Shake It UP

Sorry, I missed last night; things got a little hectic around here and it got too late for me to focus on writing, but I enjoyed catching up on some of your blogs! Also, other than a good 4.2 mile walk, I can't say I was on program yesterday. Lots of snacking went on and not much of an actual meal occurred :( I feel good today though and decided I wasn't going to try so hard, but just let the day come as it may. I wanted to try to listen to my body and take the time to understand when I am hungry and not go by the clock. I've been thinking about making some changes in my program. I haven't come up with exactly what I want to do yet, but I know I need to shake things up a bit! We'll see...


I had a million errands planned for today. We are hosting a family bbq this Sun. and I have lots to get done! I knew there would be no time for my hour long walk or a big breakfast this morning. I went with a simple bowl of Trader Joe's High Fiber O's (3/4 c.) and 2 tbsp. dried cranberries topped with 1/2 c. unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze for 3 POINTS...



I ran to buy some flowers for planting, bought some produce and stopped home to unload the car. Before I ran out again, I made a strawberry crackshake (1 POINT) to go...


Breakfast didn't stay with me very long. I was hungry by 11:30! Normally, I would try to ignore that because it seems too early to eat lunch. I would push it off until 12:30-1:00 and then be famished! Today, I "listened" and prepared my lunch. I was looking forward to it anyway! While getting the daughters ready for school early this morning, I had prepped and baked some tofu to have for lunch. I used a block of Nasoya Firm Lite Tofu that I cut into 5 slices. I dipped 2 slices in Frank's Hot Sauce and the other 3 in barbeque sauce, then baked in a 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes. For today's lunch, I decided on the Baked Buffalo Tofu and made a sandwich (inspired by Kathi's awesome Tofu Reuben). I placed the Baked Buffalo Tofu on 2 slices of TJ's spelt bread with lettuce, tomato and Marie's Chunky Lite Blue Cheese Dressing. OMG, this was so good!!! I used a little extra dressing for carrot dipping and had the finally ripened apriums. They are really great. They remind me of a mini peach; I'm not sure if I detect the apricot, but it's been a long time since I've had a fresh one. I enjoyed them, regardless. A most awesome 5 POINT lunch...

Out the door again for more errands. When the daughters came home from school, it was the ominous snack time. I noticed that I was really hungry for a snack today. Most times, I'm not and I eat one "just in case". I know there are different schools of thought on this. Some say to eat to keep hunger at bay and others say, just eat when you're hungry. So, that's what I did today and I tried to keep my snack healthy and well, just a snack! I think I end up making snacks into a meal-sized portion instead of something that's just enough to get me to the next meal. I mean, really, what is a snack?? I think we forget sometimes. I actually looked it up in the dictionary. Webster's defines snack as : a small portion of food; a bite; a share. Hmmm....interesting. My snacks seem to be like buffets lately- lol! So, with that in mind, I chose some cherries (which I shared with the daughters) and a bite - a Larabite! I made these up yesterday. I took the homemade Larabar recipe (click HERE) and put it in a mini candy cup mold that I had gotten at the craft store. They are meant for making homemade peanut butter cups, but I used them to make these fruit and nut bites! I like the Larabars, but I don't like spending 4 POINTS on one and there is something about only eating half of one that makes me feel unsatisfied. So, I thought if I put them in these little cups, they would feel more like an individual serving instead of "just a half". I know it's silly, but it worked for me. The recipe makes 2 bars, which made 8 bites - 1 POINT each. Perfect "snack" ...

And I couldn't resist making another crackshake! This was a knockoff Mocha Frap. I'll call it a Mocka Frap! Gosh, I'm loopy today! I used 1/2 c. unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze, 1 tbsp. instant espresso powder, 1 tbsp. sugar-free fat-free chocolate fudge pudding mix and 7 ice cubes for 1 POINT...

Dinner was burgers and brussels! Can you believe there are no fries on my plate? Instead, I opted for some roasted brussel sprouts which were fantastic! I used 96% lean beef for the burgers, topped it with a slice of Weight Watchers Pepperjack Cheese and served with lettuce, pickles and ketchup on a Honey Wheat Bun. A delicious and filling 8 POINT dinner...

I debated with myself on whether or not to have dessert. I really wasn't hungry. It's okay to not have dessert, I said to myself! But the "horns" came out, so here's what I chose...

How's that for shakin It up??!!! I feel good about my choices today. It was refreshing to listen to my body and just trying to be relaxed about the whole thing. I'm also glad that my body wasn't calling for brownies and chocolate chip cookies! Cuz, I might have listened to that;)

I'd like to leave you with a Question of the Day: Do you eat meals because it's the right "time" (i.e. lunchtime, dinnertime)according to the clock or do you try to eat whenever you are hungry regardless of time?

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.....

You Said Let's Shred!

The February Shred Challenge is on - thanks so much for my buddies who decided to join me! You guys are awesome and you know misery loves company!! So here's what I'm thinking, how about we take our measurements now and then, again at the end of the Challenge? That way, we can really document the difference in our bodies (hopefully, along with the weight loss, too!) At the end, we can post our results(only if you feel comfortable doing that). I took measurements of the following body parts: arms, chest, waist, hips (lordy) and thighs (double lordy). After that information, I should Shred morning, noon and night ;)

Now for the food...
The daughters had a snow delay this morning, so we got to fiddle around this morning before getting to school. I ate breakfast with little daughter while she read her books to me. I had a lite english muffin topped with 2 tbsp. PB2 and a tsp. Smucker's Sugar Free Grape Jam and 1/2 sliced banana for 3 POINTS...



When everyone was off to school, I headed to the basement for a 30 min. treadmill run. Then, I went straight into The Shred ("no resting "as Jillian would say). Whew, my legs were burning! But, after seeing those measurements...ugh...I got some work to do!!!

The rest of the morning was spent cleaning myself up and then, the house. I was sprucing up the kitchen when my delivery of Vitatops came! Oh JOY, look at this stash...

I ordered 4 different flavors: Triple Chocolate Chunk, Double Chocolate Dream, Deep Chocolate and Banana Fudge. A chocolate extravaganza!!! I can't tell you how badly I wanted to dive into that new Banana Fudge flavor, but I exercised great restraint and decided to save it for dessert :)

Although, chocolate was on my mind for lunch, I went with a Boca Burger on an Arnold Sandwich Thin, topped with a slice of 2% cheese, lettuce, tomato and a squirt of ketchup. A side of carrots and a giant pear took the place of my beloved chips, but I seem to be doing o.k. without them! A "filling foods" 5 POINT lunch...

My afternoon snack was a chocolate Vitatop a Weight Watchers Strawberry Yogurt topped with 1/4 c. blueberries, 2 strawberries and 1/4 c. high fiber cereal for 2 POINTS...

The husband and daughters were having hot dogs and mac n' cheese for dinner tonight. Real low-cal ;) I took the opportunity to have something that would completely gross them out. I made an omelette using 3 egg whites, 1 Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedge and 2 oz. smoked salmon. I had a side salad with Marie's Lite Chunky Blue Cheese and a mini ciabatta roll (2 oz.). A scrumptious 7 POINT dinner...

And NOW, the best time of the day....DESSERT!!! I had to try the Banana Fudge. OMG!! It did not disappoint! Great banana flavor with yummy chocolate chips. If you love banana bread with chocolate chips but hate the calories, this is your new friend! I had to up the ante and top mine with some PB2. Holy Guacamole...

Since I have a vault filled with Vitatops, I'm fairly certain that I will be having this for dessert every night. Makes me happy, although you may be sick of seeing it after a while ;D

Thanks again, Shredders! Shred Count - only 24 days left!