Best Laid Plans

I had all intentions of starting off anew by attending my Weight Watchers meeting this morning, but little daughter got a cold so, I kept her home from school to rest. I didn't let that stop me. The sun was shining and I felt happy and excited to get "back to basics" today. I got out my tracker (whenever I go to my meeting, I grab a few extra just in case I can't get there for a while), put the date in and kept it out the whole day so that I could journal everything I ate.


The first entry was a breakfast of Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin English Muffin topped with a wedge of Laughing Cow Light Cheese and 1/2 c. fresh pineapple. I had a robust cuppa joe with Silk Soy Creamer to go with it. A 4 POINT fresh start...

Oh, and I should have started out by saying that you may notice my pics look a little different. My camera was involved in a fatal freak accident this morning! I had it on my upstairs console table in the hallway and the husband came out of his office, threw a box on the table which knocked my camera off. The camera fell onto the carpet then bounced up in the air and through the spindles of the banister and fell to the first floor! May it rest in peace :( It surely wasn't the greatest quality camera, but it's done me well enough for the time that I've had it. I had been thinking of getting a new one, but it was an unneccesary expense...until now. So, I'm in the market for a new camera, but until then, I will be using little daughter's Kodak Easy Share! At least it's got 8 MP and I have to say that it seemed to do a much better job with close-ups than my old guy. I do notice that the picture lighting isn't the greatest, but I'll have to make due for the time being.

Lunch was a Buffalo Turkey Burger on an Arnold Sandwich Thin with lettuce and 1 tsp. Marie's Chunky Lite Blue Cheese Dressing. Along with it, I had 2 crunch, 1 sweet (trying to cover all my bases of possible munchie cravings); 1/2 oz. Penny Sticks Honey Wheat Pretzels (I love these which may be a problem:), strawberries and yes, Mom - carrots! A terrific 6 POINT lunch...

It was such a beautiful day so I got little daughter out for a tiny walk in the neighborhood and went to visit a neighbor for a bit. She was tired so we didn't stay out very long. After big daughter came home from school, we were all ready for a snack. I decided to try out the Blueberry Oikos Nonfat Greek Yogurt that Kristina from Stonyfield Farm sent me...

I topped it with 1/2 c. Kashi Go Lean Crunch for a yummy 3 POINTS...

I have to say that I LOVED the Blueberry flavor!! It was definitely sweeter than the Vanilla and had quite a few tiny blueberries in it. I realized that I am not a fan of plain unsweetened yogurt. I think it's an acquired taste, and I HAVE TRIED, but it's not for me. I need the sweetness to fully enjoy it. This Blueberry flavor fits the bill! Now, I'm looking forward to trying the Honey flavor (if I can find it - haven't seen it yet)!

Dinner was heat and eat tonight. I have lots of leftover Easter ham, so I heated that and served it with leftover Gram's green beans and mashed potatoes (Diner's Choice Brand). My plate came to 6 POINTS...

And for the grand finale, a Chocolate Skinny Cow for 2 POINTS...


This was a good day! I decided I wasn't going to think so much about exactly what I'm eating. By that I mean, I'm not going to drive myself crazy with making sure that I'm only eating "clean" foods (though I think I prefer them now) or worrying that I might be eating too many bread-type items, chips or even dessert! I'm just going to do my best to get in my Healthy Guidelines, stick to my Target POINTS and eat whatever I'm craving while doing all this. It worked when I first began this journey and I think it will work for getting me over this hump and to goal. I am regaining that same enthusiam as when I first started. I put up some "visual aids" (pics of women with rockin , but attainable bods) in various areas of the house - mirrors, refrigerator, etc. to help me keep my goal in the forefront of my mind. It's a soft porn convention around here! The husband is thrilled =) Hey, whatever works ; p

Catch Up

It's been a day of playing catch-up. I woke up at my 6:30 a.m. "Florida exercise time" -ugh! I spent a few minutes blog reading(still not caught up - you all have been so busy!!), then geared up for a workout. It never happened though because the rations were low, so I needed to head out to grocery shop instead. My shopping list was a mile long with veggies and fruits. I am craving them like crazy and would have bought every fruit and veg in the store! Who knew a week of staring at chicken nuggets, fries and hot dogs would cause such PMS-ish cravings!

Along with my produce desires, I was really missing Ezekiel english muffins. Thankfully, I had one lonely Cinnamon Raisin guy left in the freezer. I did a quick toast and topped with 1 tbsp. lite cream cheese for a yummy 3 POINT breakfast before the grocery shopping marathon...


Another item on my list was greek yogurt. The lovely folks at Stonyfield Farm sent me some coupons to try out their Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt (thanks, Kristina!) and I was really looking forward to tasting it. I was able to find 2 flavors of nonfat - Vanilla and Blueberry. I decided to have the Vanilla for lunch today...


This 5.3 oz. container has 110 calories, 0 fat and hello--15 gr. protein!!!! The ingredients are all natural, organic and contain no artificial sweeteners. As I was scooping it into a bowl, I noticed it had a rich and creamy consistency unlike the nonfat yogurt that I usually buy. I topped it with some beautiful strawberries and 1/4 c. Grape Nuts cereal for an "unusual-for -me "4 POINT lunch...

This was so rich and filling! I loved the consistency of the yogurt; even though it was nonfat, it had a "full fat" feel to it. It wasn't very sweet tasting and I didn't pick up much of the Vanilla flavor, so this was a very different yogurt experience from the artificially flavored type that I have become accustomed to. Overall, I really liked it! I am excited to try the Blueberry flavor to see if there is a bit more sweetness to that. I don't normally think of yogurt as a "meal", but this was so filling that I was good to go until way late in the afternoon! Can't say that about my other yogurts :)

After lunch, I headed to Trader Joe's for the remainder of my list. I also got a million and one things that weren't on my list! That store is just impossible to get out of without finding a bunch of yummy new items. One thing that caught my eye was this...

I love Tabbouli! My mom first introduced me to it; she used to make it and I always enjoyed it, especially with pitas! I had 2/3 c. (3 POINTS) for a snack today with TJ's flax and honey flatbreads (1 POINT). So delish...

I finally got everything put away and prepped some veggies just in time to make dinner! No Friday night pizza; the husband and daughters ordered it last night when we got home from the airport, so I made Philly Cheesesteaks and Fries. I decided to make mine into a wrap using a La Tortilla Factory Smart and Delicious Tortilla, 1 Landis sliced Beef Sirloin Sandwich Steak, slice 2 % cheese, sauteed mushrooms, onions, a squirt of ketchup and a couple pickles. Instead of regular fries, I nuked a 7 oz. sweet potato for a couple of minutes, then diced and pan-fried them in 1 tsp. olive oil. An awesome 8 POINT dinner...

I did have a couple of chocolate covered almonds for dessert but forgot to take a pic - oops! I am out of practice!!!! A week off will do that to ya!

So glad to be back!

More Shopping...UGH!

Another day of run, run, run. Unfortunately not how I wanted to run! I actually planned an outdoor run for this morning, but big daughter realized that she forgot an assignment and I had to meet her up at school to sign it. So, I ended up fitting in my run on the treadmill before taking little daughter to school - thanks to the husband who was able to attend to her while I ran. I did a good 40 min. and felt great after!

Once I got everyone set, I headed for the remainder of the shopping escapades. Before I left the house, I grabbed my breakfast to eat in the car -again! I don't love eating on the run, but the Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin English Muffin with 1 tbsp. lite cream cheese (3 POINTS) made it an enjoyable experience...


I finally sucked it up (more like sucked it IN) and bought myself two bathing suits. One-piece, basic black. No do-dads or patterns to draw attention. Boring, I know :( But, I got one at a major bargain at Target - it was on clearance for $8.74 !!!! Seriously, it's not hideous; it was just on sale!

After recovering from bathing suit shopping, I went to eat!! I met my sisters -in -law and mother-in-law for lunch at Bertucci's Italian Restaurant. The food is really good here, but the rolls are exceptional. They are made with pizza dough and baked in the wood-fired oven. Mmmm! But, I decided NOT to eat them because I knew I would have white rolls with dinner tonight and didn't want to bog down my system with too much junky bread. Wish they made them with whole wheat! Anyway, what I DID eat was a portion of the "table salad"...

Nothing special. Just bogus iceberg with cucumbers, tomatoes and an olive with an Italian vinagrette dressing. I only had a bit, so I counted it as 1 POINT for the dressing. I also ordered the Tuscan Minestrone Soup which was delish! I couldn't find any nutritional information for this anywhere on the internet, so I'm guesstimating it at 5 POINTS...

When the daughters came home from school, I was ready for a snack. I had a fuji apple with 1 tbsp. of homemade almond butter for 3 POINTS...

I did some extra snacking, too. Nothing too extreme- a handful of Peanut Butter Puffins and a handful of reduced fat Cheez-its. I wasn't hungry and I knew the whole time I was snacking that I was just using up some nervous energy. I guess being able to recognize that during the snacking instead of after is a step in the right direction. The next step would be to tell myself to KNOCK IT OFF! Baby steps ;)

Later, I got dinner going. I made mini burgers( or sliders as they are now called )with ground beef. My mom had seen these made on a cooking show by spreading the ground beef evenly on a cookie sheet, baking it whole and then, cutting it into squares to fit on the mini buns. I decided to give it a whirl and it worked out great! It took no time at all; way better than forming a bunch of mini patties! I served these on Pepperidge Farms soft dinner rolls (12 in a pack). For a side, I made Bacon Ranch Coleslaw using a package of coleslaw mix dressed with a mix of 1/4 c. Kraft Light Three Cheese Ranch Dressing, 1/4 c. buttermilk and 4 slices of crumbled center cut bacon. This was a hit with the daughters who NEVER eat regular coleslaw!

I had two mini burgers and 1/2 c. coleslaw for 8 POINTS...

No big dessert tonight since I had the "snack attack". I did indulge in a little bit of dark chocolate...

I needed the antioxidants :)

I'm off to give my attention to the Biggest Loser. I've been watching bits while posting and can I just say Ron needs to GO! UGH!

Have a great night =)

Putzerella

You know how when you're sick, you just don't feel like eating?? Okay, well explain that one to me because I have NO IDEA what that is like!!! I woke up feeling blah with a scratchy throat and yet, could not wait to eat my breakfast! I would need full blown bubonic plague to not be able to eat and that might not even do it!!



I gave my body its fuel; a delicious Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin English Muffin with 1 tbsp. lite cream cheese (and a huge cup of green tea!) for 3 POINTS...





Then, I putzed. Cleaned a couple things here and there, did a load of laundry and putzed some more. I didn't have much energy for anything. It was such a nice bright sunny day and for a second, I thought I might go for a run. I quickly decided against it - too taxing for my body in my weakened state ;) But, the need to exercise was looming over me so I popped in the Shred! Whew, I DO NOT miss Jillian ;) Still rough as ever, although I can rock a push-up now!



Soup was on the menu for lunch today. I had planned to make this Stuffed Pepper Soup yesterday, but never got around to it. It's a tasty soup; actually reminds me a lot of chili without the beans. I think I may morph it into a chili by adding some beans and chili spices to it next time I eat it. Here's what you'll need to make it...

• 1 lb. 96% lean ground beef
• 1 c. finely chopped onion
• 1 c. chopped green pepper
• 1 (14oz. can) diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz. can) tomato sauce
• 1 c. fat free beef broth
• 3 c. water
• 1 c. cooked brown rice
• 1/2 tsp. chopped basil
• 1/2 tsp. chopped dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper

1. Brown beef with onion in a large pot sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Add in remaining ingredients and simmer uncovered for 30 min.
3. Makes 6 servings - 3 POINTS per serving.

Along with my soup, I had a Golden Corn Vitatop and cantaloupe slices for 5 POINTS...

I was missing some crunch though, so I had a serving of TJ's Sour Cream and Onion Rice Chips for another 2 POINTS...

Then, more putzing. I actually got back in bed and soaked in the sun coming into my bedroom. Reminded me of 'the good ol days', when I was young and barely did anything, but still took naps on the weekend! *singing* Memories.......of the way we were...... Gotta love Babs:)

Back to my usual snack of Weight Watchers Yogurt topped with a serving of TJ's long name cereal for 2 POINTS...

I finally got my rear in gear to take little daughter to dance. I had planned on breakfast for dinner for the husband and daughters. There were squeals of delight, which I don't get because they just had breakfast for breakfast so what is the big deal??? But, it's easy for me, so I won't complain:) I wanted Spinach Artichoke Dip. Appetizer for dinner? I guess I'm just as bad!! So, I whipped up this dip for dipner (hehe)...

• 2 tbsp. minced red onion
• 7 oz. bag baby spinach
• 3/4 c. chopped artichoke hearts (not marinated)
• 4 wedges Laughing Cow Light Cheese
• 2 tsp. Hidden Valley Ranch dry dip mix (packet)
• 4 tsp. grated parmesan cheese
• 3 tbsp fat free sour cream
• 2 tsp. lemon juice

1. Saute onion in nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Add artichoke hearts.
2. Add cheeses and stir until melted. Stir in sour cream and dry dip mix until heated through.
3. Take off heat and add in lemon juice.
4. Makes 4 (1/3 c.)servings - 2 POINTS

I used the dip to top a Kim's Light Bagel and had a side of carrots and a Fuji apple for a great 5 POINT dinner...

And for dessert....Banana Cream Pie! Oh yeah! I whirred one whole graham cracker sheet in a mini processor until finely crumbled, added in 2 tsp. melted light butter, pressed the cracker mixture into a small ramekin to form an even crust. Then, added 1/2 c. Jello Banana Cream Sugar Free Fat Free Pudding (made from the box) and topped it with 2 tbsp. fat free Reddi Whip. A yummy 3 POINTS....

Well, it was a day of accomplishing nothing around here. I was Putzerella. But, I am feeling better; I think I killed the cold with B-12 and Vitamin C :) Thanks to everyone for the well wishes, too!!!

One more thing before I go....

I got a Blog Award!!! What a surprise! I have no speech planned, DARN! My BWWF (Best Weight Watcher Forever!) Heather - the ww chick sent me this cool award! Thanks, Heather - you are so awesome and my IDOL!!! I'll continue the blog award love and send this off to Angie of Angie All The Way. She has lost an amazing 130 lbs., is a team leader for the Biggest Loser Blog Edition and has a wonderful inspirational blog!

Have a great night everyone!

Putzerella...out :)

What A Girl Wants

I started off my morning with a strength training workout; today's routine was lower body and abs. I notice I'm not very good at the 1 -2 minute rest between sets; that "patience thing" I need to work on ;) So, I kind of flew through the whole thing in about 20 min. It feels strange to not be doing some type of cardio on these days. I'm second guessing whether I should be getting in a little since I'm still in the weight loss mode, but the things that I've read say to weight train 3 times a week and do the cardio the other days. I don't know; anyone wanna shed some light on the sitch??



I was so excited for breakfast! I picked up these Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins after seeing them on Angie's blog ...

What's neat about these is that they are a flourless sprouted whole grain english muffin and the mix of grains form a complete protein containing all essential amino acids. The nutritionals for 1 english muffin is 160 cal., 1 fat, 6 gr. protein and 4 fiber which comes to 2 POINTS. It's such a nice hearty-tasting muffin and was delicious topped with some I Can"t Believe It's Not Butter Spray and a tsp. of Smucker's Sugar Free Grape Jam. A sliced orange and hot cuppa joe made it a perfect 3 POINT breakfast...

After the Boca Bruschetta veggie burger yesterday, I got bruschetta stuck on the brain! I decided to listen to my body and give it what it wants! That's part of the Intuitive Eating way! I made the bruschetta topping- fresh plum tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, fresh basil, salt and pepper. I toasted 2 slices of whole wheat tuscan pane and topped it with 1/2 c. bruschetta and a bit of shaved parmesan. To go with it, I had a bowl of Tabatchnick Minestrone Soup. A spectacular 6 POINT lunch...

I was so happy with that lunch!!! I think I could eat that every day! I love bread, tomatoes and cheese!! This elation lead to ..... a My House Chocolate Chip Cookie (1 POINT).....

Thankfully, I had to leave the house after that otherwise I may have continued my happy cookie dance with the rest of the batch =)

For dinner, I planned a spice rubbed pork tenderloin. I made a rub with a variety of spices - garlic, chili powder, brown sugar, cinnamon, cumin, salt and pepper, then baked the 1lb. tenderloin for about 25 min. at 375. It was moist and delish to me and big daughter (have I said she is my favorite daughter ;) The husband and little daughter would care to not ever have that again. Oh well. At least they liked the beans! I served the pork with a side of (canned) reduced sugar baked beans and a salad with Kraft Light Three Cheese Ranch. My portion was 4 oz. pork, 1/2 c. baked beans and side salad for 8 POINTS...

I have been missing my Vitatop and craving peanut butter, so you know, I gotta give my body what it wants! The usual.... Deep Chocolate Vitatop with PB2 icing ...

A well spent 2 POINTS!

I'm holding my breath for tomorrow's weigh in. Not quite sure what to expect with this new workout routine, but regardless of what the scale says to me, I'm feeling good about being on track this week and I have enjoyed a week of eating healthfully and on program! Feel free to remind me of this statement tomorrow, just in case..... ;)