Blog Business

Happy Friday, everyone! Well, I'm gonna get right to it. First, I have some blog business to get to. The winner of the Dogtoys Giveaway is Julie from The Tale of a Southern Belle! Thanks so much to all of you for entering. This was a fun giveaway to be able to highlight getting healthy with our dogs! Dogtoys.com has thousands of cool items, so be sure to check them out for your pet needs!

Next up is this award...

I was given this award from Kelly, The Incredible Shrinking Family and MoraPiggy. Thank you guys so much! I think you are also SUPER! I would like to extend this to Rebecca at Fat Fitness Food, Kari at Taking Back Control and Kathi at Ever Winding Road. I would love to name a thousand more! You are all so wonderful and I enjoy reading all the blogs!

Okay, on to the food...


The sun was shining this morning and I could not wait to get out and RUN! I am still amazed that I say that! I popped in my tunes and went for a nice 35 minute run around my hilly neighborhood. I felt great but, I still get the hip issue when I'm done. I'm gonna work on the stretching exercises that Rebecca and Manderz recommended. When I came in, I decided to try a variation of my bulgur cereal. This time I made Banana Apricot Bulgur Cereal. This one was so good! This mix was...

• 1 c. water
• 3 tbsp. bulgur
• 1 tbsp. oat bran
• 1/2 ripe banana, diced
• 2 dried apricots, diced
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)
• 1 packet Splenda (optional)

I loved this; it was filling and sweet! A hearty 3 POINT breakfast...

After breakfast, I rushed off to help out at Gram's apartment. Still lots of unpacking and arranging going on. She's almost set up, though. My parents had to run to the hardware store for a few more things and they stopped to pick up lunch, too. Mom made me a nice salad from the supermarket salad bar. She made sure to include all my favorites: baby spinach, carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, cucumbers,hard boiled egg, tomatoes, a sprinkling of chicken and edamame! She got a side of lowfat Sundried Tomato dressing, too. A filling lunch; I estimated at 4 POINTS...

I also snacked on some of Gram's Triscuits for another 2 POINTS. Sorry no pic!

When I headed home, I felt hungry and had a Weight Watchers Strawberry Yogurt with 1/2 Kashi TLC Fruit and Grain Raspberry Chocolate Bar...

Yummy 2 POINTS...

The husband and daughters were doing pizza for dinner, so I decided to go with a relaxed "burgers and fries" dinner. I made oven baked sweet potato fries and discovered something to help crisp them - after you cut the sweet potato into fries, soak them in water for about an hour, then dry and bake. They come out more crispy that way. Along with the fries, I had a Chickpea Spinach Almond Burger on and Arnold Sandwich Thin with sliced cucumbers, red onion and a tsp. nonfat sour cream. I threw in some leftover veggies, too but, I have to admit, it was a bit too much. I was pretty full and didn't finish the veggies. My eyes were bigger than my stomach for this 8 POINT dinner...

Since I was so full, I didn't want to force myself to eat some dessert "just because" I'm used to eating it. So, no dessert for me. Hmmm.... do you think my Vitatops are getting lonely in the freezer?? I've dissed them 2 nights in a row!

Tomorrow is my WW meeting and weigh-in. I'm hoping for some scale love:) I'll let ya know!

Have a great night :D

When The Plan Works

Weigh-in went well today! I was down 3.4 lbs. from my BLBE weigh-in last week. Whew, that was a good feeling! Actually, I felt pretty relaxed when I got on the scale this morning; I really wasn't worrying about what it was going to say because I felt satisfied with all I did this week. I knew that if it didn't show up this week, it would later, so I was o.k. either way. Buuuuut, I LOVE IT when a plan comes together like today!!!



I also headed to my WW meeting this morning. Before I went, I got in a 45 minute treadmill run. After a quick shower, I rushed out the door, so I only grabbed this to munch on after the meeting...







I knew this 2 POINT bar wouldn't last long. I was ready for lunch early. I decided on a Buffalo Turkey Burger. I cooked it on the George Foreman Grill and put it on an Arnold Sandwich Thin topped with lettuce and 1 tbsp. Marie's Lite Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing. Mmmm.... I love this burger! On the side, I went with a serving of Kettle Baked Potato Chips and some carrots with another tbsp. of dressing. Yummy 7 POINT lunch...


I went with a big snack today since dinner was going to be late. I had a Weight Watchers Strawberry Yogurt with 1/2 c. blueberries, 2 strawberries and a serving of that long named Trader Joe's cereal that I like ;) A big 3 POINT bowl...

I was really looking forward to my dinner tonight - BAKED TOFU!!! I have been craving this after seeing different versions all over the blogosphere! I even dabbled in it a little a couple of years ago when I was "vegetarian" for a few months. So, I decided to feed my craving tonight since the husband and daughters were going to have ravioli for dinner and I don't like to spend the POINTS on those. To make the baked tofu, I used a seasoning of 1 tbsp. brown sugar, 1 tbsp. chili powder, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder, 1/2 tsp. cumin, 1/2 tsp. onion powder, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. pepper, 1/2 tsp. molasses and 1 tbsp. ketchup mixed together and rubbed onto slices of lite firm tofu and baked on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray for about 30 -40 minutes at 425 degrees. It comes out crispy and slightly chewy. I love the "meaty" texture! I can't wait to eat the leftovers in a sandwich :) Using the lite tofu made this so low POINT - the entire recipe is only 4 POINTS!

To go with the baked tofu, I had a bunch of broccoli and a couple small sweet potatoes. A very "veggie -tarian" 7 POINT dinner...

And you know, I can't help myself...

A luscious 2 POINTS!

So, I've been working the plan this week and the plan has been working. I am 2.4 lbs. away from the 150's!!!! HOLY CRAP! I have not seen those numbers in................ever??? I'm sure I weighed that at some time or other, but I think I was in my teens. I'm going to try to keep focused as best as possible so that I can get there. I need a "self-sabotage free" couple of weeks to get me there. Here goes.....

I Survived!

Today was a day of some cool non-scale victories! The first was my workout. I postponed my exercise until after getting the daughters off to school. It was such a beautiful, sunny morning(although 30*) that I thought I would head outside to "try" a run. I wasn't expecting much from myself. Running outside has not been something I have been able to accomplish. I barely could make it a block without feeling like I was going to have to call 911! Today, I decided to use the great advice given to me by fellow bloggers/runners which was go slow. I realized that the difference in running outdoors is that you don't have the treadmill to set your pace for you, so you tend to go a little faster and take greater strides. This in turn causes major breathlessness and a potential call for an ambulance. Well, at least for me :) So, I took my time, kept my strides shorter and really tried to focus on my breathing. The first 3 minutes were the hardest; I had to keep talking to myself, egging myself on because after 1 minute, I was ready to quit. My neighborhood is very hilly and I kept thinking that there was no way I was going to make it. But, I ended up making it around one time, then another and another. Before I knew it, 45 minutes had passed! I clocked the mileage in my car later and it was 2.1 miles! Holy Crap! I cannot believe I ran (well, really slow- jogged!) 2 hilly miles. Who am I????? I didn't used to like to even walk! I felt proud of myself for breaking that mental barrier. Now, I feel like a 5k race is within my reach. To be con't on that...

On to the food...
After my "run", I made myself an egg sammie using a Weight Watchers Petite Bagel, 1 egg white cooked with a handful of baby spinach, a slice of 2% cheese and a slice of center cut bacon. Delish! Another 3 POINT beefy breakfast winner...




I had a haircut appointment at lunchtime today, so I decided to wait until afterward to eat lunch, but, to keep my hunger in check, I had a Weight Watchers Berries and Cream Yogurt and a Kashi Fruit and Grain Raspberry Chocolate bar. A filling 3 POINT snack...


Good thing I had a snack. My appointment ran a little long and then, I had to squeeze in some errands before I got a chance to get home. When I got home, my long awaited (it's only been a week, but has seemed like an eternity!) shipment of PB2 came! YAY!!! Oh, how I've missed it! I didn't waste a minute ripping open the box and fixing up a PB2 and sugar free jam sammie on a store brand light english muffin. I slice up and apple and chowed down on this yummy 3 POINT lunch...

Since I ate so late, I really didn't want an afternoon snack. I just made some Coffee Cocoa and sipped on that while I did some housework.

My second non-scale victory came at dinner. It's Friday. It's Pizza Night. Do I avoid it like the plague? Have visions of it "falling in the toilet" -eww? No, tonight I will meet this head on! I will show this pizza who's boss! Right? Right! I had the crusts prepared, made the sauce earlier in the day, now I only had to grate the cheese. Wonderful mozzarella cheese. As I grate, some large pieces break off, too large to plop on the pizza, but too small to grate without shredding my fingers along with it. Normally, these pieces find their way right into my mouth. But, nooooo! I will not let it, tonight. I go into my handbag and grab a piece of super minty gum and pop it in my mouth. Mint + mozzarella is gross, so this worked out great!! I was able to prepare the pizza without doing major cheese damage before the pizza was even ready! Cool! When, the pizza was ready, I cut 2 small slices for myself, made a big salad for everyone and I also, threw some leftover broccoli on my plate. My plate was overflowing with food which made me happy and my eyes were already "satisfied" before I even ate the food. I loved every bite of this! I ate pizza with the family and I did it without being piggy. It was a good feeling. Also, a good 10 POINT dinner...

I can't believe I am saying this, but I could have gone without dessert again, tonight! But, I decided to eat it anyway because in my shipment of PB2 came a sample of CHOCOLATE PB2!!!!!! OMG! I had to try it immediately. I mixed it with a tsp. of fluff and topped my Deep Chocolate Vitatop with the chocoPB2/fluff icing...

Oh. my. greatness. Life is too short to not eat dessert :)

Hope everyone had a Happy Friday and had some non-scale victories of your own today!

Stop The Insanity

Hi Everyone! A much better night sleep was had by all, so we are feeling more like normal people today instead of zombies ;)

I managed to get my regular workout in early this morning which felt good. After the daughters were off to school, I had a bowl of Trader Joe's High Fiber O's mixed with the storebrand high fiber cereal, 1/2 c. blueberries, a few strawberries and 1 c. Soy Slender...



I spent the remainder of the morning working around the house. Before I knew it, it was time for lunch. I was looking forward to trying these guys that I picked up at the grocery store the other day...


They are a krinkle-style baked potato stick with ketchup flavor! How fun is that? The serving size is the entire 1.2 oz. bag and for 120 cal., 3 gr. fat, 2 gr. fiber, it was a yummy 2 POINTS! And what goes best with fries? Yup, a burger! I went with a Boca Burger in the original vegan flavor (which is only 1 POINT!) served on an Arnold Sandwich Thin with a slice of 2% cheese, lettuce and ketchup. Some sweet grapes were the perfect side to round out this 6 POINT all-american lunch...

After lunch, I had some errands to take care of and while I was at Target picking up something for the husband, I saw these.....

A new product from Kashi! I haven't met a Kashi bar that I didn't like, so I decided to give these a try (plus they were on sale!). Oh my, they are yummy! Like a granola bar topped with an almost gooey frosting and sprinkled with some nuts. This flavor was pumpkin pie...

I have to say, it really did taste like a well spiced pumpkin pie! What a nice 2 POINT snacky. I also picked up the chocolate raspberry flavor; can't wait to try that one!

I wish I could say that was my only afternoon snack, however, it wasn't. I got really munchie and snacked on some other things: 1/2 pretzel rod, handful of baked potato chips, couple bites of little daughter's soft pretzel, piece of chocolate. Carbs and sugar. The usual suspects! Well, that sucked :( I don't know why I do that stupid snacking right when a weigh-in is coming up!! Sorry, Team Angie :( But, guess what? I stopped the insanity! Believe me, it could've gotten UGLY; I was in that kind of mood to eat and eat. However, I shut the pantry door, ran upstairs to get my running shoes on and headed to the treadmill for a 25 min. run! I don't know if it will make that much of a difference for my weigh-in, but at least it helped me do damage control. I'm thinking that was progress :)

My dinner options became fairly limited due to the oversnacking. I estimated the extra snacks at about 5 POINTS and because I don't have any Weekly Allowance POINTS left, that gave me only 4 POINTS to work with for dinner. I decided to make an egg white omelette with baby spinach, a tbsp. of Trader Joe's Roasted Pepper Spread and a shredded light string cheese . I also had a side of leftover string beans with garlic and evoo...

That 3 POINT dinner left me with one lonely POINT which I should have let go, but I knew I had these Mrs. Freshley's 100 calorie mini chocolate cupcakes...

They are 3 mini cakes for 1 POINT, so I broke into them and had some tea to go with these little guys.

I'm gonna call it a night and watch the Biggest Loser. Hopefully, that will inspire me to not eat any more food tonight!!