Hanging In The Rain

Another rainy morning! This is a cruel joke that Mother Nature is playing on us! I took it as an opportunity to lounge around this morning. No early start or rushing around; it was kinda nice! I caught up on some blog reading, too. Lucky for me because I came across a great recipe on Melissa's blog, Living Life Happy and Healthy, for Blueberry Oat Bran Muffins. I had to make them right away! I followed her instructions; only change I made was to use half dried apricots and half blueberries. It was a terrific combo and they baked up beautifully and in no time at all...


So wonderful with a spritz of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray...


With a jolt of iced coffee for an easy 2 POINT breakfast...

More lounging, then I forced myself to hit the treadmill for 30 minutes. I was not that into it, but before I knew it, I was finished so I was glad that I didn't blow it off.

I wasn't all that hungry, but it was getting late and I figured I should make some lunch before the hunger hits all at once. I decided on a Chicken Pesto and Goat Cheese Panini. I used a Weight Watchers Whole Wheat Pita, 2 oz. grilled chicken breast, 1/2 oz. goat cheese, 1 tbsp. homemade pesto and 1 1/2 tsp. chopped sundried tomatoes (in oil). I cut the whole pita in half (but still a round), layered the ingredients on the one round, topped it with the other, then placed it on the George Forman Grill (aka panini maker!) and let it heat through. It was delicious and full of flavor. I paired it with some sweet watermelon for a nice 7 POINT lunch...

Later in the afternoon, I had to make a quick supermarket run in the downpour. While there, I grabbed a Mocha Lite Frappuccino for 2 POINTS...

I have a big Father's Day dinner planned for tomorrow, so tonight, I opted for an easy dinner. I made Philly Cheesesteaks with crinkle potato wedges and spinach with garlic and oil. A 10 POINT family favorite...

I ended with a little dessert of chocolate Vitaheart with 2 tsp. chocolate icing for 2 POINTS...

I'm full. My stomach has not been feeling so great and I'm guessing it's due to way to much crappy eating lately. I felt like I reigned it in today, so hopefully, I can get back on track 100% this week!

Have a great night!

When A Plan Comes Together

Back again! Hope you all had as beautiful a day as it was here. The sun was shining, no humidity and a light breeze. Just perfect! I was tempted to go for an outdoor run, but decided the impact on my hip might not be as harsh if I stick with the treadmill for a while. I did 40 minutes; 14 of which completely sucked. Those first minutes seemed brutal for some reason. I was not feeling strong at all, but I perservered, then got into a groove and it was fine for the rest of the run. Watching The Hills kept me entertained during it, too.

After the run, I made a breakfast burrito with a small La Tortilla Factory tortilla, 3 egg whites and salsa. It was only 2 POINTS, but very filling...


So filling, in fact, that I wasn't ready for lunch until 1:30! I dug around in the fridge and found some of the bbq baked tofu that I made (last week??). It still looked decent, so I made a bbq baked tofu sandwich on a honey wheat bun with lettuce and a slice of 2% cheese. Delish! On the side, I had a serving of crinkle potatoes, an apple and a fruit and nut bite for dessert. A voluminous lunch for 8 POINTS...


No snack attack this afternoon! My lunch took me all the way to dinner. Maybe the 8 POINTS is the amount I need or it could have been the combination of filling foods that kept me satisfied and not looking to munch. I hope that's the ticket :)


I planned a nice, healthy dinner, but the husband and daughters had a different plan - PIZZA! I let them go the pizza route, but stuck to my dinner plan for myself ...

Chicken and Broccoli with Garlic Sauce

• 2 tsp. olive oil
• 3 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 1 lb. chicken breast cut in 1" pieces
• 1 tsp. dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 2 c. broccoli florets
• 1 1/2 c. fat free chicken broth
• 1 1/2 tbsp. cornstarch
• 2 c. cooked brown rice

1. In a large skillet, heat oil and garlic and cook 1 minute. Season chicken with thyme, salt and pepper and add to skillet. Brown on all sides for 3 minutes.
2. Add broccoli; cover and cook 2 minutes.
3. Add 1 cup broth, cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through(about 5 minutes).
4. Dissolve cornstarch in remaining 1/2 cup broth, add to skillet and simmer 1 minute.
5. Serve over rice.

Makes 4 servings. 5 POINTS per serving. Each serving is 1 cup chicken mixture and 1/2 cup rice.

I found this recipe in one of my old WW recipe binders. It is quick and delicious! Best part is now I have 3 additional servings that I packed up and put in the freezer for those heat and eat dinner nights! Definitely a keeper...

I had plenty of room for dessert, so I made up my old favorite - Deep Chocolate Vitatop with PB2 icing for 2 POINTS...

and a blueberry crackshake (2 POINTS) to wash it down...

The daughters were intrigued by my crackshake and came running with their straws to take a taste. Some taste! They ended up drinking half of my shake - booo! It's okay; I don't mind sharing the health ;P

Another good day in! I'm hoping to get to my WW meeting this Thurs.; it's been a while and I really miss it! I like going to the meeting; I just don't always love the weighing part! I have been avoiding the scale the past couple of weeks, but I'm going to stay the course this week and see if the scale speaks good things to me =)

Have a great night!

It's Official!

It's official! For the first time, in 13 years of marriage, I weigh..............................LESS than the husband!!!!! I am so happy! I have informed him that he now needs to treat me like the petite and fragile flower that I am. Can you hear the laughter? Yeah, it went on for a while...

So, today was WI day for BLBE2 and Weight Watchers. Good news to report Team Angie members; I am down 1.4 lbs! Happy Dance. I think my 3 day 5K "payin for it" runs helped out!

I brought my breakfast to eat after the meeting: an apple and slice of pumpkin cranberry bread that I made last night (yum - and only 2 POINTS per slice)...



I invited Mom and Gram to lunch at my house. I made Falafel Wraps for Mom and me using the falafel patties from the other day, lettuce, tomatoes and some tzatziki dressing all rolled into a La Tortilla Factory Tortilla. Carrots and hummus were a great side. A wonderful 7 POINT lunch...


Oh, and Gram opted out of falafel and brought her own soup. Sorry, Gram :(

Lunch was so filling, I decided to tempt fate and go without a snack. I did make some of Jenn's yummy Coffee Cocoa for a treat, though. This is quickly becoming a family favorite. The daughters like it, so I have had it waiting for them when they get home from school (decaf, of course!). Here's my cup, "half-full"......

Dinner was Philly Cheesesteaks, fries and salad. Mmmm...what's not to love??? This type of meal really makes me feel like I am not on a diet, but living a lifestyle of healthy eating. I was able to take something that once was fat-laden and artery clogging and have made it healthier, but still in keeping with the same flavors of the original. The husband and daughters eat it - no complaints. That's how I know it's pretty close to the original! It's one of my favorite 8 POINT dinners, too...

I could've gotten away without dessert tonight. Coulda, woulda, shoulda. But, I didn't. I went with one of these guys...

It was just enough and I closed up shop before I could be tempted into eating something else. I strung a good couple days together; don't want to break the flow. I'm going to try my hardest to keep it going this week. I am only 1 lb. away from a 70 lb. loss. I really want it next week!

We'll see......

Nite =)

Another 5K Day!

I woke up this morning with all good intentions of trying out my treadmill 5K for the second day. I headed to the treadmill and about 14 min. into the run, I began having second thoughts! It's funny how your mind can really mess with you. I was coming up with all kinds of excuses as to why I didn't need to do a 5K run for another day in a row! Finally, I got in a groove (and something interesting came on the TV), so I pushed myself to finish it! I even beat my time from yesterday by 40 seconds! Just goes to show the power of the mind and unfortunately, mine likes to talk me into things(like wolfing down tons of snacks -more on that later) or shall I say out of things(like staying on program- again, more on that later).



So after this wonderful run in the scenic basement of my home, I decided to have cereal for breakfast. I love these Barbara's Bakery Puffins. A 3/4 c. serving is 90 cal., 1 gr. fat and 5 gr. fiber which comes to 1 POINT....







Instead of going with milk, I used them to top 1/2c. plain yogurt with 4 sliced strawberries...

For lunch, I decided to have a "redo" of my meal the other day. I browned a Spinach, Fontina and Roasted Garlic Chicken Sausage, served it on a light hot dog bun. This time, I filled my plate with apple slices and a serving of Sea Salt and Pepper Rice Chips for a filling 7 POINT lunch...

This afternoon was spent hanging out with little daughter (big daughter was at a friend's house). We played games, Wii Fit and read. Then I made a snack that I haven't had in a long time - cheesecake pudding!

I love instant pudding; it really is ready in an instant! Which is essential for someone like me who lacks the virtue of patience. I topped my cheesecake pudding with a few slices of banana and 1/4 graham cracker crumbled. I know you're probably thinking, can't this girl eat ANYTHING plain???

That was really good, by the way. Kinda like a banana cream pie. It was filling for only 2.5 POINTS. I've said it before and I'll say it again, "it should've been enough, but it wasn't". Much of the remainder of the afternoon was spent snacking. Heavily. Which is probably how I will feel tomorrow. I don't know why I kept snacking. I actually was having conversations with myself that could be likened to a tennis match: back and forth, back and forth. I talked myself into eating stuff, then talked myself out, closing packages and pantry doors. Then in again, then out. WTF???? Pardon my potty mouth. But, as I always conclude...move on...NEXT!

Hi, I'm back! Yes, feeling better - back on track. Don't worry I'm not Sybil. Just feeling veklempt and had to regroup. Soooooo, on to dinner. We had some leftover roast beef from the freezer and along with that, I made a butternut squash puree and some crinkle potatoes...

I topped off the night with dessert. I know, I can hear the tsk, tsk from here, but I was still in the mood for the sweets. I had a serving of Breyers Fat Free Double Churned Caramel Swirl Ice Cream and a WW peanut butter cookie...

I feel full. Kinda sickish. As I sit here writing this post, my muffin top that's coming out of my jeans now feels more like a donut. Eeewww. What's a girl to do? Another 5K day tomorrow, you say??? Well, okay =(