Goals!

I went to a meeting today because my normal meeting tomorrow morning will not happen because of the holiday.  The meeting lesson was about goals and, wouldn't you know it, my last post was about my goal to join a gym this year. 

That was a pretty nebulous goal!  So here it is...

Monday, I will go to the new gym up the street and sign up.  That way, I will have the availability of this gym until the gym at work opens up and I won't have the excuse of "Hey, the gym is still under construction", which is pretty dang convenient if you ask me!

After speaking with the gym crew, I will determine what I plan to do with this gym membership, how much, how often, (is a psychiatrist included?), things of that nature.  I will "end" this venture, because I am being told to set an end date, on the 98th day, which will be my birthday.   If I have turned some corner and am loving it, then we re-set, if not, I will find some other activity that will let me burn off more calories than I am consuming thereby completing this dietary circle I am being told is necessary to get rid of this poundage. 

So, in review, using the Winning Outcomes strategy, I say:

1.  I want to start including more activity in my weight loss plan.
2.  I will join the new neighborhood gym and explore the possibilities with the trainers and develop a
     workout schedule.
3. I can do this by myself and won't depend on anyone to help me accomplish this.
4. This is a good fit for my life.  I have time, I have the funds, I have the God given ability. 
    I just need to get motivated.

Ok, so that 3rd bullet there, here's where ya'll come in.  I will post my activity schedule as soon as its developed.  And then I will confirm that I worked out accordingly or not!!  And you are expected to daintily applaud (nice little golf claps will work) or boo me as is necessary (or bean me with a golf club).

Goal Set!!

Hmm...A Dilemma!

This coming year, I want to start working out in a gym.  So here is my dilemma.

We have a gym at work and the company is revamping it as we speak.  Its due to open in March (I think?) and will be state of the art with an indoor track and all modern equipment with room for Zumba and Aerobic Dancing and pretty much anything one could ask for.   And its free for me!  Negative side, its at work and the only time I would be able to use it would be after work.  There may be some early morning hours but I am not going to go in and get my sweat on and then try to freshen up for the job. 

In addition to this, a private company is opening a new gym right up the street from me!  $15 a month with no long term commitment!  And they are open nights and weekends and I could walk there from here.  And I don't have to get my sweat on with the cute engineer from the cubicle around the corner from mine!  I can come home and shower afterwards (not a public shower kinda gal!). 

So, what would you do?  If the cost is not the issue to you (which it isn't really to me), which would you choose?  Decisions, decisions?!

Snow?!

Today it's likely to snow here!  In Tucson!  Weird, but a perfect excuse to make a big pot of pinto beans and pork chops.  The smell is incredibly homey and earthy and carries so many wonderful memories of family gatherings where many mouths could be satisfied with a pot of beans.  My dad used salt pork to both add salt and fat to the beans.  I don't like salt pork and because I watch the amount of salt and fat that goes into my food, and because my husband insists that "beans are not a meal and need some meat" I usually add a couple of lean boneless pork chops or country style ribs to the beans while they are cooking.  Of course the beans are also spiced to the max!

I will also cook up some skillet corn bread because you have to when you make beans.  Thems the rules! 

Notice I haven't posted any pictures lately?  It cause I hate the new camera.  I am trying to figure out some creative way to break it or lose it so I can get a new one without hubby being any the wiser.  Why I think I have to do this is beyond me because he could care less.  But I (think) I have to justify this somehow or another.  Go figure!

Plan? What Plan?!

Ever feel like you are just being swept along by the tides of life?  Hanging on to some flotsam or jetsam that washed your way and grateful for it?!

Well, that's kind of where I am right now.  Still taking care of step-dad, spent the better part of today with him at various doctors appointments.  I have cooked the last couple of days, pretty healthy too, but certainly not staying within my Good Health Guidelines and will expect the appropriate results when I weigh in on Friday (I want to go to a meeting on Friday as my Saturday meeting will be pre-empted by New Years Day).

Tonight we had left overs.  I made a roast beast last night, bottom round, very lean, with potatoes, carrots, onions and turnips.  I won't ever miss the meat, but damn those veggies were really good.  I could have eaten the entire dutch oven full of veggies all by myself!  Maybe it wasn't so bad after all.  Of course, ya'll will be the first to know!

Welcome New Follower Christy!

I just happened to glance over and see that Christy has taken to following me around!  Hi, Christy, welcome.  Sometime ago, I started welcoming my followers because, well, I guess its only polite and I am nothing if not polite!  So join the group, we are not quite a crowd yet, and I hope you enjoy my musings. 

Now She's Cooking!

So I have had this butternut squash sitting around here for what seems like forever (are these things indestructible?) and decided I wanted some soup today.  This morning I got up early and halved the squash, sprayed it with some olive oil and popped it in a hot oven for about 45 minutes.  While it was cooling off, I sweated some onions in about a tablespoon of olive oil and  little bit of turbinado sugar, wanting to caramelize them.   Of course, I have the patience of a gnat, so we got them sweated down and called it good.  I poured in a box of chicken broth (low sodium, fat free) about 4 cups and then added my now cooled and peeled squash. I used my immersion blender to smooth it out nicely and then I headed for the spice cabinet. 

I will tell you something.  Once you discover how spices work with food, and I ain't talking just salt and pepper, you get really adventurous!! So into my soup went a couple of Bay Leaves, some Chinese Five Spice, some Red Chile, Sage, Celery Salt, I dont' know but I think that's all.  And then I simmered it and while it simmered I baked some bacon!  And tasted and tasted and tasted my soup until I gave up and made myself a bowl! With some crumbled bacon in it.  Incredibly good stuff!!  And 2 P+ Points for 2 cups, not including the bacon!

Then I went to the grocery store and bought 2 more butternut squash so I can do it all over again!!  Amen!

Weigh In and Happy Holidays

I haven't posted in a while.  No particular reason, just time and energy or, more succintly, the lack thereof.  Today is my usual Weigh In day, but WW is closed for the holiday (slackers!) so I just weighed in at home.  170.4 down 1.6 for the week.  I hope this is a trend I can keep up!!

I spent Thursday and most of yesterday at the hospital with my stepfather who underwent emergency angioplasty Thursday morning.  He was released late yesterday and is currently sleeping comfortably in my guest room.  I hate hospitals!  I don't use the word hate lightly, but it really fits the way I feel about hospitals!

So it is definately a low key holiday around here.  Hubby got me a new TV to replace the one that jumped off the dresser and attacked me (the kids took that one) and I managed to NOT get hubby anything because I procrastinated until the last minute and then spent the last minute pacing the floors at the hospital! 

But I truly hope that all of you have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones and celebrate the New Year safely and responsibly with both food and drink.  Be kind to your bodies.  They will thank you for it later.

Is It Over Yet?!

I must admit to having the biggest case of the Grinches ever in the history of man!  I am not into these holidays and I am not into eating for the holidays either and, that my friends, is saying a whole bunch!

Today, we had our FINAL work related gathering and it was held at a really nice resort here in town.  We were served salads, rolls, and had a choice of, I think, 5 entrees.  1 was vegetarian and I chose that!  You know what, it was really good!  I did eat a whole grain roll, with 1 pat of butter, the salad was served dressing free with a really good raspberry vinaegrette on the side that I did use sparingly.  I won 2 prizes - a coffee mug full of chocolates and box of Belgium Chocolates that I promptly gave away!

I am gonna be so damned glad when this holiday season is over.  I don't know why, but I just am not in the mood this year at all.  Just call me Debbie, Debbie Downer!

Weigh In and Its All Good

Well, I was up 2.2, exactly the same amount I was down last week?!  Its all good though.  There are adjustments to be made and I am finding them and making them.  Also, this time of year, if I only gain 2 lbs I should be given some kind of reward for constraint. 

I am actually liking the new Plan and find I am not hungry.  Actually, I probably wasn't hungry before, but my mouth had my stomach convinced that we were going to starve to death unless I ate something precisely at 9 am.  Now I have my apple sitting there, big ol' Honeycrisp beauty, and most of the time, I don't really want it. 

I need to make sure I am following my Good Health Guidelines and getting all of those needs met first.  This takes a great deal of planning on my part.  I am a little more spontaneous than this but if I am going to make it work, I will have knuckle down and do it. 

I made Mushroom Soup from scratch yesterday.  Its really good and I can use it in lots of recipes.  I did not make CREAM of Mushroom Soup.  If a recipe calls for that,  I can work around it with FF Milk and/or Light Sour Cream.  But the soup is great all by itself too.

Thoughts on the New Plan

So far, so good.  I like having availability of the fruit!  I can't tell you when the last time I had eaten an orange was!  If you go out on the WW forum, you will see all kinds of messages about bananas!  To heck with bananas, I wanted an orange!!  I was eating bananas already.   I, like most people, are going to have to find my way around things and work it through.  Its kind of interesting.

I will be cutting a few things out of my menu, like the Bagel Slims.  I will actually keep buying them because my husband likes them, but I will rarely eat one myself.   I will start buying (did buy) the Sara Lee 45 Calories and Delightful (and Delicious by the way!) at 2 points for 2 slices.  This makes me very happy.

I think you can see all the stats on that picture?!

Anyway, yummy, good bread and I, for one am happy to change.  I am not a big bread eater so this one doesn't rile me too much.

Time will tell if this is a good thing or not.  (I am betting on the Good Thing!)

Weigh In and Firsts!

Well, though today was officially my first day on plan, I actually started counting PointsPlus on Monday! I was down 2.2 lbs!! Very rewarding!  So first weigh in on the new plan and its very, very positive. 

I have to really think this free fruit thing through and really limit myself because I love fruit and I will replace veggies with it.  Don't do that folks!  Follow the Guidelines.  Eat the things you are supposed to eat and the weight will fall away.  See, I am really good at telling others how to behave!

Tonight there were some other first in our dinner.  The menu had a couple of first on it.  A turkey tenderloin with a tarragon mushroom gravy that was exquisite with mock mashed potatoes (Thanks, Gina by way of TJ)and orange glazed carrots.  I made and ate this absolutely incredible dinner for a total of 10 points!  I have points left over for the day!  I will make this again soon and share with you both photos and recipes.  I am sorry I didn't tonite, but new recipes take 100% of my concentration (I damn near amputated the tip of my little finger!) and taking pictures is distracting.

I am content!  I like the new plan!

Wow, this is gonna be interesting!

Today, I had my usual Light English Muffin/ Egg/Bacon/Cheese Breakfast sandwich for 9 points.  Then later in the morning I ate some watermelon and an orange.

I had a company luncheon this afternoon and I am stuffed.  It was about a half cup of shredded beef (machaca), a cup of cowboy style beans about a cup of mashed potatoes and 2 small flour tortillas.  I almost, but didn't, lick the plate!  It was very good!  But, being that I had 20 points left after breakfast, I am most assuredly ok for today and I don't intend to eat another bite!  I might explode and my hubby is not good at cleaning up those types of messes! 

Our Anniversary and The Plan!

32 years ago today I said I DO!  Wow, been a while! So we are going to go out to dinner and I already have it all planned out. 

After expressing some initial concerns over the changes to the Program, I have to say, I think I am going to like it!  I have sat down and reconfigured a great deal of my Points to fit the Plan and while I was a little concerned about losing out on alot of my carb favorites, in retrospect, I don't really eat enough of them to make a really difference anyway! 

Here's what I have had and plan to have for the day:

1 egg
2 slices crisp bacon
1 Thomas's Light Bagel
8 Points

1 bowl of Quiznos Chile
about 1/4 baked chicken breast
1 1/2 cups FF Milk
11 Points

For Dinner I plan to have:
Shrimp Cocktail
Salad with popcorn Shrimp (my 1 Point Trader Joe's dressing)

1 lb Steamed Lobster in shell (about 3-4 oz shelled)
Asparagus
6 points

I have also eaten a banana, a cup of watermelon and an orange. I have an apple if I want something else.  I don't think I will!

That leaves me with 4 dailies and 42 weeklies to burn!  I will have a drink with dinner!

I Surprised Me Yesterday!

Wow, that wasn't so hard!  A little turkey, a little stuffing, a fruit salad.  No mashed potatoes - I can have those anytime!  I may not lose anything this week, but I doubt very seriously I gained either.  The foods are just higher in calories but I didn't overdo it.  I will get on that scale in the morning knowing I could not have done better unless I didn't celebrate the holiday at all. 

And that wasn't going to happen!

Check me out!

I went to lunch and a movie today with my beautiful daughter.  And I had a wonderful time.  Which is all good, right?  But its better than good!!  We went to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch where I had a cup of chili and a 2" square of cornbread and a salad with my Trader Joe's dressing from home (1 pt).  Nothing but veggies on the salad either, no starchy stuff and no cheese!

Then at the movies, I DIDN'T BUY ANY POPCORN! That's big folks!!  And I didn't get a soft drink either, not even a diet one.  We bought water!! 

The movie was great - Burlesque!  I love Cher and have a new found respect for Ms. Aguilara.  Girl has some smoking pipes and I want her body.  Not like that!  Like I want my head on her body.  It would be really cool don't you think?

Then I came home and made a sensible dinner.  Thanksgiving here I come and I am ready for you!

Being Good!

I have done pretty good this week, even the scale says so.  But I am scared about tomorrow and the next few days.  We will have dinner at my nieces house tomorrow and then I will make a turkey here on Friday so we can have some leftovers. 

This year I bought a 12 lb turkey instead of a 20 lb turkey.  That alone will be very helpful.  And a good deal of that turkey will go home with my daughter and son in law.  Hopefully, I will get one turkey sandwich out of it and maybe a pot of stock.  That will make me happy and I should be able to keep the consumption to a minimum.  I just wish the damned stuff didn't taste so good! 

I wish my life wasn't ruled by my tastebuds!

Ouch!

Never pick up a frying pan that has just come out of the oven without using a hot pad!  Geez, you'd think I would have learned this stuff a long, long time ago!

Weigh in and What Next?

Down today .6!  That brings me to 169.8.  I don't know about any of you, but breaking numbers like 180, 170, the tens, if you would, is very encouraging to me for some reason.  They represent some kind of  psychological barrier that I am crossing, even tho' they may not mark any special goal. Now I am supposed to cut back to 21 points from 23, but I know that the new system is actually going to up my points so I am not concerned at this point.  I am just playing the game until I get the new plan.  I just hope to maintain between then and now. 

Surgery?

Have you lost ALOT of weight?  To the extent that you have skin issues?  Would you or are you considering surgery to fix any of the problems?

I am curious because I am thinking about having "the girls" rounded up and headed back northward again.  This is not so much a weight issue as it is an age issue, because frankly, "the girls" are hanging on to every spare ounce for all they are worth.  Gravity is no ones friend and when it comes to this particular aspect of the female anatomy, gravity needs to curl up and die!!

Anyway, just curious.  I know at least one person in my WW group that is having surgery (I think today!) to have the skin on her lower arms fixed and a breast lift.  Not sure if I want the surgery or the money to pay for it more!!

Great Day!

I dressed up for work today.  I do that on occasion but today was a little different.  I wore a skirt and blouse(s).  The under blouse was the first thing I put on over my unmentionables (how come I can't mention them?) and then I decided to pull the skirt over my head instead of stepping into it. 

Now, Ladies, we all know the difference in this approach to getting dressed while the subtlety will escape the guys.  I digress.  In pulling the skirt over my head, my under blouse was automatically "tucked in".  What?  Tucked in and looking sharp!  Well, ok then.  How about a belt?  Coming right up!

That's right, I went to work tucked and belted and strutting my stuff!  I haven't tucked and belted since sweatpants were invented!   I felt really good! 

We had our Thanksgiving potluck today too.   I did pretty good, eating smart instead of just indulging in everything.  I know I was over for the day, but I had (have) weeklies left and I don't mind dipping into them occasionally.  And I repeat, I ate well, not alot of garbage but the things that my body would make some use of even if the Point count seemed high.  Waldorf Salad is tough to pass up, but its better than Pumpkin pie!

Weigh in and Way to Go!

I didn't post my WI last Saturday.  I wasn't proud of it and frankly, I didn't really give a damn.  I almost didn't even go to my meeting, but I did.  Stood on the scale and hung my sad, sad head!  Then I came home (no I didn't go to Zumba either!) and proceeded to chew myself out for screwing up so badly.  And then I got over it and got back to work. 

Sooo, today, I am proud once again to announce a 3 lb weight loss putting me at 170.4!  Where I was a month ago.  Oh well!

As we proceed into next few weeks, I have some serious decisions to make. 

Hi, my name is Laura and I am a Thanksgivingaholic!!  Other than candied yams, there is little about Thanksgiving that I don't love, perhaps too much.  And I don't just love it on Thanksgiving, I love it the day after and usually the day after that.  I am usually tasked with making some of the more traditional (read fat laden) dishes like mashed potatoes and I am Queen of Turkey Gravy!  If I make it, it seems damned unfair that I don't get to eat it!!

Following shortly on the heels of Turkey Day follows our anniversary.  Yeah, 32 years ago we were planning our "I do's" and I am within 5 lbs of what I weighed when I made that commitment.  I have committed to putting my wedding dress on for this anniversary.  So see, I have some serious decisions to make. 

After that comes work holiday parties and friends gathering and I am seriously thinking about hibernating.  Its kind of overwhelming right now.  

I need strength and resolve.  Gotta cup I can borrow til 2011?  Like really early in the year?  I will return it, I promise!

This Week

...I have done pretty good!  Where I wasn't presented with quality foods (Corporate Dining is deadly!), I concentrated on quantity and the (home) scale is promising good things for Saturday.   I have been eating my apple day (Honeycrisp Apples may cause me to file for bankruptcy!) and enjoying every minute of it.  Also lots of zucchini and crookneck squash, which I can't ever get enough of anyway, I love it so much just steamed and lightly seasoned. 

Tomatoes have become a major snack food for me, believe it or not.  If I am hungry in the evening, I will slice and salt and pepper a tomato, spread a little Light Mayo on it and eat it slowly with a knife and fork.  It satisfies me and is very low in Points.  Also finding better things to "snack" on is helpful.  Pretzels aren't horrible (watch the count!) and jerky is a good protein snack that gives you the comfort of chewing on something. 

I am looking more forward to Saturday than I have in quite sometime.  I really want to get the rest of this weight off and keep it off.  Sometimes I just want it more than other times.

Ok, So the Give Away Was A Bust?!

Well, if ya'll don't want it, I will keep it.  I like my Prepara Spray Bottles and other than the lack of feed back, this doesn't hurt my feelings

A Give Away!!

Well, I have apparently been quite remiss in that I didn't celebrate my 100th post and I didn't celebrate my 200th post, but you know what?!  I am going to celebrate my 242nd post - this one - with a give away.

I have blogged about this item before because it happens to be one of my favorite kitchen toys.  Its my Prepara Oil Spray Bottle.  It not only works niftily, its rather attractive too.  I use it all the time and I know whoever the lucky winner of this one is will also! 

By the way, I stumbled across a reliable source of these as many places, including online stores, are often out of them. I am thrilled.

So here is the deal:

Because I am struggling right now to stay motivated, especially going into the holidays, tell me what is your greatest motivator.

The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Wednesday Nov 10th.

Good Luck all

Unloading!

Today, my best friend's sister came through town with various family members in tow.  They were returning from a baseball tournament and on their way home to Texas!  I sent with them a boat load of clothes that no longer fit me but will still fit my best friend.  While I would love for her to be on this journey with me, some of us must travel the road alone and some never go at all.  But if I have something that can benefit her, I would much rather she have it than just donate it to any charitable organization.  Trust me, she can use it.  And, because I am pretty easy on clothes and tend to buy quality (do not read expensive into that) the things I have sent her she will be able to use for a while.  How come I don't feel really great about this?!

Weigh In and What I Deserve!

I got what I deserve.  A .8 gain.  Actually, I probably deserved a bit more than that, but it was a gain regardless.  So, with nothing celebratory on the immediate horizon (meaning I have no excuse to eat foolishly), I will get right back into this thing and try to knock of a couple more pounds quickly.  I would like to hit 160 by Christmas.  That would be an amazing gift to myself, don't you think?

Incredible Eats

Holy Smokes, I just made this incredible Roasted Butternut Squash Soup.  It is 0 Points a cup!!  I have died and gone to heaven!

Ooops!

Well, I hope its just an Ooops!  Yesterday, we feted my aunt who recently passed away.  It was done well and I think that everyone that came appreciated seeing each other.  We met up with old friends and even managed to make a few new ones in the course of a couple of hours.

And there was food!  Of course there was food.  And I thought I did really well, eating just a bit of lean ham, some black olives and, while I did indulge in some chips, I was circumspect about it, at least I thought.  But this morning, the tale of the scale said something totally different.  Something I did not want to see at all.  I am hoping it is water and will dissipate by tomorrow morning, otherwise, I need to start scoping out a bridge to jump off of (we seem to be really short on bridges around here!).

Where is My Discipline and Self Control?

I have obviously misplaced those two items.  Last night, while feeding pizza to my cousins, I managed to eat not one, not two, but three pieces of pizza!!  WOW!  That's all I can say.  I didn't eat 3 pieces of pizza when I wasn't a Weight Watcher! Man, it tasted so good, but I have to pray its not a set back.  I have been otherwise very good this week.  I know I am not supposed to punish myself for these "interesting choices", but my inner child needs a serious whoopin'!

Is Sunday Where Blogs Go to Die?

Weigh In and Hot Damn!!

I wanted so bad to post pictures today, but my camera has died and I am too dense to figure out how to do this from the cell phone, so you are going to have to use your imaginations to visualize the 4TH 10 POUND RIBBON I got at our meeting today.  That's right folks, I have lost 40 lbs (actually 41) as of this morning!  I had a 3 lb loss this week which is so cool and so motivating.  I was just stuck for soo long and I really needed this. 

This meeting was about celebrating and did we ever!!  We really didn't have much of a meeting because there were so many people with great losses, 10, 20, 30, me at 40, a 75 lber, and a new lifetime member.  It was awesome.  I love our group so much and would almost consider not going any longer if, for some reason, I could not be a part of this particular group.  We have a blast.  Its irreverant, funny as all get out, and super supportive.  Just what you need for this kind of trip.

I think that when you are first starting this journey and the weight comes off fairly quickly, its easy to get a little nonchalant about the program.  You know "Well, hell, I can do this standing on my head.  I don't even have to try!"  Well, guess what?  As you get closer to goal, it gets harder, not easier and requires your full attention to the program.  You cannot just half-assed it.  I am thankful that I maintained while I went wandering off gathering wildflowers instead of paying attention to the path.  I am back and I am rockin' this thing!

Life Interrupted

On Sept. 4th, I posted the following:

When I typed "Getting Closer" I realized it had a couple of meanings to me this week. Yesterday I was contacted by my fathers only sibling, an aunt I have been estranged from for some time. She wants to kiss and make up (get closer!). I am not so sure that I'm ready to make nice. She is high maintenance and I do not have the time nor patience anymore for that kind of nonsense. I will meet her halfway. See what comes of it. I can always back away if things get hard to swallow again. Geez, family!!

Well, I did meet with my aunt and we had a nice breakfast, mended fences, hugged each other and told each other we "I love you" in a meaningful way.  This morning, I got a call from her daughter in law that my aunt had had a massive stroke while on vacation visiting her son, his wife and kids. She is not expected to survive. 

Man, I am so glad we had the opportunity to patch things up.  I would have forever regretted that.

Weigh in and WTF!!

Ok, I maintained!!  Only I don't want to maintain at 174 lbs!!!  I did so good this week and I am really frustrated.  Then I didn't get to Zumba today because I have blisters on my feet and I wasn't about to aggravate those babies.  So PooP!!!

So, because I needed a pick me up, I came home and measured myself!!  I have lost 22 inches over all, that's 4 more inches than the last time I took my measurements (a couple of months ago!)  So apparently there is progress, just now where I want to see it, ON THE FREAKING SCALE, damn it!!

I am not quitting, not giving up or giving in.  But I sure need a kick in the ass here, folks.  What is going on?

New Followers!

Welcome, rni_altares.  I try to welcome each new follower and acknowledge how much you all mean to me.  I know we don't always post, but we always read and check in on our buds to join the celebrations when there is one and to prop each other up when necessary.  Hugs to all of you!

I am a Good Girl!!

I have tracked faithfully this week and believe it will pay off on Saturday.  I have stayed out of my weekly allowance and still ate well, totally satisfied at the end of every day, both in the satiety and taste of my food. I have had soup (2 days), a chicken and swiss sammy, and today I had a wonderful salad with greens, baked apple slices, sunflower seeds, some goat cheese crumbles and my Trader Joe's Champagne Pear Vinagrette along with a couple ounces of Roast Pork Loin.  It was really good.  I ate that about 5 hours ago and I am still really full.  I am actually looking forward to weigh in.  When you follow this program the way you are  supposed to, you generally lose weight. At least, that's been my experience.  Of course, I will let you know!

Weigh In and Stagnating!

No change in my weight today.  I am stagnating.  Like a pond! With duck shit in it!!

So, I am sending myself Back to Basics!  I am going to really start over again, leave the creativity to TJ, Gina and the rest for awhile and just concentrate on making sure I am following the plan to the letter!  I want to get some momentum before I get caught up in the holidays and much colder weather that makes me want comfort food by the vat.  I will still be blogging, but with a new focus and that is the Plan!

Good Food!

This morning I made the Roasted Vegetable Minestrone that is posted on the The Pioneer Woman's website and it is amazingly good.  She says it serves 8 and, judging by the size of the servings, I would guarantee you those are 8 incredibly big appetites, you know, cowboys and all.  I have already portioned it up and I got about 10 - 1 1/2 cup servings out of it.  Part of it is in the freezer already and part will be my lunch for the week.  Take the time to make this.  Follow her recipe even tho' it might seem a little time consuming (oh, and double up on the mushrooms).  I promise you won't be sorry!

Weigh In and Boring!!

Well, weigh in was good, down .02, ok weigh in was eh!!  But that's ok, down is down.  And Zumba is ass kicking!!  I am telling you, it is amazing how fun and exhausting it is.  There is no warm up, just 50 minutes of incredible body movement, accented by trying to catch your breath and not sweat into your eyes, before a 10 minute cool down so your muscles don't go into the rigor mortis they expect after death by latin beat!!

Can you tell I like this Zumba stuff?

Have you noticed I haven't been posting alot of recipes lately?  Its cause I am boring.  I am one of those people who eat the same thing over and over again and am perfectly happy with it, until...  (queue Jaws music!) I MUST HAVE SOMETHING ELSE!. Yeah, its really kind of that crazy.  One of the blogs I follow, along with half the planet at least is The Pioneer Woman.  She posts some great recipes and I loaded her Roasted Vegetable Minestrone Soup recipe into the WW Recipe Builder today and am gonna make soup tomorrow.  That'll last me at least a week!  See I am boring.

But here's a recipe you might enjoy:

Maui Luau Salad

POINTS® Value: 6
Servings: 5
Ingredients
1 box Organic Quinoa Pasta
1 Tbsp Brummel & Brown Soft Spread Margarine
2 Tbsp unpacked brown sugar
1 slice(s) cooked lean ham
2/3 cup(s) canned pineapple, packed in juice
2 1/2 oz Kraft 2% Milk Natural Cheese Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 cup(s) grapes
1 Tbsp mayonnaise
2 Tbsp light sour cream

Instructions
In medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar. Add diced ham and saute until ham is lightly browned. Drain and quarter pineapple chunks, reserving 3 tablespoons of liquid.
In a large bowl, combine ham, , cheese, grapes and pineapple. Cook pasta and add to bowl. Toss lightly.
Combine mayo, sour cream and reserved pineapple juice, blend well and pour over pasta mixure. Toss lightly.

I just found this Quinoa Pasta today.  I found it at Frys (Kroger) and it looks like this:

Its a bit blurry, but you can see the name well here.  I am gonna give it a try.  I'll let you know!

Make Up Your Mind!

That's what I tell myself when I am waffling about what I am doing.  It doesn't matter what it is, I just hate indecision and half hearted attempts.  That's not to say I haven't indulged in both, but I hate it!  It smacks of lack of backbone (I am just talking about me here, folks, don't be hatin').  I am my father's daughter in the "Make Up Your Damned Mind Already!" category and I have to have that conversation with myself alot!

On the other hand, I am also my fathers daughter in that when I make up my mind to do something, do not, for the sake of your own safety, get in my way! I am tough on others around me (right, Susan?) and have expectations that others should have the same amount of determination that I have.  Sometimes that's not fair, sometimes its life changing. 

And I am my Mom's daughter (particularly my Stepmom) in that I have even higher expectation of my "sisters" blood and otherwise.  I am not a libber, but I love to prove to the world that we are the stronger sex, not the weaker.  And having strong convictions is just one aspect of that. I don't put up with asshats and I would expect anyone that was dealing with me to call me on it if I was acting like one.

Just sayin.

Have I Mentioned I Love Chinese Food?

Only like a million times, right? So last nite we had Chinese because I was too lazy to mess with dinner.  Or, at least, that was the convenient excuse I used.  We ordered our usual and I ate plenty, but I didn't eat too much, didn't go back for seconds, made myself be satisfied with a human size portion!  So there!

And this morning, I got to have Chinese food left overs for breakfast.  How smart am I, huh?!

Weigh In and ZUMBA!!!

Well, my dears, skinny jeans be damned, I was up .2 today.  And thank you all for your sweet, sweet comments.  You really did, honest and truly, make me cry.  That's not a bad thing!

Today was my first Zumba class.  What a riot!!  I have the coordination of a pregnant elephant on roller skates so I am sure I looked ridiculous, but I didn't care.  It was so much fun.  I had to take frequent breaks cause, let me tell you ladies, this is no cakewalk.  I was sweating and gasping for air like I just ran a marathon and loving every minute of it.  I don't know about the rest of that Zumba outfit (its kinda cute, tho') but I definately need one of those too cool headbands. 

Me in Skinny Jeans

I just wish me and the camera had a better relationship, but whatever.  I promised a picture and I always keep my promises.   Look at those skinny legs.  I tell eveyone "I look like Mrs. Potato Head on toothpicks".  Its a joke (sorta).

Skinny Jeans!

Yesterday, my sister called me and said she had a pair of jeans for me "These are brand new, $90 jeans, and they fit me ok around the waist, but your legs are so much skinnier than mine, they will fit you better.  Come get them."  Oh, my god, they are divine.  I will get a picture of my "skinny legs" in them, I promise.  I feel like a teenager!

Big Goal for the Week

This week, if I play my cards right, I should post a 40 lb (total) loss.  I am soo excited!

Dinner was Beautiful!

I didn't care for the sauce I made for the pasta, going to have to work on that, but otherwise, it was gorgeous and tasty. Taking the left overs for lunch tomorrow.  Almost too pretty to eat!!

Scallops for Dinner (Again!)

Man, you would think I really like scallops or something, which I do!!  I call scallops "Sea Candy", they are so good and sweet.  Today I am going to pan sear them with some mushrooms, add them to a creamy white sauce (yet to be invented!) and served over angel hair pasta.  Salad on the side for good measure.  

I am also cooking a Mexican Shredded Beef dish that I like.  I cook it and keep it in the fridge.  It lasts a long time and is good in burros or added to a salad.  This is my cooking for a week theory in practice.

Welcome New Follower Unseelie!

I just looked up and danged if someone didn't sneak in and pull up chair.  Welcome!

Wow, Good Dinner!

Well, we haven't had meatloaf in awhile and we both love it.  It goes a long way during the week for sandwiches and we just really like it alot.  I make a simple loaf with bread crumbs, eggs and Pace Picante Sauce.  Don't have to chop alot of stuff to get the same flavors.  See, told you I was lazy!

So tonight I made meatloaf, obviously, with 96% lean ground beef, so skinny meat loaf.  And squash. 

And Potatoes Anna.  My God, what an amazing dish!  Now, I just happened upon this in some of my internet travels and was interested but not about to invest in any food dish that called for a stick of butter!  However, I found Cooking Light's version and I was sunk.  Just to die for.   Plan ahead to burn a few POINTs, but this is totally worth it.    

Isn't that beautiful?!

Weigh In and Weigh to Go!

Down 1.8!  Yeah!  That's down .4 more than the gain I posted last week, so I am solidly moving in the right direction.

I continue to post my losses, but don't know if I have posted my actual weight.  Its 173.4 as of today.  I started at 216.  I ought to put a chart over to the side but then I have to maintain it and I am lazy.  That's part of how I got so porky!

If I am going hit the high side of my goal weights, I need to lose 23 lbs.  I am having a very hard time imagining being that small.  The low side of the range is 137!  Impossible?!  Maybe not, but it sure seems so right now.  They tell us to visualize meeting our goals, but that is one illusive vision, I tell you what! 

Really Hungry Today!

Ravenous and no idea why.  I had a good breakfast, eggbeaters with about 3 tablespoons chopped bacon and green chile and a biscuit because it sang to me!  That biscuit sang a country love song and I was smitten.  Anyway, I added about a cup of watermelon to this and was over 10 POINTs  for breakfast.  Not unusual for me, so ok.  This was at 7 am.  By 9 am, my stomach was raising hell with me, screaming "FEED ME".  So I ate my lunch! at 9 am.  It was a 4 POINT lunch.  Ok, I still had plenty of room for MORE lunch, when lunch time rolled around, so I went to the cafeteria and had a couple of crispy tacos as lean as I could get them.  I was finally satisfied until about 2 pm when I wanted something else.  I am telling you, I felt like a bottomless pit!

I am ok now.  Hope this was a passing thing.  Believe it or not, I still didn't break my POINTs for the day (21). 

Dinner Last Night

Well, I was supposed to post about dinner but was too busy making it, then too busy eating, then just digesting it.  It was damned good.  The Peach Bourbon Glazed Pork Loin was delicious.  With that I made some Baby Yukon Potatos and Baby Green and Yellow Scallop squash.  It was a really good dinner and well within POINTS.   I will make it again and maybe, just maybe, I will get some pictures.

Ah, Pancakes

How I love thee!  Had whole wheat pancakes for breakfast, 1 for me, 2 for hubby.  They were delicious.  With bacon, of course, but just a couple pieces. 

Will post about dinner tonite because it should be special with yummy special, Weight Watcher friendly ingredients!

Weigh In and Weighed Down

Well, as expected, I gained a little.  1.4 to be exact and I am ok with that.  In all honesty (cause if I am lying to you, I am lying to me!!) it could have and probably should have been much worse.  And I was wearing more clothing than usual.  Its cooler at 7 am and I have a problem trotting around in shorts when the temps chill off.  So I put on something a little more substantial.  This is an outfit that I like so much that I have 2 of them in different colors and I actually weighed the clothes.  1 lb 8 oz.  Not inconsequential when we are being weighed in tenths of pounds at our meetings.  So I will take it and move on.  Next week will be better.

Today we talked about Motivation and how to maintain it.  What got us on the weight loss train and what keeps us from jumping off at every convenient stop to grab a snack?! 

My motivation may seem selfish, but it comes down to taking care of ME!  I have spent so many years of my life taking care of everyone else and even more so in the last couple years with being primary care giver for my mother.  I came out of last year with a totally different perspective on who was important in my life and I was on the top of that list for a change.  And its what motivates me every day.  

I don't want to sign off without giving a bit of respect to the gravity of the day.  Like most of us, 9/11 is forever linked in my psyche and our communal psyche as well, undoubtly.  I remember where I was (home from work, sick) and watched the second plane hit the second tower.  I sat mesmerized as the morning unfolded, the towers fell and we all cried.  And I was angry and hurt.  I loaded my guns (really!) because I could only imagine that we were under attack and it wasn't going to end there.  I am not a violent person, but I truly believe I could have hurt someone that day! My kids took their kids out of school and came home to be with Mom, not because they felt bad for me, but because Mom was supposed to take care of them.  Hell, I was falling apart!!  I weep as I type this, the emotion is still so raw.  I will never forget.  I can only pray that those that perpertrated this horrible act truly get their just rewards and those that remain behind to grieve the loss of their loved ones will be comforted someday.

Tomorrow is Weigh In

...and I am optomistic.   A couple of weeks ago, our leader indicated that your total weeks POINTs were what really counted, so in retrospect, while I ate alot of really decadent stuff, I also made some really good decisions, so maybe it won't be so bad.  I don't expect a loss, but a MINOR gain would be nice! 

See you in the a.m.

Dr. Visit and other stuff

Well, I promised to report what the Dr. said and he said "Way to go, girl!" or something along those lines.  He's impressed with the weight loss and very pleased that I have not returned to smoking, like that would ever happen!   He reduced my blood pressure medication dosage by HALF!  Is that cool or what?!  I am very happy in general with the way it went, but their scales sure needed calibration.  I refuse to believe what their scales say I weighed.  I have been weighing in on the same set of scales for almost a year (can you believe it?) and I trust them.  I told the Doc too.  He also said he want to see me when I reach 160, which is 10 lbs short of what WW says should be the high end of my goal.  He thinks it may be too much.  We will discuss it then.

On the eating side of things, today was Hubby's birthday day and I took him out for a steak dinner.  I didn't do toooooo bad!  I had half a filet mignon (4 oz?), a baked sweet potato with a tbls of butter, salad with raspberry vinegrette.  I also pulled some off the Tumbleweed onion (yes, it is what you think it is) and had a biscuit that was similar to cheesy garlic toast.

This has been one crazy week food wise and I hope it ends pretty damned soon (I think its over!).  Oh, God, maybe his scales were right?

Wednesday Woes

Ok, so its Tuesday, but who's counting. I have had a tough week this week and its only half over!  It hasn't been tough in the "Woe is me" sense, but tough in the "I can't believe I really ate all that crap!" sense it has really sucked.  Here's a bit of a rundown:

Sat morning (after weigh in): 1/2 Bacon Breakfast Burrito
Sat evening                        :    2 slice combo pizza with extra cheese
Extra Sat bites                   :    Bacon Samples for Chocolate Covered Bacon recipe

Sunday morning                :   Slice Cold Pizza/Numerous taste of Chocolate Covered Bacon preps
Sunday afternoon              :   Crudite w/Ranch Dressing
                                             Chips and Salsa (not alot, but still...)
                                             Texas Chile with Beans
                                             Coleslaw
                                              Corn on the cob

Monday morning              :  Left over Chile (good stuff Wayne!)
Monday evening               :  Shrimp Scampi, Pan Seared Scallops, Mermaid Salad and Corn on Cob.

We will not discuss the amount of beer this was all washed down with!

Now, for those of you who are not counting POINTs, this may look like I eat like royalty, and I guess I do!  But I am not supposed to.  I am supposed to be a little more cognizant about what I am putting in my mouth.  Well, the truth is that the mouth has been in charge all week and the mind has taken a mini-vacation.  It came home today.   And we are back on track.  (I hope!)

Chocolate Covered Bacon

I have a co-worker that we call the Baconator.  Wayne will go to the cafeteria and make a BLT that is a mountain of B and very little L or T.  (The cafeteria lets you pile on your own stuff!) 

We were invited to a BBQ at his house today and the invitees were asked to bring the beverage of their choice and a dessert.  So what did I make?  Right!! Chocolate Covered Bacon!

You know what?  Its amazingly good!  I certainly wouldn't want a steady diet of it, but it was definately interesting and made a great gag gift, especially for this particular person. 

There is none of it left in this house.  We took it all to the party and brought none of it back.  Except for that little bit that might have crept in along my waistline. Not only am I the cook, I am also quality control.  I have to taste it before I can serve it to someone else.  That's my story and I am sticking to it! 

Zumba Shoes

Ok, so I am going to start doing Zumba!  And I am going to Zumba my kazoo off because I invested $80 in a pair of shoes that will make "dancing athletically" easier.  I have officially lost my mind!

Weigh In and Getting Closer

Yippee, down 1.8 lbs today!  I am really psyched about this weight loss and pray I can maintain this level of enthusiasm until I hit my goal.  Then I will pray to maintain it.  I see lots of prayers in my future!  I did pretty good this week with what I ate, both in portion and POINTS.  Except for the taco salads (without tortilla shell, thank you very much!) in which I ate incredible amounts of lettuce to the point of feeling over stuffed!  But everything else on the salad was either low fat (cheese), small portion (ground beef) or no points at all (salsa).  And the scale rewarded me.  I love that scale today!!

When I typed "Getting Closer" I realized it had a couple of meanings to me this week.  Yesterday I was contacted by my fathers only sibling, an aunt I have been estranged from for some time.  She wants to kiss and make up (get closer!).  I am not so sure that I'm ready to make nice.  She is high maintenance and I do not have the time nor patience anymore for that kind of nonsense.  I will meet her halfway.  See what comes of it.  I can always back away if things get hard to swallow again.  Geez, family!!

And then this morning, when I stopped to get coffee at Circle K, the man standing next to me at the coffee machine said "YOU SMELL INCREDIBLE! WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?!" (emphasis his!).  I was floored.  I told him what my perfume was and he asked me a bunch of questions about it e.g., is it expensive, who makes it.  I was flattered and a wee bit embarrassed.  Maybe that was a little too much Getting Closer!

Bone Weary

I am getting to old for this work crap!  I am so tired today, I can barely think. 

I am going to work from home tomorrow, which I love mostly 'cause I get to work in my pajamas.  But not tomorrow.  I am going in to have some blood drawn early in the a.m. because I have a Dr.'s appointment on the 8th.  Its been over a year since I last saw him and I think he will be pleasantly surprised that I have lost 40 lbs since the last time he saw me.  That means I have to put a bra on (and other clothes too!) Damn!

But I get the relative freedom of sitting at my own desk in my own office doing my job.  I don't screw off!  I have a good job and I would not jeopardize it for anything.  And my employer can tell that I am on line and working, so its not like I can hide what I am doing, even if I wanted to.

I will let you know what the Dr. says.  Should be interesting!

On the Mayo Front...

As previously posted, I like mayonnaise and am somewhat of a mayonnaise snob.  And damned proud of it, I might add. 

Now, mind you, I am not one of those people who glops mayo on things.  That is the grossest, biggest turn off in the world to me.  If I go somewhere to eat where I know the meal contains mayonnaise, I generally ask for it on the side, because I am very judicious in its use.

Per my post, a few posts ago, I have been debating about trying the Olive Oil mayos.  I, in addition to being a mayo snob, am a brand snob (or at least very loyal). I am a Best Foods/Hellmans user exclusively.   Or at least I was until yesterday. 

At our WW meeting yesterday, I was talking to a couple of other members and someone piped up and said the Kraft Olive Oil Mayo was good.  So when I was shopping, I grabbed a small bottle to try.   We had asparagus for dinner last nite and one of my mayo "things" is mayo (fake hollandaise) on my asparagus.  It was a really raw taste test and IT PASSED!!  Really good stuff. 

So, I will try it on/in future things, see if it holds up as a salad dressing, will I like it on sandwiches, etc.  For half the Point count, I can figure out all kinds of things to do with it as long as it tastes good.  And it does!!

Stuff and Nonsense

Sunday is my laundry day.  With just me and hubby, there is generally about 4, maybe 5, loads to do and as I am such an early riser, its normally done by 10 or 11 in the morning. I get it started early out of habit because before I got "rich" and got a dryer, I hung my clothes on a clothes line in the backyard.  Trust me, you do not want to be hanging clothes outside in Arizona at noon in the summertime.  Heat Stroke is a distinct possiblity! Unfortunately, as I get greener in my life, I think about using an outdoor line more and more.  We have the best dryer ever, the sun, and when the humidity is down, the air is so dry, clothes actually dry faster than in a machine!  Its pretty awesome.

Kittens!  I should have known better than to foster kittens because now I can't part with them.  So we are now the proud parents of 4 kittens, 2 males, 2 females.  The males will be neutered this Tuesday and the females spayed shortly afterward.  They are good kitties and they love the dogs so we are going to have this crazy little furry family.  I have had as many as 6 cats at a time.  Cats are easy to care for - feed, water, provide a place to go potty! The more aloof they are, the better I like it.  I prefer it if they don't want to share my pillow or sleep on my bladder at night.   We bought them a kittie condo, a veritable Pussy Palace, if you would!

Pretty cool, huh?
















I am going to start posting about things other than my weight loss.  While that will remain my primary focus, I am so much more than my scale numbers and measurements and I fear I have become quite boring!!

I am a reasonable interesting person.  And I do have things to talk about besides food and Weight Watchers.  So be prepared!  Changes are afoot!

Weigh In and Holding Steady

Down 1 lb even.  I thought it was going to be more!  I need to stop weighing myself on the home scale.  Its just too unreliable and either gives me a crazy high number and scares me death or a low one and then I am disappointed when I get to the meeting.   Again, as long as those numbers continue in a downward vein, I will be satisfied if not ecstatic. 

Tonite, we are going to grill a bit of steak, have some corn on the cob and asparagus.  Tomorrow, I am going to bake some stuffed pork chops and sweet potatos.  My long suffering hubby is making noise about eating too much chicken and fish, so I need to placate His Highness, The Red Meat Eater, or I will be hard pressed to get him to play Weight Watchers with me.  He's playing, I am playing for keeps.  There is a big difference.

Mermaid Salad

Yum!  I love this salad on a hot day.  Lettuce, tomato, scallion, celery, surimi (fake crab), salt and pepper.  And mayo!  And there, my dear friends, is my problem.

I love mayo.  And I have a hard time using light mayo in some of the salads that I use it in.  Lite Mayo doesn't quite stay together like the real thing and in breaking down has a tendency to look old and really puts me off!

So, I have a question for you.  Has anyone tried the Olive Oil Mayonnaise(s).  I am a true blue Hellmans user, but I would try the Kraft if it had better flavor.  I could buy both and try them, I suppose, but thought maybe, just maybe, one of you has already pulled that stunt and could give me some guidance.  Whattya think?

As Expected...

I was down close to 2 lbs this morning.  Let's hope that bodes well for the rest of the week.  I don't have any dinners out planned, no margaritas on the horizon, chips and salsa are just a figment of my imagination.  Should be a good week!

Weigh In and Water Retention and Food from the Sea

I woke up this morning all swollen up like a poisoned pup!  My fingers were so swollen they hurt.  Where did that come from?  And why do I have to stand on a scale today?  So, yes, I was up today, 1.2 to be exact.  I will probably be down 2 tomorrow, because I know its all water weight.  What I don't know is why.

I found these beautiful shrimp.  Look at these things!  Shrimp is an inappropriate name for them.

They are fresh water shrimp and 6 of them came to almost a pound!  They were a little pricey ($15.99 a lb) but thats ok for a now and then thing and still cheaper than eating out and when we eat out, I don't get to control the calories.

So, I found this amazing recipe for Crab Stuffed Shrimp at My Wooden Spoons.  I basically followed her recipe, I just made my own bread crumbs and added some lemon zest to the stuffing.   For me, this recipe was a lot of work!!  But it was really good.  I can honestly say, I only ate 1 stuffed shrimp!! Using the Weight Watchers Recipe Builder they came out to 4 pts per shrimp.  I plated up 2 thinking 1 would not be enough, but it really, really was.  And it made for a very pretty plate.

And A Good Time Was Had By All

I had so much fun last nite.  I enjoy my friend so much and we see each other so rarely (our faults!) that we can't really help but have a great time.  We are both Weight Watchers but she's made goal and looks like a million dollars.  I have a little bit to go yet and look like a half million or so!!  But we had fun!  There was beer, and margaritas, and fish tacos and man bashing and eye lash drug discussions and perfume admiration.  You name it, we managed to cram it into a very short 3.5 hours. And I love my friend and we need to do this more than once a year!!!  She said she would be a guest blogger, so I need set that up and I will let you all know when we are ready to do that.  Did I tell you I really love my friend?

A New Follower!

Hi, CCMervin!!  Welcome!!  Why you have decided to follow right now, when I in lame-O land, have had nothing of interest to write, I will never understand, but Hell, we love the company!!  So, in my fine upstanding tradition, I welcome you!

Still have nothing to really blog about.  Haven't cooked since Sunday and don't plan on it until Saturday and I am still waiting for my muse to inspire me sometime between now and then so I know what to shop for.  Work has kept me really busy.

Tomorrow, I am having drinks after work with an old friend.  We haven't seen each other in months and she has not seen me since I really started to show the weight loss.  Should be fun!!  Maybe I can get her to post something to the blog to tell you her reaction.  That would be fun!!

Weigh In and Quietitude

I didn't get excited about blogging today because there is not much going on.  I was down .2 which is ok but certainly nothing to have a party about.  And my life is quiet and peaceful and for that I am grateful.

Today, I have marinaded chicken breast strips for fajitas for dinner tonite, made a Sweet and Chunky Chicken Salad  and a Kidney Bean Salad for the week.  A tip on that Kidney Bean Salad, if you do make it be warned it has a bite!  I use the regular Rotel but noticed there is a hot and mild also.  I can't imagine what kind of 3 alarm fire that hot stuff could cause!  The regular is very, very spicy.   If you are not into hot, try the mild, but you really need to use it. 

I got a catalog in the mail today and it had a dress in it that I want soooo bad.  Its incredibly beautiful and is just my style.  And expensive!  I showed it to Hubby and he said "Order it".  So I did.  And if it doesn't fit when it gets here, it will be a goal to get into it.  I love a good challenge.

Bestest Friends!!

Do you have a really good friend, not including your significant other?  You know a sister in crime?  A cohort that just gets you?  Understands and sympathizes and is willing to kick anyone's butt including your own when necessary? 

That's my cousin Valerie.  She is my mother's brother's daughter, but my father and stepmother raised her from about 12 years old on.  I will tell you Valerie's whole story in another post.  Its a good one.

We call each other Sister.  She's about 5 years younger than I and is my nail tech.  We can talk about anything, from kids to bowel movements.  We laugh and joke and the people at the salon where she works get the biggest kick out of the two of us, because "You are always having so much fun!".  And, generally,  we are!  We can also be very critical of each other and BLUNT!  No holds barred between us! 

Val is also very good friends with my daughter.  The two of them started Weight Watchers last year together and their dramatic body changes were inspiring to me.  I knew when I was quitting smoking that I was going to gain weight and watching them lose was somewhat disheartening, but I also knew that once my "quit" was solid, that I would be returning to WW and "getting with the Program", too.   And I did.  In the meantime, they both fell by the wayside.

I have now exceeded Val's weight loss and she has decided that "Laura cannot beat me at this!".  So the competition is on.  It will be good for both of us and, ultimately, we will wind up raiding each others closets.  Just like any good sister would do.  I am sooo gonna beat her at this! 

Pigging Out!!

What a phrase!  But today, I did.  The only good thing was I pigged out on good food.  This morning I had an Eggbeaters Omelette with bacon, green chili and salsa.  No toast, no nothing to go with, I even forgot my milk!!  For lunch I had a big cup of garden veggie soup and a salad with all kinds of good stuff on it, including shrimp I rescued from my failed Shrimp and Fruit Salad and repurposed for just this salad.  I had grapes and watermelon for snacks.  It was perfect.  I plan to pig out like this lots more!!

To Recipe or Not to Recipe?

Yesterday, I made a Shrimp and Fruit Salad.  It looked great on paper.  It took a long time to make, with multiple steps, which I don't normally mind.  And when it was complete, it was gorgeous.  It photographed well, but guess what?  I didn't really like it! 

So, my question is, do I post it anyway and let you try it for yourself or trust my own judgement and just not post this one?  My instinct is to let it go, but we don't all have the same taste buds so it could be something you would really like. 

Such a dilemma!!

Weigh In and Weigh To Go!!

Great Weigh In today -2.8 for a total loss of 36.2 lbs.  This morning started out crazy, overslept, was running around trying to get ready for my meeting.  Threw on some black shorts and a shirt I bought before we went to Cabo San Lucas.  It was WAYYY to small to take on vacation but I grabbed it this morning and, whattya know, it fit!!  I knew it was gonna be a great day!! 

Lot to do today.  Already got my shopping done, need to finish laundry (just a couple loads, thank God!).  I am making the Kidney Bean Salad and a Shrimp and Fruit Salad along with some scallops, corn on the cob, and rice.  Now those are not all one meal, just elements of my weekend cooking adventures.  As I don't like to cook during the week, I like to make loads of good things on the week ends that will carry through.  Like last weekends frittata.  That made 8 breakfasts!!   The Kidney Bean Salad recipe says 6 servings, but I would say that might be the case if you were eating it as a meal.  Its really filling so a little goes a long way.  I can dump a 1/2 cup on a bed of lettuce and add some home made chicken tenders for a yummy lunch and I would be very satisfied.  You really should try the Kidney Bean Salad.  If you don't like it, it didn't cost a fortune to make and you can always toss it out!!  I will post pics and recipes (if I remember! I am not just losing weight, I am losing my memory too!)

Really Enjoying Cooking This Weekend

Well, I made the frittata yesterday for breakfast this morning.  It was excellent and will cover me for breakfast for the week.  Today, because the weather was awesomely cool and I could turn on my oven and I just bought these beautiful plums, I decided to make some plum tarts.  These are not that high in Points, about 5 points a serving, higher than I normally like any "treat" to be.  But they are yummy and beautiful and I take a great deal of pleasure in just making them.  Cooking is my creative outlet in many, many ways.  I won't post a recipe unless someone requests it specifically, but here's a picture to drool on.  And I promise, it tastes every bit as good as it looks.  My co-workers love me.

Weigh In and Washington DC

Well, as I figured, I was up 1.6 lbs for this week, but you know what, I didn't (don't) care.  I really enjoyed myself, I ate good food and not junk and I will take it off, I am sure.  One cannot go and eat at the finest restaurants where the wine and butter flow freely and hope to even maintain, much less lose, weight.  Even knowing I was up, I went to my meeting and will continue to go.  I learn so much and even when I am not being the best Weight Watcher, I am still a Weight Watcher and meetings keep me from falling off the wagon completely.

I made a frittata last night for breakfast this morning.  Recipe looks like this:

Breakfast Frittata

POINTS® Value: 8
Servings: 8

Ingredients
1 lb. Jmmie Dean Breakfast Sausage
2 tblsp Olive Oil
1 bag Simply Potatoes Southwest Hashbrowns
6 item(s) egg
6 item(s) egg white(s)
4 oz Kraft 2% Milk Natural Cheese Mexican four cheese shreds

Preheat Oven to 350.

I break up and brown the sausage then remove from the pan and drain on a paper towel.  I add about a tablespoon of olive oil to the same pan, get it hot and add the potatos and cook until they are golden brown.  You want lots of brownness, so turn them a couple times adding a bit more oil if necessary to assist in the browning.  Once nicely browned, add the sausage into the potatoes and mix well.  Scramble eggs and egg whites together and pour over the potatoes and sausage. Gently move the potato/sausage mix around and let the egg settle in.   Cook slowly on the stovetop for a few more minutes until eggs start to set up. 

Place into a 350 oven for 10 to 15 minutes, watching it.  When it appears to be almost completely set, sprinkle some cheddar or Mexican cheese blend (use the 2% stuff) over the top.  Turn on the broiler and put it back into the oven until cheese melts and gets beautiful.

Its very dense and rich and while traditionally this might make 8 servings at 8 Points, I cut it much thinner for a smaller portion. Its really good, tho', especially with a good salsa on it.  It keeps well and I can take a half serving with me to work for breakfast and, along with some fruit, start my day off just right.  And it can be eaten hot or cold.  Very versatile.


Hubby said "You've GOT to get a picture of that!"  I must admit its really quite lovely. 

I recommend cooking this in a really good non stick pan.  It will slide right out on a plate whole if you do.

Meet Romeo and Juliet

These guys serenaded each other all night long last night from the comfort of our swimming pool. When I got up this morning, I rescued them from drowning (toads only swim so well) and took them out to a nearby wash and turned them loose where they could hobnob with their own kind and let me get some damned SLEEP! Cheeky little bastards!!

Actually, they are kind of cool.  They spend the majority of their lives underground, like 10 months out of every year, only coming out during our torrential monsoon rains to breed. Their call is amazing!!  Very loud and when they are out and about its generally in great numbers so it can be quite the cacophony.  Oh, and they can get to the size of a dinner plate, really really big.  And they are toxic to other animals. 

When I was a child we played with them all the time.  One time, my mom had called us in to dinner and we had one with us when we came in.  It was the size of a saucer, big ol' portly thing.  My mom said "Put in the bathtub for now and wash up for dinner.  You can turn it loose later".  Well, after dinner we went to check on it and it had laid about 75,000 eggs in the bathtub.  Yes, that number is fairly accurate and I am not exaggerating.  My mother (yes the same one I had a love/hater relationship with) was all about us kids learning things so when we begged and pleaded to keep the eggs in the tub, she acquiesced.  So for the next few weeks, we watched the miracle of eggs turn to polliwogs, turn to tadpoles and the joy of releasing little baby toads in the wild.  It was very cool.  

This was the best kept batch of toad eggs that ever existed, I can assure you.  Because they are cannibalistic when food sources get scarce, which is beyond icky!, we fed them and they had their water refreshed regularly.  It was kind of like being born at the amphibian Ritz.

I like critters and the toads are no exception, except when they keep me up at night.  Little boogers.

These two are pretty small.  That's a mascara wand for perspective.

Shrimp for Dinner

I am a seafoodaholic.  If that's not a word, it should be!!  I really like seafood on Friday night before Saturday Weigh In.  Even if I have a gain (which I probably will tomorrow) it won't be because of what I ate on Friday nite!!  I wanted a Shrimp Salad for dinner tonight and found this one and another.  This one really caught my eye and medium shrimp were $3.99 a pound.  Must have been an omen.  So here was whats for dinner tonight, with Weigh In looming over my head for tomorrow.  I will be brave!

Margarita Shrimp Salad

POINTS® Value: 7
Servings: 4

Ingredients
1 pound(s) shrimp, medium shrimp, 50-60 count, peeled and deveined
2 oz tequila
2 tsp orange zest
1 tsp lime zest
1 tsp table salt
1/4 cup(s) red onion(s), thinly slivered
4 serving(s) Creamy Lime-Chili Dressing (recipe follows)
4 cup(s) romaine lettuce
1 large head(s) endive (I used 3 small ones)
1 1/2 cup(s) orange sections (2 oranges?)
1 medium avocado (I forgot this and missed it!)
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium lime(s), wedges

Instructions

1. Toss shrimp, tequila, orange zest, lime zest and salt in a medium bowl. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Slice and place onion in a small bowl, cover with cold water and some ice; let stand for 10 minutes, or until ready to use.

2. Meanwhile, make Creamy Lime-Chile Dressing.

3. Toss romaine, endive, orange segments and the drained onion in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss to coat. Divide among 4 plates. Toss avocados with lime juice and divide among the salads.

4. Drain the shrimp, reserving the marinade. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and saut until pink and firm, 2 to 3 minutes. Divide among the salads. Add the reserved marinade to the pan and bring to a boil, stirring; spoon over shrimp. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing.

As usual, I didn't really follow the directions so well.  But, it came out soooo good.  My advice is to follow the recipe unless you are confident in the kitchen, then let it all hang out and do it your way.  I will say, Don't forget the avocado!  My mouth really missed it when I realized I had forgotten it.  And try endive if you haven't ever (like me!).  Its good.  A little pricey at 3.99 @ lb, but hell, I don't eat it every nite, so once it a while I can throw a couple bucks away to try some (insert something new here).

Here's a picture of my plate.  I am proud of this one and Hubby thinks I am a  rock star (and I am so full!).  All is right with the world!

Edit:  I just realized I didn't post the Creamy Lime-Chili Dressing that goes on the lettuce mixture.  Here it is.

Creamy Lime Chile Dressing


POINTS® Value: 0
Servings: 8

Ingredients

6 Tbsp light sour cream
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tsp jalapeno pepper(s), minced
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp table salt

Instructions

Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl.  Add to lettuce/orange/avocado mix before adding shrimp.  I found this kind of bland on its own, but it worked well with the salad.  I bet with some work, I could jazz it up really good.

Hot Damn!!

Well, a dress I order a couple weeks ago showed up today.  I have to send it back cause IT'S TWO SIZES TOO BIG!! What a problem to have! I love it though and will definately reorder it in the correct size.  I might even be convinced to get a picture in it.  We'll see!!

Spanish Delight

Well, so far so good.  Last night we went to a Spanish restaurant called Bodega's.  I lived in Spain for 3 years and I miss the food which is so good.  This restaurant satisfied my cravings for Spanish food and wine in the best of ways and I was able to introduce several of my co-workers to some unique and tasty treats.  A good time was had by all and, other than the the Sangria, it wasn't too bad points wise. 

Tonite, assuming we decide we need anything else to eat (doubtful!), we will go for seafood.  One thing I love about major metropolitan areas like DC is the variety of restaurants and ethnic choices.  You just don't find it at home. 

Weigh in and Squeeking By

Ok, despite the food orgy on Thursday, I managed to not gain (or lose) an ounce.  I am thrilled!!  I should have posted a gain and somehow managed to miss it.  It seems to work that way sometimes.  I will not look this particular gift horse in the mouth, but have learned a valuable lesson.  I will pack lunches to these things.  People can think what they will. 

I am getting ready to leave tomorrow for DC for a few days.  I am looking forward to the trip.  All of it except the eating challenges.  I will probably eat alot of fish stuff and, once again, I will be subject to what the people who set up the conference consider food.  I will probably eat in the dining room because I doubt there will be any protein offered for breakfast and I absolutely will not eat sweet rolls to start the day.   Lunch will probably at least offer a salad, we will see.  Evening meals will be taken in some restaurant or another.  I am looking a menus for places close to the hotel (we will be on foot or using the metro).  If I can maintain next weigh in also I will consider it a victory.

For the flight and for in room snacking, I am taking jerky, pistachios and Quacker True Delight Snacks.  I love these True Delight treats.  They are 2 points per serving and are actually healthy and delicious.  A winning combination in my book.  If you haven't already, give these a try.  I think you will really like them. Note: only the granola bars I have shown here are 2 points, the others are higher I believe. 

All Day Meetings!

I hate all day meetings where you are a captive audience, sorta forced to eat what's catered in.  I am weak in these situations and they never  provide really good options when you are watching your weight.

Case in point, today!!  The breakfast offering was fruit (GREAT!) and sweet rolls (you're kidding, right?).  None of us need sweet rolls for breakfast.  It lame and inexcusable.  Order some protein folks!!  Even if its bacon its better than sweet rolls.  But eating half a watermelon wasn't an option either, so I did eat a sweet roll.  And a large one of course, because I have no self control!!

Then there was lunch!  There was salad; green (good) potato (not so good), two high fat dressings (bad) cold cuts, cheese, bread, and mayo and mustard.  A huge bowl of potato chips (my weakness!).  So I had a turkey and swiss sandwich on whole wheat with little bit of mayo, some green salad with a little Italian dressing,  and enough potato chips to choke a horse!! Again, the lack of self discipline.

And the 2:30 snack, cookies and cream cheese stuffed things that were rich and gooey and I ate 2 of them. 

And I wonder why I am having so many problems getting off this plateau?  Yeah, right!! 

Weigh in and Yippee (Sorta)

Today's weigh in saw me officially achieve a 35 lb weight loss!  Wow, should have been ecstatic about that but I wasn't.  I barely squeaked into it by -.4 and kinda of feel like a fraud.  I have been struggling so hard with this the last few weeks and it was just sorta anticlimatic I guess.  I have been super emotional all morning, including weepy sniffles in the meeting, God Forbid.

Weepy sniffles is my classic reaction to anger, frustration, disappointment, any number of different emotions that most people react totally different to.  I cry.  I think I missed a life lesson somewhere along the way (I was probably in the buffet line!) that taught you how to properly deal with emotions other than stuffing them or stuffing me.  Either option is detrimental to me.  One makes me emotionally fragile, the other expands my waistline.

Today's meeting topic was Plateaus and could not have been more relevant to where I am and what has been going on in my life.  I learned to not be so hard on myself (I think) and to not let the scale be my sole metric on this journey.  So I came home and measured myself.  I have lost a total of 18.5 inches over the span of my membership with WW.  That is not a bad thing at all.  And I am justifiably proud.