Horsing Around

I've been horsing around. I've been feeling this way all day about my weight loss since starting this BLBE challenge. From the January start date, I have lost 4 pounds. That is very suckish. People have told me that sometimes getting those last 10 pounds off is harder than the entire weight loss to date and may take a long time. I'm feeling a little frustrated about that. Mainly because it's not that I'm plateauing; I'm just horsing around and not putting my best effort forward with the eating part of it. Exercise is still on target. I ran for 30 min. outdoors this morning and plan on doing some strength training tonight. Now, I just have to figure out how to refocus my eating.

I was on the right track with breakfast this morning. I made an egg sammie with an Ezekiel Plain English Muffin, a slice of 2% cheese and one egg white and had a nice steaming cup of Eggnoggin Tea for 3 POINTS...


I was determined to be productive around the house today and tried not to have any distractions like phone, TV and computer! I got in a good bit of laundry and cleaned up the kitchen, only to mess it up again with lunch! I do that all the time! I decided to have a Chicken BLT wrap made with 2 slices of grease- all -over -the- micro center cut bacon, 2 oz. chicken (Perdue Short Cuts), lettuce, tomato and a squirt of Kraft Light Three Cheese Ranch wrapped up in a La Tortilla Factory Tortilla. Some crunchy Creamy Ranch Soy Crisps and a Fuji apple were a perfect side for this 7 POINT lunch...

Neeeeigh. It was a regular horse and pony show this afternoon. I started with a serving of pretzel sticks (I knew I shouldn't have bought these suckers the other day) and a string cheese for 3 POINTS...

And then, I had about 45 more handfuls of pretzels. And then, I had a handful of Peanut Butter Puffins. And ..... then...... I decided I HAD to mess up the kitchen again and make THIS...

If you're thinking brownie, cookie or cake batter, MAN, you have gotten to know me soooo well!! However, I decided to take a different route and created a new evil for myself...Homemade Almond Butter!!!! I have been seeing Barney Butter and other almond butters all over the blogosphere and have been convinced that I must try it. Since, I had some whole almonds in the house, I decided I would make it myself. I did some research and here is the recipe I came up with that I put through Weight Watcher's Recipe Builder for your POINT verifying convenience :) Oh my greatness! It is absolutely delicious. The husband and big daughter took a spoonful and were big fans! I, of course, had to try it by spoonful and then, spread on 2 flax crackers. I "forgot" to get pics of that ;) Don't worry though, you'll definitely be seeing it again!

That was a filling afternoon buffet snack, so I "downsized" my original plan for dinner and just went with 1 c. tortellini with marinara and 1 tbsp. parmesan for 5 POINTS...

And leftover Breaded Cheese Stuffed Zucchini for 3 POINTS...

There will be no dessert tonight! I said that quite emphatically, in case you didn't hear me :) I will distract any further thoughts of kitchen goodies by sitting down with the daughters to watch a heinous Disney movie that will inevitably begin or end with the death of a parent. I am going to write them a letter one day!

Then, it will be time to hit the hay. Neigh.

Feelin Fine Friday

I feel so much better today! Must have been all your well wishes!! My body really fought this cold and didn't let it come out full force thankfully! I even got to stay in bed a little later since the daughters were off from school. Then, I got up and rolling. I had a great strength training session. Today was back and biceps; I worked them pretty hard - my arms were shaking after I was done! I do miss the cardio with this new routine I'm trying. I'm looking forward to 5K Saturday tomorrow! Who knew???!!

Breakfast was a wonderful combo of Ezekiel english muffin (plain ones) topped with PB2 and Smucker's Sugar Free Grape Jam. I have to say that the Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin are much better than the plain which is a bit on the bland side. Both are such hearty muffins and really stay with you; the husband is HOOKED on the Cinnamon Raisin ones! I also had a hard boiled egg white cuz it looked good! A good looking 3 POINT breakfast...


Lunch was a turkey BLT on an Arnold Sandwich Thin. So tasty! Center cut bacon is a bargain; 2 slices are 1 POINT (check the brand - some are more) and add so much flavor. I had a serving of Creamy Ranch Soy Crisps and 1 c. cantaloupe for a delicious 6 POINT lunch...


And I just needed a teensy bit of sweet, so I grabbed 2 Chocolate Macaroons for 1 POINT...

I took little daughter to the library in the afternoon. I LOVE the library! I know, such a dork. I read some books to little daughter, then got a few books for myself. And what do I get??? Yep, cookbooks and diet books!!! It's a horrible obsession. I can't resist new diet books that have recipes in them. I read cookbooks like novels and I wonder why I am preoccupied with food morning, noon and night! I picked up the new Biggest Loser Family Cookbook; looking forward to trying out some recipes:)

Speaking of recipes, I made up a crazy one of my own for dinner! I had 4 beautiful zucchini in my fridge and every time I looked at them, I pictured them stuffed with cheese! I would add cheese to everything if I could!! So, I came up with Breaded Cheese Stuffed Zucchini...

• 4 medium zucchini
• 2 egg whites
• 1/2 c. seasoned Italian breadcrumbs
• 4 light string cheese sticks
• 1 tbsp. grated parmesan cheese

1. Cut zucchini in half, leaving stems on. Hollow out the centers with a pairing knife and spoon.
2. Season zucchini with salt and pepper.
3. Dip each zucchini shell into beaten egg, then into breadcrumbs.
4. Cut each cheese stick in half and place one half in each zucchini shell. Sprinkle top with breadcrumbs.
5. Spray a baking rack with cooking spray and place over a baking sheet. Place zucchini on baking rack and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
6. Bake in 400 degree oven for 15 -20 min. or until browned and cheese is melted.
7. Makes 4 servings - 3 POINTS per serving (2 halves). Serve with marinara sauce for additional POINTS.

Before going in the oven...

and after....

These were really tasty! I ate mine dipped in a bit of pizza sauce. Yep, tonight was pizza night! I indulged in a small slice along with my stuffed zucchini and a bit of salad with Kraft Light Three Cheese dressing. A yummy 9 POINT dinner...

After a serious game of Connect Four with little daughter, I had dessert...

another sweet Banana Cream Pie! This time I used some ground up Trader Joe's Holiday Ginger Cookies for the crust and omitted the butter. I liked this better than the graham crackers! Awesome and only 3 POINTS!

A busy day is on tap tomorrow, so I better get busy on the ZZZ's! Have a great night!