Weekly Meals

BBQ Hamburgers
Crusted Honey Mustard Chicken
Spaghetti
Lemon Chicken
Cornbread Chicken Pot Pie
Stuffed Baked Pork Chops
Mexican Black Bean Tostada

Sunny Saturday April 26rh

I found these great chips at Costco about a week and a half ago. The are called FoodShouldTasteGood Multigrain Tortilla Chips. A single serving is 25 chips and it is 3 points. They have yellow corn, brown rice flour, oat fiber, seame seeds, sunflower seeds, quinoa so they are good for you and yummy. I've been eating them with hummus and it makes a great addition to my lunch. A single serving is a lot of chips so I generally eat half a serving. Since I have purchased these I have not craved potato chips. If you are headed to Costso, I recommend giving them a try.

By the way has anyone tried PB2? Since I have started WW I have craved peanut butter like never before. I've read about PB2 on the WW message boards and I would really like to try it but nobody sells it in Utah and I don't really want to order it without trying it. Maybe they should give away sample packages.

My bad choice today was picking up 2 slices of cheese pizza at Costco to bring home for 2 of my kids and then me eating one of them when I wasn't even hungry. AHH!!! I researched the nutrition for that one slice of cheese pizza....19 points!!! Can you believe it? What a bummer. I have .5 point left for today now and it's 3;30pm so at some point I'm going to eat again and go over my points.

Weekly Meals

Saturday: Whole Wheat Pasta with Walnuts and Feta Cheese

Sunday: Lemon Chicken

Monday: Greek Shrimp with Orzo

Tuesday: Seven Point Goat Cheese Pasta

Wednesday: Pork Chops with Dijon Cream Sauce

Thursday: Crusted Honey Mustard Chicken

Friday: Quinoa & Black Bean Salad

Saturday: Lemony Chicken Rice Salad

Sunday: Chicken Enchiladas

Recipes

Whole-wheat Pasta Salad with Walnuts and Feta Cheese
Copyright 2006, Ellie Krieger, All rights reserved

8 ounces whole-wheat fusilli or other spiral shaped pasta
1/2 cup walnut pieces or halves
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup diced red onion
1 1/2 cups chopped baby spinach leaves
2 tablespoons walnut oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced (about 1/2 teaspoon)
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. Drain the pasta, rinse it under cold water, and put it in the refrigerator to chill.
In a dry saute pan, toast the walnuts over a medium-high flame until they are fragrant, about 2 minutes. Set the walnuts aside to cool then chop them coarsely.
In a large bowl, toss together the chilled pasta, walnuts, feta cheese, onion, and spinach. In a small bowl whisk the oil, vinegar, garlic and mustard. Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Nutrition Information
Calories 434
Total fat 22 grams
Saturated fat 4.7 grams
Protein 13 grams
Carbohydrates 49 grams
Fiber 7 grams

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

1 t. canola oil
1 chopped onion
3 cloves of chopped garlic
3/4 c. quinoa
1 1/2 c. vegetable broth
1 t. cumin
1/4 t. cayenne
1 c. frozen corn (you could also use fresh or canned)
2 (15oz) cans of drained and rinsed black beans

Heat oil and add onion and garlic. Cook on medium heat until browned.
Add in quinoa, vegetable broth, and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Cover, and reduce to a simmer for 20 minutes.
Stir in corn and black beans. Cook 5 minutes more.

Chicken Enchiladas

16 oz canned black beans
10 oz frozen corn kernels, thawed
4 oz canned pimento, chopped
1/3 cup fat-free sour cream
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
4 medium corn tortilla(s)
1 medium tomato(es), chopped
1 1/3 medium chicken breast, cooked, skinless, cubed
4 medium scallion(s), sliced
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin

In a colander, rinse and drain beans, corn and pimientos. In a medium bowl, mix sour cream, chili, cumin and oregano. Reserve 2 tablespoons cheese for topping and add remaining to sour cream mixture. Fold in chicken, half of scallions, the cilantro, beans, corn and pimientos. Refrigerate, covered, up to 1 day. Spray a 7x11-inch (20x30 cm) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Soften tortilla according to package directions. Spoon chicken mixture down center of each. Roll tightly and place in baking dish.Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake enchiladas, covered, until heated through, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with reserved cheese. Bake until cheese melts, about 5 minutes longer. Serve, sprinkled with tomato and remaining scallions.

Points: 8

Fitness on Friday

It's time for Fitness on Friday hosted by Natalie at Byebye Fat Mom.

I haven't been online much this week. It's a busy time of year with soccer and baseball for my son and soccer and gymnastics for my daughter. Between practices and games we have something every evening.

I had my WW meeting last night and weighed in. I had only lost .2 of a pound which is a bit of a bummer but at least it wasn't a gain. We never did get to our planned discussion, our group started talking and sharing and suddenly the time was up. One member who had a loss still had a bad week and was discouraged; she commented that it feels like food consumes her every thought and it gets to be a pain. Many of us could relate, I know I have felt this way many times in the last few weeks. It's good to hear that others are struggling with the same issues. It seems like as we try to make healthier decisions all our thoughts are focused on food, it's almost obsessive. The lifetime members in our group assured us that eventually it won't be so much work but it will always be a bit of an obsession so we won't fall back into old habits.

Weekly Menu

Monday: Soft Tacos and Taco Salad
Tuesday: Garlicy Pork & Black Beans
Wednesday: Spaghetti w/ whole wheat spaghetti
Thursday: Honey Mustard Salmon
Friday: Southwestern Chicken Salad
Saturday: Grilled Hamburgers (family) Grilled Salmon Burger (me) w/ oven fries
Sunday: TBA

Fitness on Friday

It's time for Fitness on Friday hosted by Natalie at Byebye Fat Mom.

Stick To It!

(Author Unknown)

Stick to your goal 'til it sticks to you

Stick to your goal like paper to glue

Beginners are many, though finishers are few

So stick to your goal 'til it sticks to you!

Here's a 60-second trick to get health goals to stick for the next several days. List three to four goals for the next several days on an index card or in a small notebook. Make three to four columns for the next three to four days beside the list and put it in your calendar or where you can see it often. Check off each item for each day. (suggestion from 60 Seconds to Weight Loss Success)

April 10th

I went to my WW meeting tonight. Again, I was tempted not to go, went and am happy I went. I did lose a little but I know I could have lost more if I was more comitted. I just have days where I don't do as well as I should. This weight loss is still a challenge and struggle for me, but I keep working at it.

At the WW meeting we discussed Environmental Triggers like your home, work, car or family and friends. Our leader encourgaed us to take te Habit Profile Quiz in book 3 to learn which habit we need to focus on. She gave us stickers with EPA on them which stood for Environmental Proactive to encourage us to monitor our environment. In order to manage your environment you need to:
Recognize: what environment is triggering you
Remove: items that hinder weight loss
Replace: triggers

Manic Mondy April 7th

Yesterday I was able to get an hour's worth of walking in, I used my treadmill in the morning while watching conference and I needed a break last night from my kids so I took the dog for a nice long walk.

I have been reading the book Running with Angels and it's very inspiring. I bought the book over a year ago hoping it would motivate me to lose weight and I had it sitting on my book shelf until I rediscovered it about 2 weeks ago. I've been slowly reading it and I'm about half-way through. I can relate to many things Pam struggeled with. I would recommend this book to anyone with weight struggles.

I'm happy I didn't gain any weight, but I still need to do better at keeping to my goals. It's easy for me to go off track and challenging to get back on track and I feel like these last three weeks I haven't done very well. I started writting in my journal last night and I hope my journal writting will help me figure out what causes me to "cheat".

Congratulations Holly on being the Biggest Loser! Everyone is doing a great job and everyone is inspiring to me.

Weekly Meals

Monday: Crockpot Sour Cream Salsa Chicken
Tuesday: Lean Chicken Fried Steak
Wednesday: Lemon Butter Baked Halibut
Thursday: Lemon Pepper Broiled Chicken Breasts
Friday: Papa Murphy's Take and Bake Pizza
Saturday: Southwestern Chicken Salad
Sunday: Parmesan Pork Tenderloin

Wednesday Wonderings

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia."
(Charles Schultz)

Empowerment: There are no failures. There are only opportunities to improve, to learn and to get going again.

Tuesday Tiding April 1st

I had an okay week but I also knew I could have made better choices. We ate out a lot last week and then I went to my sister's house and it's just hard to stick 100% to WW when I'm out and about. Since DH was home tonight and S's soccer game was cancelled I went to WW. Earlier in the day I thought I might skip this week so I didn't have to hear about any weight gain but at the last minute I decided to go to my meeting, even though it was a day or two early. I hadn't gained any and I lost .6 which isn't a lot but at least it wasn't a gain.

We talked about Emotional Eating Triggers at my WW Meeting. Many of us eat when we are bored, tired, angry, sad, lonely or even happy. We discussed things we could do instead of eating, but it's important that we monitor or journal our feelings when we emotional eat. To be honest I know I do this but I've never tried to evaluate what my feelings are and why I eat.

My goal this week is to recommitt and stay within my points daily. I'm in town and besides a lunch meeting tomorrow I have no eating out plans. I've planned my evening meals and I'll make sure I bring lunch and snacks with me to work so I can stay on track. I'm sure the only thing that has saved me is my treadmill everyday, I have been averaging six days a week.

Weekly Meals

Monday: Southwest Chicken Salad
Tuesday: Chicken and Stuffing
Wednesday: Pork and Black Beans
Thursday: Crusted Honey Musturd Chicken
Friday: Salmon-Noodle Casserole
Saturday: Chicken Parmesan
Sunday: Quinoa and Shrimp Salad

Tuesday Thoughts

"If you wish to grow thinner, diminsh your dinner."

(Anon.)

Empowerment: There will often be too much food served. I am not required to eat it. I stop when I am full and use all my tricks.

March 25th

Sunday I was looking in my bookshelf and found the book 60 Seconds to Weight Loss Success. I probably bought this a year or so ago and had forgotten all about it. It is a book full of one minute inspirations to change your thinking, your weight and your life. I've been looking through it and it's very motivational. It doesn't matter what healthy eating plan you are doing it's meant to compliment and encourage you.

The last few days have been challenging with all the Easter goodies in the house. Yesterday I gave away the last of the Easter sugar cookies. I threw out the rolls (which I love to eat with butter) and today I will throw away the Easter candy.

I'm a little afraid for me WW weigh in this week. My goal has been to keep track of everything but there have been things I didn't know how to give a points value to so I didn't do as well as I had planned. I will do better!

Happy Easter

Wednesday Wishes March 19th

I weighed in at my WW meeting and I was happy to have lost a little more weight. I was worried with my weekend away from home (I made some bad food choices even though I tried really hard to stick to my points, I didn't). We had a good meeting with many journaling reminders for me. For the last few weeks I have kept track of my food on the eTools online tracker which is great but since I'm not home all the time I should still food journal in my little journal just to make sure I don't miss anything. I have not been good about counting the BLT's so I will do better at that as well.

My goals for this week are:

• Keep track of everything going into my mouth
• Stay within my points
• Not eat after 7:00pm
• Exercise 5 days

Monitoring Yourself

Tonight at my Weight Watcher Meeting we discussed monitoring yourself.

What you do right
What you need to modify
What works
What doesn't
Puts you in charge

Jouranling is important:

• Increases your accuracy (The palest ink is better than the best memory)
• Provides clarity and resolution
• Reminds you of your goals
• Motivates you

Your journal needs to be your constant companion

Write it down immediately

Remember the B.L.T.'s (Bites, Licks and Tastes)

Be Honest

Study your journal at the end of the week.

Look for triggers

Look for successes

Change your criteria periodically

Tales of Tuesday March 18th

I was so excited today because Enchanted came out of DVD. When we saw this at the theater last year I absolutely loved it. I just thought it was the cutest movies and S and I were so excited to be able to watch it whenever we wanted. My plans this morning were to run to the store after I got the kids off to school and purchase the movie. R sneaked off just as the kids were leaving for school and bought and surprised me with it and we watched it this morning. Now S and her firend are watching it.

I just ate a yummy spinach salad for lunch, I'm getting sick of sandwiches. I feel like all day long I think about food and what I'm going to eat next. I did good yesterday and I'm going to do good today. Everyday I have to recommitt myself because everyday I am tempted to eat whatever I want instead of what I should eat.

The kids' spring soccer starts this week and S has her first game tonight. She is excited. Luckily Z's team has a bye this week but next week begins our busy life after school of games and other activities. Z is also going to be doing baseball which I think will interfere with soccer so I'm hoping it's not to tricky.

I'm trying to clean the house this afternoon and catch up on laundry. The kids are out of school on Friday and Monday and I don't want to worry about the house and do something fun. What are your plans for Easter?

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Weekly Meals

Monday: Spiced Chicken and Grape Skewers

Tuesday: Whole-Wheat Linguine with Green Beans & Ricotta Cheese

Wedneday: Pork and Black Beans

Thursday: Chicken Fingers with Barbecue Sauce

Friday: Maple Pecan Pork Chops

Saturday: Lemon Chicken

Sunday: Easter Pork Tenderloin

Whole-Wheat Linguine with Green Beans, Ricotta, and Lemon

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

1 pound whole-wheat linguine
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 pound French green beans, trimmed and halved lengthwise
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1 lemon, zested

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirringoccasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta reserving 1 cup of the cooking water. Transfer the hot pasta to a large bowl and add the ricotta cheese. Toss to combine.

Meanwhile, in a large, heavy skillet, warm the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the green beans, garlic, salt, and pepper and saute for 4 minutes. Add 1 cup of the pasta cooking liquid and continue cooking until tender, about 4 more minutes. Add the pasta with ricotta to the pan with the green beans and toss to combine. Add the tomatoes and gently toss. Transfer to a serving plate and top with lemon zest. Serve.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

I happened to watch Everyday Italian the other day and Giada happened to be doing a healthy show and as I watched her make this I thought it sounded yummy and easy to make. I need to plug it into my WW eTools to see how many points it will be. I was going to make it for dinner last night but we went out instead so I will try it this next week.

March 14th

My week has been okay. I could have made better food choices at different times but I'm trying not to beat myself up about it and just move on. My day seems to go okay until about 4:00pm and then I struggle with piecing and picking and whatever is around. I've always picked at the food as I've been cooking so I'm trying not to do that.

Last night I went to Red Lobster and my favorite meal is the Crab Alfredo. I LOVE it! I ordered a half of salmon grilled, broccoli and a salad although I did eat a stupid cheese biscuit. I also love salmon and it was good.

I'm heading to Emery County this weekend to my sister's house. I could have gone this afternoon but I'm going to leave in the morning. It sounds silly but I'm afraid of dealing with eating while I'm there so I thought going tomorrow would be less meals and munching I would have to worry about. Also I can get the treadmill in first thing in the morning before I go.

I hope everyone is doing okay. I've been bad about checking in with everyone this week, but I am thinking about you.

Weekly Meals

Monday: Smothered Buttermilk Chicken
Tuesday: Cheese-Stuff Manicotti
Wednesday: Chicken Parmesan
Thursday: Maple Pecan Pork Chops
Friday: Chicken Fingers with Barbecue Sauce
Saturday: Grilled Shrimp Teriyaki
Sunday: Pork and Black Beans

March 6th

I went to my weight watchers meeting tonight and I was nervous about my weigh in. I had lost 4 pounds from my last visit 2 weeks ago. I have lost 12 pounds total in weight watchers.
Actually my WW weight and my BL weight is off a little since they are different scales and I weigh in on different days. I was happy with my loss. I probably shoudn't have skipped last weeks meeting, it may not have been as bad as I thought.

Our group meeting last night was on balance nutrition. We discussed how important it is to follow the 8 Good Health Guidelines. I have never had my 5 fruits and veggies every day and I have a hard time getting my 2 healthy oils. The leader stressed that if you are getting stuck in your weight loss to revaluate the health guidelines to make sure you are making healthy choices and getting your nutrition and the guidelines are set for a reason; they help you lose weight along with be healthy.

March 5th

WooHoo! I stayed within my points today! This has been very hard for me lately. I splurge on something yummy and then say to myself, "I've already failed for today I might as well just eat whatever I want." When I told this to Patty on Monday she reminded me that this way of thinking was just an excuse and when I screw up it doesn't mean that I've ruined my entire day. So yesterday and today I worked really hard to remember this and even though I went over my points last night by a few points (that go towards my weekly points) I still did good for the day. Patty also told me that it's not just that I have bad self control but that I just can't have certain things around, they are just to tempting for me. Sunday I had family over so I made cookies and I just can't not eat them and then I can't just stop at one. For now and maybe forever I just can't make cookies or they all have to leave the house with my guests (I guess I could try some of the WW recipes but I'm not sure I could just eat one).

I have walked on my treadmill everyday this week. I get activity points for the exercise but I don't add them into my balance. I hope that when I go to my weigh in tomorrow that I have not gained, it will be so discouraging. I skipped my weigh in last week because I was afraid that I had gained and I couldn't bear to hear it. The week before that I had only lost one pound and I was upset that I hadn't lost more so I had a few bad eating days.

Pork Chops and Maple Pecan Sauce

4-ounce lean boneless center-cut loin pork chops
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
vegetable cooking spray
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon toasted pecans - chopped

Trim fat from chops. Place chops between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap, and flatten to 1/4-inch thickness, using a meat mallet or rolling pin.

Spread mustard on both sides of chops. Combine flour and ginger; stir well. Dredge pork chops in flour mixture.

Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; add oil. Place over medium heat until hot. Add chops, and cook 3 minutes on each side or until chops are browned.

Combine maple syrup and pecans; add to pork chops, stirring to coat. Cover and simmer 4 minutes or until chops are tender, turning once. Transfer chops to a large serving platter.

Yield: 4 servings.

About 7.5 WW points per serving.

Cooking Light

Weekly Meals

Monday: Burgundy Pepper Steak w/ Baked Potato
Tuesday: Honey Mustard Salmon
Wednesday: Orange Glazed Ham Steak
Thursday: Spiced Chicken and Grape Skewers
Friday: Maple Pecan Pork Chops
Saturday: Lemon Chicken
Sunday: Manacotti

March 1st

Okay, thanks everyone for reminding me that I need to BELIEVE in myself.

My dad and his wife, Denise came over for dinner. I made Taco Soup, rolls and for desseret I made a Mango-Lime Frozen Mousse (along with brownies as a back-up in case the mousse wasn't very good). The soup hit the spot, especially with the snow outside. The mousse was okay tasting but I didn't like the texture. My dad ate it and said he liked it, Denise had a few bites and said she thought the texture was weird also so she opted for a brownie. Sarah didn't like the desseret and Zach wouldn't even try it. I won't make it again, but it was fun to try something new.

February 27th

I'm still struggeling this week with my eating. Maybe I'm being unrealistic to think I can do this but everyday I keep trying. The exercising isn't as much of a challenge for me, just my eating. It's been a busy week and we haven't been home much for dinner and I never did plan my meals out this week. I'm debating about going to my WW meeting tonight since I'm afraid to hear that I didn't lose any weight.

Sunday night I ended up making some Maple Pecan Pork Chops that were really good. I'll have to post the recipe.

February 23rd

This week has been a challenging week for me so this morning I am reminding myself that today is a new day. I exercised this morning first thing and I cleaning the house now. We have a busy day. I need to run down to sign Z up for baseball in the spring then I need to pick up the babysitter. DH and I are going to a sealing and luncheon and then I have a bridal shower. I'm just hoping I can stay within my points. Wish me luck.

Weekly Meals

Weekly Meals

Monday: Chicken Fingers with BBQ Sauce
Tuesday: Honey Mustard Roasted Salmon
Wednesday: Chicken in Red Wine Vinegar
Thursday: Chipotle Orange Glazed Pork Chops
Friday: French Potato and Chicken Salad
Saturday: Stove Top Meatloaf Muffins
Sunday: Teriyaki Sticky Chicken

Chicken with Scallion Sauce

14 oz fat-free chicken broth, reduced-sodium
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 medium garlic clove(s), minced
1/4 tsp dried thyme1 sprays cooking spray
1 pound uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, (four 4-oz pieces)
1/3 cup scallion(s), finely chopped, divided
1/8 tsp table salt1/8 tsp black pepper

Combine 1⁄4 cup broth and flour in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Add remaining broth, garlic and thyme; set aside.

Place a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until hot. Add chicken, and cook 4 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Turn chicken; add 2 tablespoons scallions. Pour broth mixture over chicken; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 15 to 20 minutes or until chicken is done, basting often.

Remove chicken from pan; keep warm. Bring sauce to a boil over medium-high heat. Scrape bottom and sides of pan, using a rubber spatula. Cook 2 minutes or until sauce is reduced to 3⁄4 cup. Pour sauce evenly over chicken, and top with remaining scallions. Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast half).

WW POINTS: 3

February 18th

Last night I made whole wheat spaghetti for dinner (instead of the chicken I had orginally planned). The kids didn't even notice the difference, granted they ate theirs with Alfredo Sauce. I just had a little butter and parmesan cheese and it was yummy. I haven't had real butter since I started WW.

I signed up for the WW eTools today. I get a 2 week free trial period so I'll see if I like it. It supposed to have a ton of recipes and will keep track of your points. I can also enter my own recipes and it will give me the point value per serving.

The kids are home from school today and we all slept in. The 2 older kids played with the baby while I walked on the treadmill. I'm working on my weekly menu and I'm hoping to get the house clean. With the kids out of school I should have planned something fun.

February 16th

Last night the girls and I went to Patty's house and she made a great pork taco dinner. It was yummy and it was fun to visit with Patty (I still wish she lived closer).

I spent 35 minutes on the treadmill before the baby woke up this morning. After I spend some time on laundry and house cleaning we are going to Logan to visit my sister. My goals today are:

• Keep track of everything I eat
• Stay within my points
• Drink 6 glasses of water

I'm nervous about staying within my points while I am at my sister's house. She isn't on any diet so I'm sure there will lots of junk food to eat so I am packing some of my own snacks to help me.

Feb 14th Happy Valentine's Day

Hi, I hate having all these cookies and cupcakes in the house, it is all so tempting. After school the kids and I will go deliver valentines and goodies to their friends and some of our neighbors. We will just have have to give the goodies away.

I did my treadmill and I've been pretty good on my points.

February 13th

Tonight I went to Weight Watchers instead of going tomorrow night. I wasn't really planning for tonight but R doesn't think he'll be home from work in time for me to go on Thursday. I was really nervous because I had a difficult weekend and cheated a few times. I lost 7 pounds! I was really afraid I might have gained. Just imgaine how much I would have lost if I hadn't cheated here and there and if I had more will power.

Edited to add:
I need to clarify that it is 7 pounds total, so in the last two weeks, not for this one week.

February 12th

I did my treadmill this morning and have done good so far on my points. Sometimes it's so hard though, I just want to eat crap, it's what I like. After eating a sandwich for lunch I was craving chocolate, probably because Sarah and I are working on her valentine's for school. Last week I bought some PhillySwirl Fudge Swirls for a treat and I finally tried them today and it really hit the spot. The good news is that it's only 1 WW point! Anyway, if you haven't tried them I recommend them for a chocolate treat.

I have my next Weight Watcher meeting on Thursday and this will be my first regular meeting and I'm looking forward to it. I'm hoping I get great tips and encouragement.

Check In at 4:45pm:
I tried the WW Boston Cream Pie Yogurt, it was yucky. My favorite WW yogurt is still the Key Lime Pie.

I tried the Honey Clusters Fiber One Cereal and it was surprisely good. Thanks for the recommendation Tammy.

Tammy, I wonder what you thought of the WW treats?

February 11th

I was able to do my treadmill early this morning. So far so good with my food today. I am at work and didn't plan on being here so long today so I only brought a WW yogurt and not any lunch. I'm just hoping I can make it until my conference call is finished so I can go home and eat something other than junk. I need to bring a few WW freezer meals to keep at the office so I won't be tempted to cheat.

One of my coworkers just started back on WW. She lost 90 pounds last year and was 19 pounds from her goal weight when she quit. She encouraged me saying the first few weeks were hard but after that it will get easier. I hope she it right.

Patty reccommended Steel Cut Oatmeal for breakfast. I'm generally not much of an oatmeal fan but the girls and I loved this steel cut oatmeal. It was yummy and I've had it for breakfast the last few mornings.

Also at my WW meeting Thursday I as told about Sara Lee DeLight Wheat bread. It's only 1 point for 2 slices of bread. YAY a whole sandwich!

Weekly Menu

Weekly Menu

Monday: Mexican Black Bean Tostada

Tuesday: Cheese Pizza

Wednesday: Spiced Chicken w/ Grape Skewers

Thursday: Salmon

Friday: Chipotle Orange Glazed Pork Chops

Saturday: Dinner at Sister's House

Sunday: Chicken in Red Wine Vinegar

2 Recipes from Eating Healthy w/ Eliie Krieger

Spiced Chicken and Grape Skewers
2007 Ellie Krieger, Allrights

2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
'2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
8 (10-inch) skewers
1 1/2 cups seedless green grapes
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
1 lemon, cut into wedges

In a medium sized bowl whisk together the oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, coriander, and salt. Add the chicken to the marinade and toss to coat. Marinate the chicken for 20 minutes. While the chicken is marinating, soak the skewers in water if wooden.

Thread 4 pieces of the chicken and 4 grapes onto the skewers, alternating them. Spray a grill pan with cooking spray and preheat over a medium-high heat, or prepare an outdoor grill. Grill the chicken until cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Sprinkle with mint and serve with lemon wedges.

Per Serving:
Calories 220; Total Fat 6 g; (Sat Fat 1 g, Mono Fat 4 g, Poly Fat 1 g) ; Protein 27 g; Carb 14 g; Fiber 1.5 g; Cholesterol 65 mg; Sodium 370 mg


Quinoa Pilaf with Pine Nuts
2007 Ellie Krieger, All rights reserved

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 large onion, chopped
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
Salt and pepper

Put the broth and quinoa in a medium sized saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until liquid is absorbed and grain is tender.

Meanwhile, toast the nuts in a large dry skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown and fragrant, about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove nuts from pan and set aside. Heat the oil in the same skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook stirring occasionally, until the onions soften and begin to brown, about 6 minutes.

When the quinoa is done, fluff with a fork and transfer to a large serving bowl. Stir in the pine nuts, onions, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Per Serving:
Calories 180; Total Fat 8 g; (Sat Fat 1 g, Mono Fat 3 g, Poly Fat 3 g) ; Protein 6 g; Carb 23 g; Fiber 2 g; Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 30 mg

February 7th

Today has been okay. I mean with my points I've done great. I planned on dinner being leftovers but there really aren't much leftovers so I was going to order the kids pizza and figure something else out for me. I thought about getting the Papa Murphy's DeLite Pizza but I ran out of time while I was running errands. My kids favorite pizza is from a place down the street and we get Hawiaan with Alfredo Sauce, my kids love this! I have to admitt it is so yummy and I don't know if I can resist. The movitation for me is that I have a Weight Watchers Meeting tonight so I get weighed. Why does it have to be so hard???? I should also ask why everything yummy has to be bad for me???? I only spent 20 minutes on the treadmill this morning because my baby woke up and wouldn't go back to sleep. I was hoping to squeeze in another 30 minute treadmill session but I don't think I will have time.

February 6th

I did the treadmill this morning and have worked for a bit, now I need to start getting ready for the day so I can get my kids up. We have a busy day so I need to make sure I eat breakfast and take some healthy snacks to work with me. Last night before I went to bed I cleaned out my bread basket and put an unopened package of marshmallows in the pantry. The marshmallows got me craving rice krispy treats and I was going to stay up and make them. Then I thought when I get up in the morning I will make them I don't care about WW. Luckily this morning I thought breifly about it but they didn't sound good at 4:00am so I drank a glass of water, ate a WW Key Lime Pie yogurt and headed to the treadmill instead. I may just have to throw the marmallows away so I don't get tempted during the day.

February 5th

Good morning! I've done 30 minutes on the treadmill and I shopped for fruits and veggies while S was in school. I need to do better at eating a good breakfast, I just seem to run out of time while getting the kids ready for school. I generally run out the door as soon as the car pool picks them up to either go to work and or run errands while I only have one child. I'm already up early so that doesn't help, I guess I just need to stop and give myself ten minutes to eat something other than a yogurt.

My goals today are:

• Keep track of everything I eat and stay within my points
• Find more Weight Watcher recipes me and my family would like

Thanks for all the support everyone. I think everyday since FridayI have called Patty to complain about what a difficult time I am having with keeping track of my food and trying to make healthier choices. She always listens and gives me encouragement as does everyone else with their comments. Thanks again!

Chicken Fingers with Barbecue Sauce

2 Tbsp honey mustard
2 Tbsp buttermilk
1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
1 pound uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 12 equal strips
6 Tbsp barbecue sauce, hickory-flavored preferred

Preheat oven to 450ºF. Place a large baking sheet in the oven to preheat.

In a shallow dish, whisk together mustard and buttermilk. Place bread crumbs in a separate dish. Add chicken to mustard mixture; turn to coat. Transfer chicken to bread crumbs and turn to coat.

Remove the hot baking sheet from oven and coat with cooking spray. Place chicken on baking sheet and bake 6 minutes; flip and bake until golden brown and cooked through, about 6 minutes more.

Serve chicken fingers with barbecue sauce on the side. Yields about 3 chicken fingers and 1 1/2 tablespoons of barbecue sauce per serving.

WW POINTS: 4

February 4th

Last night I found that I wanted to snack and snack, it was hard. Maybe I need to go to bed early so I won't be tempted to overeat.

My goals today:

• Keep track of all the food I eat
• Treadmill 30 minutes
• Drink 6 glasses of water

I'm on my way to the treadmill now before the kids wake up. It's early out week at school all week so I don't think I'll be able to squeeze in the treadmill later. I also need to hit the grocery store for some healthy food. I've got a list and I don't plan on buying anything tempting.

Update at 6:00pm:

I made the mistake of not eating a good breakfast so by the time I went grocery shopping I was sooo hungry. I binged on a few things right when we got home and although I was within my points I felt terrible. Lesson learned: don't go grocery shopping hungry while trying to eat healthy. My Parmesan Chicken Fingers for dinner were pretty good, I think I added to much garlic and my kids didn't like the garlic (altough I did). Let's hope I can stay on track for the evening.

Weekly Meals

Weekly Meals

Monday: Parmesan Chicken Fingers
Tuesday: Mexican Black Bean Tostada
Wednesday: Pork Chops with Dijon Sauce
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Hawaiian Pork Chops
Saturday: Cheese Pizza
Sunday: Cola Pork Chops

February 3rd

I didn't do very good yesterday but today I will do better. My goal is to stay within my points but my MAIN goal is to write everything down that I eat, even if it's not good. Silly goal, I know but I am taking baby steps, yesterday I gave up on writting it all down.

Check in at 12:00pm:
So far I have kept track of everything that has gone into my mouth. I only have 14 points left for the day but as long as I stay on track I will be okay. When I made my sandwich for lunch I used 2 slices of regular cheese and I think it was 4 points. After eating my sandwich I thought I would have been happy with one slice of cheese and only used 2 points. I need to check out the low fat cheese to see if I would like it on a sandwich. I generally don't like low fat stuff but I'm willing to give it a try again. Does anyone have any reccommendations on tasty low fat cheese?

Check in at 8:00pm:
I kept track of everything today and I have 3 1/2 points left. It's almost bed time and I feel like eating something and I think it's only because I know I shouldn't. I will quickly eat a light snack.

February 2nd

This keeping track of my food is much harder than I thought it would be and I knew it would be difficult for me. I'm embarrassed to say it's been years since I've kept track of what I eat. I finally gave up today because I got discouraged. I just grab food and don't even think about it, let alone the serving size. Measure butter I put on my toast or the jam, what a pain!

My dad and his wife Denise stopped by this afternoon and Denise saw my WW stuff and it turns out she is doing it also. I had no idea but I guess she's been doing it for about a month. She talked about how easy it was for her and I know she was trying to encourage me but it didn't. She said she doesn't ever reach her points for the day and she's not hungry and feels great. Am I the only one who feels hungry?

I wonder if I will ever be able to eat healthier, I just get so discouraged and give up. Tomorrow is a new day!

What is your favorite {healthy} recipe?

Mexican Black Bean Salad Tostada

This Mexican specialty boasts crunchy jicama, creamy avocado, sweet corn and tangy lime juice. Just toss the ingredients together and pile them on top of crunchy tortillas for a mouth-watering snack or side dish.

1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
2 Tbsp red onion(s), minced
1 large garlic clove(s), minced (about 1 Tbsp)
1/2 medium jicama, peeled and diced (about 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup frozen corn kernels, sweet, rinsed under hot water to defrost
1/4 cup avocado, diced (about 1/2 small avocado)
1/2 cup grape tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes, quartered (about 12 tomatoes)
4 Tbsp canned green chili peppers, diced
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice, from about 1 large lime
2 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp table salt
4 small corn tortilla(s)

Combine all ingredients, except tortillas, in a large bowl; mix to combine.
Toast tortillas and top each with about 3/4 cup of salad; serve. Yields 1 tostada per serving.

POINTS® Value: 3

Servings: 4

Preparation Time: 28 min

Cooking Time: 1 min

Level of Difficulty: Easy

I don't know what jicama is so I didn't use it and I also don't like chili peppers so I didn't use them.

February 1st

Good Morning! Can you believe all this snow we keep getting?

My goals today are:

• Treadmill for 30 minutes
• Read my Weight Watchers Material
• Plan Healthy Meals for next week
• Drink 6 glasses of water

I caught up on some much needed sleep this morning so while the baby is napping this afternoon I will use my treadmill. I'm excited to read all my new WW stuff, the meeting last night just covered the basics. I was embarrassed to go to the meeting but they didn't make me feel embarrassed at all when I was there and even though our leader was skinny and has been at her goal weight since about 2001 she said she had struggled with her weight her entire life. She said you could do either the Core or the Flex Plan but whichever one you choose you needed to do it for the entire week (their week is Sun through Sat). If the next week you wanted to try the other plan you could as long as you did either one for the entire week. She said many people start out with the Flex plan since it helps you learn portion sizes. I've never really kept track of exactly what I eat so the Flex plan will be new to me but it's good to know if I feel it's not working for me I can switch and try the Core plan and it's not like I'm starting over.

I'm Back!

Hi, I'm back. I'm sorry, I know I disappeared. January is my busiest and craziest month at work and I knew it would be difficult to start this challenge with the stress my work would bring but I was honestly hoping I could still at least exercise. It didn't happen. All I could do was work 12+ hours every day and be a mom the other few hours. Emotionaly and physically I couldn't do anymore. This past week things have started returning to normal and I am slowly catching up.

I'm sorry I wasn't around to offer encouragment and cheer everyone else on. I will do better.

Tonight I went to my first Weight Watchers Meeting and I signed up. Since I had already announced my weight to you all it wasn't as difficult to go and I'm really hoping it works for me.

Tuesday Week 2

My goals today are small.

• Exercise 30 minutes on the treadmill
• Drink 8 glasses of water

I have been on the go since very early this morning and I was hoping to already have used my treadmill but now it's time to get the kids up and start running for the day. I'm not sure when I'll squeeze in the treadmill but I have to. Yesterday it never happened. I have a million errands to run, a ton of work stuff and home stuff. The festival begins tomorrow (with all the volunteers arriving) so we're off.

Monday Week 2

I haven't checked in for quite a few days. I didn't do as well as I had hoped last week so I just stopped looking at my Biggest Loser stuff, plus I didn't have a lot of personal computer time. I told myself when I started this that it was a bad month due to extra work stress but that I would be happy if I kept up with exercising five to six days a week. I did exercise five days, my eating was improved from my normal diet but not great. I'll just continue to take this day by day and make small goals.

And by the way, I don't really want to post a before picture of myself it was bad enough posting my weight.

Shredded Wheat or Hay?

Yesterday I ate Shredded Wheat for breakfast. Well my 5 year old S insisted that she try it and said she would like, which I knew was unlikely. After a few bites her brother Z asked what she was eating and S very seriously said "hay". When her dad came home from work last night she informed him that she ate hay for breakfast. Of course she didn't like and won't try Shredded Wheat again. I actually like Shredded Wheat, not as much as Lucky Charms though.

I did okay yesterday on my eating but I could have done better. It's hard when I'm home during the day I just want to eat whatever is around. I drank my water and only did the treadmill once.

Wednesday Goals:

• Walk on the treadmill 30 minutes
• Drink 8 glasses of water
• Eat healthy snacks
• Plan healthy meals for the remainder of the week

I made the Ranch Dressing recipe I posted and I thought it was yummy and easy. The family liked it also but then who doesn't like Ranch? For dinner I made Chipotle Orange Glazed Pork Chops although I didn't use the chipotle and I made the Maple Squash Puree. The pork chops were good and again my family like them. R liked the squash, my 2 girls spit it out and Z wouldn't even try it. I thought it was okay. I'm not a big squash fan (or for that matter I'm not a big vegatable fan) so I have to force myself to eat it, even when there's lots of butter and sugar. I would make both recipes again.

Tuesday Things

Tuesday Goals:

• Walk on the treadmill 30 minutes twice today
• Drink 8 glasses of water
• Choose healthy snacks
• Don't eat after 7:00pm
• Research Weight Watchers Online program

I only drank about half of my water yesterday and I didn't do so well we eating. I ate a good breakfast and when I went to work I forgot to take a snack with me so when I finally got home and feed the girls at 12:30pm I was starving so I ate anything I could find. Then I was a little discouraged so I made a few more poor choices. Today is a new day so I will do better. I did do 30 minutes on the treadmill first thing this morning.

Ranch Dressing

I saw Ellie Kreiger on her Healthy Appetite show make this a few weeks back and thought it sounded better than the store bought Low Fat Ranch Dressing.

Ranch Dressing
Copyright 2007, Ellie Krieger, All rights reserved

1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt or 1/3 cup nonfat Greek style yogurt
1/3 cup lowfat buttermilk
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives
Salt

If using plain yogurt, place it in a strainer lined with a paper towel and place the strainer over a bowl. Let the yogurt drain and thicken for 20 minutes.
In a medium bowl, combine the strained or Greek-style yogurt and the rest of the ingredients. Add salt, to taste.

Nutrition Information
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving
Calories 50
Total fat 4g
Saturated fat 0.5g
Monunsaturated fat 0g
Polyunsaturated fat 0g
Cholesterol 2.5mg
Sodium 70mg
Protein 1g
Carbohydrates 2g
Fiber 0g

Monday

My goals today:

• exercise for at least 30 minutes
• drink 8 glasses of water
• Eat a healthy breakfast

I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes this morning. YAY! I was able to catch up on the news and hear the Presidental debate reviews. Maybe this evening I'll be able to work in another 30 minutes on the treadmill, we'll see how it goes with the kids.

$500 Prize

What will YOU do if you win the $500 BL prize?

I have to admit, I'm not very competitive and I'm honestly not in this for the prize. I am hoping that being accountable to the other girls involved will help me make a lifestyle change. Money isn't a real motivator for me but it is a nice incentive. My main goals to start with are to exercise 5-6 days a week, drink more water and start making healthier food choices. This will be hard enough to do through the month of January which is my busiest month at work and during the Film Festival my life isn't mine and it's not normal. I will be happy to keep up with the exercising. I have been thinking about joining Weight Watchers and maybe when the festival is over I will sign up.

Now if I did win the prize I would probably just have fun spending the money on myself and not feeling guilty. I would buy new clothes, get my hair done, pedicure, and maybe even a massage.

Weigh In

Body Weight: 248

BMI: 38

Waist:
Bust:
Arm:
Hips:
Thighs:

2 Yummy Recipes

I was watching the Food Network today, I love the Food Network. Anyway, I happened to watch Healthy Appetite with Ellie Kreiger and she made 2 yummy recipes that I thought I would try. I was watching her show a few weeks back and she made a Ranch Dressing that had less mayo and was healthier so I'm going to look for the recipe.

Chipotle Orange Glazed Pork Chops
Copyright 2007 Ellie Krieger All rights reserved

2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate
1 teaspoon finely chopped seeded chipotle with 1/2 teaspoon adobo
4 (3/4-inch thick) center cut pork loin chops (about 8 ounces each)
1/2 teaspoons salt

In a small bowl combine the maple syrup, orange juice concentrate and chipotle.
Preheat grill pan. Sprinkle both sides of the chops with salt. Brush 1 side of chops generously with glaze. Place on grill pan glaze side down. Brush other side with glaze. Cook 3 to 4 minutes per side over medium-high heat

Nutrition Information
Nutritional Analysis per Serving
Calories 270
Total fat 9g
Saturated fat 3.5g
Monosaturated fat 4g
Polyunsaturated fat 0.5g
Protein 34g
Carbohydrates 10g
Fiber 0g
Cholesterol 90mg
Sodium 390mg

Maple Squash Puree
Copyright 2007 Ellie Krieger, All rights reserved

2 (12-ounce) packages frozen cooked butternut squash or winter squash
1/3 cup water
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Salt

Put the frozen squash and water into a large saucepan. Cook over a high heat until the Cover and cook over a medium heat, stirring frequently, until squash is thawed, about 10 minutes.
Whisk in the butter and maple syrup and season with salt, to taste.

Nutrition Information
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving
Calories 150
Total Fat 3g
Saturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Protein 3g
Carbohydrates 31g
Fiber 2g
Cholesterol 10mg
Sodium 5mg

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!

Last week I was reading Marie's blog and her "One little word for 2008" post really impacted me. Marie got the idea from Ali Edward's Blog and I thought this was a great idea and have been thinking about a word I could focus on for the new year. Today I finally decided on my word: BELIEVE. Believe in myself and that I can accomplish things, Believe and stregthen my relationship with my Heavenly Father, Believe I can be a happier mom and wife, Believe in others. Yay for BELIEVING in 2008!

Yesterday when I was reading Tammy's blog and The Biggest Loser entry, I thought I need to sign up for this. I hope and BELIEVE that having a group of other people trying to lose weight will encourage me and also having to be accountable to someone will help me stay motivated.