Not cool.

So let me break this down.

I wake up at 5 a.m. to pee and discover my monthly visitor a knockin'. FML. At least there is a reason for the lack of weight loss this week...

I get up at 8:45 and weigh myself a few times before I leave for my meeting, please note the craziness.

176.8
176.0
174.8
174.8

Let me just mention, my scale at home is about .8 to 1 lb heavier than the meeting, so after confirming that 174.8 THREE times I got my hopes up a little but knew not to trust this crazy.

I get to the meeting what do I get? 175.6 "Down .4!"

I am pretty pissed but clearly another force is causing my weight to fluctuate a lot.

I had a good time today with Jen at the mall and I got two dresses! One for my engagement party from Ann Taylor Loft in a size 10. It was a little snug on my hips but it was a little pricey and I was between sizes and if I lose 5-8lbs I don't want to have an expensive dress not fit. It's really cute!

I also got a really cute dress at Macy's that was on sale in a size 10. It's fitted so a little unforgiving around the stomach but even so it's flattering.

John helped Jen and I make a delicious WW dinner. We used a recipe from this new cookbook I got today at the meeting. It's called Just 5 and it's all recipes with only five ingredients. We did a Feta-Pesto stuffed chicken, green beans and some roasted potatoes.

I am out of points for the day but I'm full and if I get hungry later I can have some 0PP fruit or veggies.

I know if I have another great week I will see a big loss next week, so that is my motivation. I'm hoping to be down 3.6 this next week.

John and I may end up going to AirHeads tonight which is a trampoline place! I might earn an AP if we go!

Has fall arrived early in Florida or is this a sick joke?

It seems as if fall has arrived early in Florida! Normally this time of year it's still pretty hot and gross out. This past week however has been really nice! Now mind you, fall for Florida is a far cry from what fall is for the other 80 percent of the country. It's been lows in the low 60s and highs in the low to mid 80s but the humidity has been low and it's felt cool.

On Sunday night my stomach started feeling weird, hard to explain but it wasn't good. Monday it was feeling pretty icky and my appetite was off (however I was able to eat all my points, surprise...) so I decided to take the day off from working out and rest. By Tuesday it was still feeling off so I decided another rest day was in order.

Yesterday it felt better but not great. I decided to give the gym a go and see how it went. I ran 2 miles on the treadmill at a decent pace and felt okay. After that I got on the elliptical but after 10 min. or so my stomach was hurting a lot. :( I decided to cut the workout short but still managed to earn 3 activity points so I was happy. I'm just proud of myself for going.

Tonight I have my first physical therapy session for my knees so I'll be taking the day off. I hope it goes well and I learn some good exercises and stretches.

I have a TON of laundry to fold and put away tonight. I figure I'll do it while John is at his Japanese class and I'll watch Project Runway (go Mondo!).

John and I have been making a lot of WW recipes lately. E-Tools now has a feature where subscribers can review and rate recipes which is super helpful. If you've made WW recipes before you know it can be very hit or miss.

On Sunday we made a Winter Squash Lasagna (I've made this before). I like it a lot but I will say I can see it not being for everyone. It's butternut squash, cheese, golden raisins and has pine nuts sprinkled on top.

On Monday we made Mustard Dill Chicken and it was really good! Sorry, no photo of this one! Super easy to make too.

Finally, last night we made Chicken Parmigiana which also came out great!

I like that I can search for 5-star recipes now. Heh.

- - - -

In other news, I've been feeling down lately about a variety of things. My job, lack of friends, etc....

I get myself so caught up in the things I don't have sometimes that I lose sight of what I do have.

I am so lucky to have a really great family who loves and supports me, who are there for me no matter that and I know will always have my back.

I'm also really lucky to have John. It's like when you're younger you always wish you'd find the perfect person to be with and I did. Of course our relationship isn't perfect, as neither of us are, I'd never say that (it annoys me when people do!). I just found the person who is perfect for me and I'd venture to say John found the person who is perfect for him.

Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the negative and things that don't matter. I am guilty as ever as sweating the small stuff.

I just have to make sure I balance it with remembering all of the good stuff, cause there is sure a lot of it!

- - - -

Final notes!

I stopped taking my birth control on Sunday. It wasn't serving it's purpose in which my doctor had me start it for and I don't want fake hormones in my body for nothing.

So now I have a visitor, ugh, I hope she doesn't mess up my weigh-in Saturday!

I am going to have two perfect days today and tomorrow point's wise and really hope to see a pay off on Saturday!

Talk to you then...

:)

Black Bean and Butternut Squash Chipotle Tacos (Vegan)

Black Bean and Butternut Squash Chipotle Tacos (Vegan)
By Danielle & John
Adapted from Fatfree Vegan

Ingredients:


• 4 cups, butternut squash diced fairly small

• 1 can, black beans

• 2 cloves, garlic diced

• 1 pepper, chipotle in adobo diced (remove seeds)

• 1, lime

• 1/2 teaspoon, chili powder

• 1/2 teaspoon, ground cumin

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1 cup, red or white onion sliced for topping

• 1 cup, avocado diced for topping

• Salsa for topping

• Small soft corn tortillas

Directions:

Warm black beans in a small sauce pan with juice of 1 lime, chipotle pepper and some sauce from can and garlic. As beans warm, mash them up with a fork to incorporate flavors.

In another skillet, spray with olive oil and add butternut squash, season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Cook until squash is tender.

Warm your tortillas in a small pan, and top with black bean mixture, squash and desired toppings.

Etc.

These are delicious and have a super smoky hot flavor from the chipotle. Not only are they delicious but they are super filling and easy to make!

Note that the beans are so delicious on their own they could be used as a side dish for another meal!

Photo of John's first taco (beans are hidden, sorry for the crappy quality iPhone photo!)

Keepin' on keepin' on...

So I am still finding myself doubting my 5k time from Saturday. What is wrong with me? I checked the course! I guess it's an effect of a low self-esteem. :\

Yesterday I was going for my long run of the week, 5.5 miles. My knees felt iffy all day so I told myself I'd play it by ear and if I wasn't feeling good I'd swap it for a shorter run and do the 5.5 another day.

Apparently Monday runs = runs with all types of issues. My knees felt eh but I had more GI distress and also I was getting a sharp pain where one of my incisions was from my surgery in February. It could have actually been related to the GI distresses. Sigh.

So you could probably guess I wrapped it up around 3.1 Long run attempt #2 will be Wednesday. I want today to be an easy day so I'm just going to do 30 Day Shred level two or Shred It!

My midnight snacking has been bad again. I'm completely aware of my snacking (not sleep walking or anything) but I wake up to pee and feel like I need to snack. It sucks starting the day with -4 points. I will beat this bad habit!

I just had lunch and it was delicious! I had a small sandwich using one slice of 15-grain bread, sliced chicken breast, lettuce and a tiny bit of light mayo and mustard. Yum! This bread held up really nicely sitting in the fridge overnight! I also had a side of my new love, chick pea salad! Yon can make any variation but I used: can of chick peas, reduced fat feta, English cucumber, tomato, 1tbsp EVOO, white balsamic, salt pepper - yum! It's approx. 2 points for half of a cup.

In muh belly now!

In other news I've been falling off the wagon with the no soda/caffeine thing. I realized today I've been allowing too many "once in a whiles," so I am cutting it out 100 percent again.

Finally, I am very hot and cold about this half marathon in February. Especially now with the knee pain. I def. want to wait to see what a doctor recommends.

Tonight I need to start Order of the Phoenix!

Labor Day BBQ (sort of!)

We decided in honor of all the Labor Day BBQs (none of which we were attending) we'd have a BBQ themed dinner.

I had an Amy's All American veggie burger on a sandwich thin with 1/2 cup of a organic baked beans and a few sweet potato fries (4oz). It was delicious and super filling!

That is all for now! Saved 3 points for some wine later. :)

Ugh, the sick/flu season is upon us!

So Friday I was feeling crappy with a sore throat and yesterday it was feeling worse. John and I decided to skip our run/bike ride since I wasn't feeling well and the idea of breathing heavy while running on a sore throat was not appealing.

Last night we relaxed but by the time Mad Men was over my throat was killing me. I looked down it with a flash light and saw a few little white spots on my tonsils. No! Tonsilitis! Luckily the doctor I saw Saturday gave me an Rx for antibiotic to take if things got worse. So we got the Rx filled (yay 24-hour CVS) and I took one as well as an Advil PM. We read some before bed and then I went to sleep around midnight.

We decided not to set the alarm for a workout this morning due to my sickness. We woke up around 11 today and I am feeling better but still not great. I always feel worse later in the day.

I am adjusting my training this week due to this sneaky sickness and the 5k I'm doing Saturday. My plan is as follows:

Monday (if I feel okay): 30 Day Shred or No More Trouble Zones
Tuesday: 5.25 mile run (indoors)
Wednesday: short run and strength
Thursday: 5.25 mile run (indoors)
Friday: rest
Saturday: 5k
Sunday: rest (or light run/bike ride)

We just made a yummy quick lunch which included a chick pea and feta salad. I didn't get a picture but it was easy. Just threw a can of chick peas, about 1/3 cup of reduced-fat feta, tomato, and cucumber together. Tossed it with salt, pepper, white balsamic vinegar, greek seasoning and finally a touch of olive oil. It was 3 points for half a cup. Yum!

Tonight we are making burger (Amy's veggie burger for me!), baked sweet potato fries and these yummy organic baked beans John found at the grocery store.

Oh, last thing! I got a haircut on Saturday and decided to do something different and I got bangs!

Me and my manatees! My third favorite animal! :)













Hi!
















Okay, the end!

a few updates!

First off let me start by saying I just did Jillian Michaels: No More Trouble Zones dvd for the first time in a while. I've only done one or two other times and I forgot how INSANE IT IS. Think 30 Day Shred is hard? Think again! There is this move called "surrender" and it KILLS ME. I hardly got though the 40 minute work out but it felt good and I could tell it was working. Today was my strength day and this was much more effective than what I've been doing on my own at the gym. I was sweating and my heart rate stayed up!

Second, for dinner tonight we made a healthy fried rice! We use brown rice, veggies, chicken breast and a seasoning packet! Yum! It was estimated 6 points for a cup which was a high estimate.

Finally, I made a chart to keep at work for my new 17-week goal to lose 25lbs. I'm really excited. I have a doctors appointment next week to check things out and I am going to use my strength and short run day as a cross training and strength day to mix things up a bit.

I hope to see a loss this Saturday but I know I'm heading in the right direction and I will get there.

p.s. I LOVE the new Eminem and Rihanna song and the video!

food photo from Sunday

Dinner from Sunday:

We steamed green beans (a zero point veggie!) and made jasmine rice in the rice cooker with part water and part light coconut milk. It had a very light coconut flavor and was yummy! We also bought this thai chicken peanut bake in the international aisle at Publix. It adds about a point to how many ounces of chicken you eat but it's delicious!

This was a pretty quick and easy meal.

Tonight we are making a fried rice with brown rice, veggies and chicken. I'll post a photo later. :)

In other news I have a new product shout out! The Jello Sugar-Free Mouses now have a Chocolate Mint flavor and it's delicious if you're a fan of that Thin Mint cookie flavor. :)

Yummy dinner!

I made Mediterranean Chicken Burgers tonight with sweet potato "chips." They look like chips but they are mushy. :)

I am not posting the recipe because I want to perfect it and enter it in next years Ultimate Recipe Showdown on Food Network!

Yum!!!

Lack of posting and happy news.

Sorry I have been so absent for a while. I realize I may not post every day but I should post a few times a week.

Anyway, I had been down weight-wise two weeks in a row but then I had two weekends in a row of birthday celebrations and well...yeah.

So I am moving forward and not looking back...

I am almost done with week 5 of Couch to 5k! My next day (Wednesday) is my 20 min. run! Yikes! Today I had the two 8 min. runs which wasn't that bad. I was super sweaty but I survived.

A few girls at work want to lose weight and we started a weight-loss "challenge" but are going to mainly motivate each other to get to our goals. One girl at work is a marathon runner and is going to workout with us once or twice a week because she knows a lot about fitness. :)

In other good news my gym (Lifestyle Family Fitness) is a bit of a ripoff. It's normally $39.99 a month but I signed up for $29.99 a month (+tax) when I joined so that isn't too bad. The real rip-off comes with the fact they charge an extra $10 a month to have access to their spinning classes. WHAT? I sneak in all the time but it sucks. So today I went in saying I was going to cancel because two gyms near my work are the same monthly fee and include spinning and the guy told me to call corporate and they will add it for me. NICE! Always worth it to ask!

My company has started a Step It Up challenge and has milestone goals and gave everyone pedometers. They are crappy but do the job. If we get to 150,000 steps by June 1st we get a legit one! There are more prizes after that. The challenge goes though July! It's nice to see everyone making an effort to be move active.

I think I am going to do a 5k in June with Jen and Ricky. John might do it but he won't run the whole thing. He isn't conditioned enough for it. Hopefully we have time for me to help him work up to it a little bit. My goal is to finish it under 35 min. :)

I guess I will leave you with the delicious dinner I made tonight! Chicken Puttanesca Style. Yum! It was on the Weight Watchers website. Super easy to make and so flavorful! We had it with some roasted asparagus. :) Even John loved it. The recipe said it was 4 points each but I counted 5 to be safe because my piece of chicken seemed a little bigger.

Off I go! I am feeling very motivated and positive so I am hoping I KNOW I will reach my goals this year.

Green Monsters

I have been having Green Monsters for breakfasts! What is a Green Monster you ask? Check out the site. I have been reading this girl Angela's blog for a few months now and really enjoy it. She is a vegan and lives a very healthy lifestyle.

She posts a lot about these Green Monsters and after reading about it so much I gave them a try and I like them! You can find recipes on the site above but it's basically spiniach, banana, almond milk, flax seed and ice! It's been helping regulate my digestive system too which is great! Hey, might be TMI but it's good info!








                       

Try one out and let me know what you think!

Hello hello

Hello there, been a while since my last post. Well, a week I guess...

I lost 1.6 this week which made me happy. I am at 175.4 right now. It sucks when I think about how I'm going to be re-losing weight I had gained back for a while but I am trying to think of it in a more positive way. My milestone goals are as follows:

• 165
• 155 (graduation weight)
• 140 or 145 (goal weight, still undecided on exact weight)

My goal is to be at goal by the end of the year. It's totally doable and I'm ready. I hope I can get a job working with WW on the weekends. Maybe not a leader but at least do reception.

Tonight we are making this stir-fry for dinner that was on that new Jamie Oliver show where is taking over schools in America to teach better eating habits. We are going to do chicken instead of steak.

We have a lot of errands to run today so I better run! I'll post a picture of dinner later!

Happy Passover!

Today started week 2 of Couch to 5k! It wasn't bad. I've gotten this far before (up to week 5, I think...). I love, love, love the Couch to 5k iPhone app I got. :)

For breakfast today I had a delicious breakfast. An Everything Bagel Thin(I've had a hard time finding these), WW cream cheese and lox. YUM!

Today was an alright day for a Monday. The day went fairly quick.

For dinner in celebration of Passover since I haven't been to a Seder in years I made matzo brie(fried matzo)! I made it lighter by not using butter to cook it in but it was still yummy. I am so full from my serving.

I have a bad habit of snacking while cooking. For instance, tonight's dinner (also made the turkey zucchini meatloaf) took an hour to get done and I kept picking. I ended up not even having any of the loaf because I was full. I wish I could chew gum while I cooked.

I think I used my activity points today which stinks. I wanted to bank them!

Time to go relax...

Finally a recipe that was GOOD!

Yesterday we went grocery shopping and I had gotten a new cereal. I got the strawberry Frosted Mini Wheats. I had those for 3 points with 1 point of Original Almond Milk. I also had my daily coffee for 1 point.

For a mid-morning snack I had my pretzels after a two and a half hour meeting. I was starving so I ate them quickly and forgot to get a photo. They were 2 points for the 1oz serving.

Today was super crazy at work so I ate at my desk. I had a Chicken Fried Rice Lean Cuisine which was 5 points. I was worried this one might be nasty but it was actually pretty decent and filling.

Busy, busy, busy all day at work! For my snacks I had a 1 point Vita Top and a 1 point apple which aren't pictured.

I ended up working until 5:30, yuck...

For a snack when I got home I had some Baked Scoops and a little salsa for 3 points.

For dinner I wanted to make Turkey and Zucchini Meat Loaf which was a recipe that Tamara posted over at her blog The Strech Jean Incident.

It came out great! I used ground turkey breast instead of just ground turkey and didn't use the glaze the recipe called for because I forgot to get the items to make it so I put a little BBQ sauce on top as a glaze. It made about five servings which came to 4 points per serving.  Even John enjoyed it and it was really flavorful. Yum! Here is a photo of when I took it out of the oven and my plate.

I also made us a small salad on the side. Mine was 1 point.

Dinner was a sucess! :)

Even though today was a lonngggggg day I am glad dinner was good and I'm excited for LOST tonight!

Time to go read some Harry Potter.

I'll have a 2 point Weight Watchers ice cream cone later on to finish off my eating for the day.

Why doesn't anyone reply to my blogs? :(

Oh and tomorrow I plan to do my Biggest Loser Yoga dvd. I think that is light enough for me to do while I'm still healing.

p.s. I didn't snack last night! :D

24/24 daily points used
10/35 weekly allowance remaining

I hate Tuesdays.

Tuesdays are the busy day at work for me and are always a long day.

I had acupuncture after work so that was nice (yet expensive).

 Anyway...

Last night I ended up snacking more bringing me to 25/35 weekly used. That was an even 10 used and like always. Just gotta stick to my daily points and not snack at night! UGH.

This morning for breakfast I had a bagel thin(these are Thomas brand) and a WW cream cheese. You will also see my Smart Water which I usually drink one each day and at least one other small bottle. My breakfast was 2 points and my coffee was 1 point.

I felt hungry around 10:45 a.m. and didn't want my pudding. I ended up going to the vending machine and getting a granola bar which was 4 points which is pretty high for a mid-morning snack. I also had my diet root beet. I quit drinking caffeine for health reasons over a month ago now. :)

For lunch today I ate at my desk (which is always fun) and had Michael Angelo's Natural Eggplant Rolletini frozen meal. It's usually with the organic frozen foods. It's only 3 points and yummy! I also had a small apple for 1 point.

Was busy at work all day but later in the afternoon I ate my 1 point pudding my 0 point veggies.

I didn't get home until 6:30 but I wanted to make this other WW recipe I found for stuffed chicken. It's stuffed with spiniach, feta, onion and lemon zest. Sounds good, right? Wrong...

OH! Side note...I had a snack of baked chips for 3 points while cooking.

It was really difficult to make and hard to get the chicken cooked through. It tasted okay but I wouldn't make it again. A serving is four points but I didn't eat all mine so I counted it as 3 points. My serving of cous cous was 3 points as well.

For dessert I had a WW Ice Cream cup for 2 points and I crushed one Thin Mint cookie into it for 1 point more.

That should be all the eating for today!

In other news I decided to take off an extra five allowance points for BLTs(bites, licks, tastes) that might have been neglected though the week. No more of those!

I am tired and cranky so I am going to go. I hope I get more followers soon...

24/24 daily points used
20/35 weekly allowance remaining

When cooking doesn't go as planned...

Grr...last night I woke up around 12:30 a.m. and felt hungry. I ate a snack. I had also gone a few points over later in the day so I was down to 25/35 weekly allowance points used. This is a really bad habit I have and I need to stop! Anyway...

This was my first full day back at work since my surgery the 19th of Feb. and what a long day it was.

For breakfast this morning I had a Bagel Thin with WW cream cheese and some lox again. It was good and 3 points. I ate around 8:30 a.m. at my desk. I also had my coffee for 1 point.

I got hungry again around 10:30 a.m. and had a 1 point Sugar-Free pudding.

Two new girls started at work today so we all went out to lunch at this restaurant BJ's Brewhouse. We got chips and salsa for the table (ugh) which I was lucky enough to be sitting in front of so I ended up using 3 points on those bastards. That is a guesstimate though because I don't have a real idea of how many calories were in the handful I ate. :( These are not pictured because they are evil.

For my lunch I got a Southwest Salad with no cheese and no tortilla strips. So it was pretty much lettuce, onion, a little corn and tomato. I am thinking that was 0 points but the avocado on top was 2 points and I think I ate about 3 points worth of chicken. For dressing I used salsa which was 0 points. When the brought my my salad at first it had the creamy southwest dressing and I sent it back. Jerks.

Later in the day at work I ate a snack of baby carrots and cucumber slices for 1 point and before I left work I had an apple for 1 point (not pictured).

I got home and made a Weight Watchers recipe for Chicken Tikka Maslsa. I love indian food and was hoping this would be a good substitute since a regular dish of this at the Indian restaurant is super high.

Let me start by saying WW recipies are hit or miss and this one was sadly a miss. It wasn't gross but I wouldn't make it again. The sauce was more like a spicy tomato and lacked flavor. John thought it was okay and he is having the leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Here is my portion (served on basmati rice) which I am saying is 5 points as I adjusted the recipe a bit. Looks good doesn't it?

Sadly, if I am being honest with myself and with my readers I snacked on random things when I got home and was cooking. Mindlessly none the less so I am going to force myself to subtract 5 points. This sucks! Another bad habit. I wish I could chew gum when I cooked, but I don't chew gum. Grr...maybe I should get mints?

I am going to have a WW Ice Cream Cone for 2 points before bed. Yum.

Overall today went okay. My goal is to be perfect and stay within my daily points the rest of the week.

Tomorrow I am going to bring my lunch so it will be easier. Not sure what dinner will be tomorrow. Might try another WW recipe and hope for a better result.

Yawn.

27/24 Daily Points Used
27/35 Weekly Allowance Remaining

Sunday dinner...

So I'll try two posts for today instead of editing my earlier one.

I got a pedicure this afternoon and it was nice. I was hungry afterward so I got a smoothie at Planet Smoothie made with splenda to make it less points. I had to guesstimate a bit but I said it was 3 points.

We went groccery shopping today and I got stuff to make a few different recipies this week.

When I got home I still felt hungry so I had some Baked Tostito Scoops for 2 points with salsa which was zero. I also had one of those 1 point Weight Watchers cakes that I better have John hide from me before I eat another... ;) I also had some pickles that were zero points.

For dinner I made Cherry Chicken Burgers. I used this recipe but used ground chicken breast which is lower in calories. I also skipped the cherry mayo because some reviews said that was gross.

I used Arnolds Sandwich Thins for the buns and had some lettuce, tomato and onion on it. So my cherry chicken burger was a total of 3 points.  Sadly, again I forgot to take a photo of my assembled meal! Always so eager to eat I guess...(those first two burgers burnt a big, grr...)

I also had some Sweet Potato fries for  3 points.

I already had one of my Weight Watchers Ice Cream cones for dessert. They are 2 points and my favorite Weight Watchers dessert.

 

I am full right now but later on for a snack I'll have a yummy Vita Top. If you haven't tried this you HAVE TO! They are delicious and 1 point. I find them at my local Publix but you can also order them online.

 

24/24 daily points used

30/35 weekly allowance points left