be one day, you could be good again tomorrow."
"You are going to England next week, and you aren't going to be perfect, so why not get back on track after the trip?"
"You could eat these now and have a 2 Pt. dinner" (This one almost won out)

But then I thought about Roni's statement. How many times have I gotten to this weight, felt a little better about myself, and then quit? Then the rollercoaster begins again. Making this a lifestyle is what needs to happen. I can't live a lifestyle where it is ok to binge all the time. Because believe me, I can never just eat one or two cookies. It has to be at least 5 or 6.

In the end, I ate one little round of cookie dough, and convinced my husband to pack it up and put it back in the freezer. Then I went and took a nap, and when I woke up, no cookie cravings!

A small one, but a victory nonetheless.
Baby steps.

Fiber One Pancake Mix

2008-11-08T14:53:00.001-08:00

This weekend we decided to drive up to my husband's parents house in Lake Arrowhead. My mother-in-law always makes super yummy weekend breakfasts, like pancakes and eggs and either sausage or bacon. It is always very tempting to give in, and most of the time in the past I have. So I was talking to my mother-in-law, and she mentioned that she bought some Fiber One pancake mix. I didn't know there was such a thing. We looked on the box to check out the nutritional info and one serving is only 3 points. The only thing that remained to be seen was how big the serving was. It sounded too good to be true. So this morning, I prepared a single serving for myself (which was nice and easy to do) and added one point worth of extra semi-sweet chocolate chips into the batter. It made 3 good size pancakes! (About 5 inches in diameter) I ate those (dipped in a little sugar-free syrup) with some scrambled egg whites and it was a super filling, indulgent feeling breakfast! I didn't feel deprived at all. I know there are lots of recipes out there for low point pancakes, but sometimes you just want quick and easy. I was going to take a picture, but of course forgot to bring my camera with me.

Great Popcorn Ideas

2008-11-07T17:26:00.000-08:00

I just found a cool blog called Super Healthy Kids. She posts about popcorn and two ways to make air popped popcorn in the microwave. No buying the chemical-laden microwave popcorn, no need for the time-consuming air popper, and save some money too! You can either use a paper bag or a microwavable dish with lid. I would have never thought of this.