Remember Me?!

Well, howdy, all!  I know, I know..."Where the hell have you been?!" is a totally appropriate question. 
But I don't have any exotic exciting answer.  Just kind of got off the logging train for a while.  Not sure if I am really even back. But wanted everyone to know that even if you are on the verge of giving up on me (and rightfully so!), I am still keeping track of you. 

TJ, I am jealous of the Hawaii trip. Suzi, wow girl, what can I say?  I am proud of you.  Jack is busy trying to create an international incident in Italy, etc, etc.

So, you see, I am paying attention. 

What brought me in this morning was that I have been busy cleaning out all the favorites accumulated on my computer (after suffering a major malware attack!) and realized that so many blogs are gone! Poof, disappeared, no goodbye, no kiss off, no nothin'.  And as I delete them, one by one, I am thinking you're all thinking I went poof, too!

But, nope, I am here!  And I will continue to post sporadically for a while and hopefully more often if I can find my mojo, which is buried somewhere in this house, I swear it!!

Wow! Been gone a while!

I just realized its been over a month now since I have posted.  There's not a lot to post about.  I continue to struggle with these last 15 pounds, going up and down and up and down in small increments.  I seem stuck!  I continue to go to my meetings (I didn't yesterday!) and I consider myself a Weight Watcher forever, but it gets pretty disheartening after awhile. I need exercise and I haven't been motivated to do it, especially with the back acting up.  Oh, by the way, I have a compression fracture in my back!  Where I did that at and how is anybody guess, all I know is the damn thing hurts almost all the time anymore.  So, I am more and more inclined to get my Dr. to let me stop here.  Its a good place, I am content with it and I can maintain here pretty well.  I need to make an appointment to see him anyway (physical time) so this is a conversation we will have then.  I will let you know!

Struggling Tremendously

I didn't go to WI yesterday.  I knew I was up and I was, frankly, disgusted.  Not disgusted with myself, but disgusted with this struggle.  I am eating on Plan! Do I eat things that may be off plan? Absolutely, but the plan is supposed to account for that as long as I have points available.  So why the hell is this so hard?! 

I am not quitting, just took a Weigh In off.  I will continue to eat according to plan because, if nothing else, I am maintaining and I will accept that.  I just don't want to gain!

+.2 Really?

Yeah, this is the story of my life these days.  Up a fraction, down a fraction.  I am damned good at maintenance.  Too bad I want to lose 15 lbs!!

I think I might have discovered what I have been doing wrong (yet to be seen) and that is not measuring my fruit servings.  Fruit is free, so I wasn't particularly concerned about it.   I wasn't eating an entire watermelon at a time, but I can still put a few pieces of fruit away every day without much thought.  So, starting today, we will measure our fruit and anything over 2 servings is going to get counted, one way or another.

Lets see if that works!!

I Got Bit!!

This morning, as I walked out the back door going to work, I looked up at the porch light and there was this creature.  He/she looked like this:

Yes, a lovely little gecko.  Oddly he/she was wedged behind the light fixture and couldn't get out.  They are such odd looking little creatures and we love our lizards cause they can pack away some insects!  Seems like this one had shown up to the smorgasbord around the porch light and got caught somehow.   So I freed him/her.  He/She bit me.  That's gratitude for ya!

By the way, there was no pain involved for either of us!

Pictures (What Am Doing!?!)

I have never liked to have my picture taken!  I just honestly don't take a good photo.  Only pictures of myself that I have ever liked were done by a professional photog with serious airbrushing skills.  So there is not alot of pics of me around.  And the ones I have, I don't share readily.  But right now I am struggling to lose those last few pounds that are so damned difficult to shed and I thought a retrospective might give me a leg up.

And entertain you!! 

This first was Christmas 2009.  I had been a Weight Watcher all of 3 months at this time.

This next one is February 2010, so into it 6 months                                                                                       

This blurry thing was taken earlier this year.  Its one of a few full body shots I have.  I am getting a little less uncomfortable about having my picture taken.










This last one just a week or so ago.  I am seriously impressed by the change in my face alone.  I will never like the camera, but I can at least smile a little easier.

                                                                              

All in all, I am doing pretty good!                                                               

 



Woo-Hoo, I am still amongst the living...

and still amongst the losing!!  Down 1.6 today. 

Its a stressful time right now.  Summer has always been tough for me, but this summer we are doing home renovations.  OMG!!!  I need to move into a hotel.  One with room service and a Swedish masseuse named Sven sounds really good to me right about now!  Our house is about 30 years old and has been "flipped" at least once,  meaning lots of shoddy workmanship and cheap work arounds which means more work for us (read hubby!) and more cost to do what we want to do to get it where we want it to be. 

How am I losing?  Nervous energy, I am sure.

Night Out Before Weigh In

Sometimes, it just has to happen.  I can't dictate when incredibly wonderful friends, whom I haven't seen for years, are going to arrive in town and want to party.  That being said, I got to chose the restaurant, so I went Spanish, with Tapas and Light Beer for me, and wine for my friends. The tapas were incredible, (I even got to talk to the owner to hopefully set something up for hubby's birthday in Sept.) we had good food; shrimp and garlic, mushrooms and garlic, Spanish tortilla, patatas bravas, wayyyy tooo much bread (and it wasn't even real "Spanish" bread).  It was good and I don't regret a minute of it. 

I do however wish that it had not come with an accompanying pound!

I am sensing a theme here though, folks.  Some of my heros and I are falling off this wagon and that is scary!  If my heros are not up there to hang to me and pull me back where I need to be, what the heck am I gonna do?  I am hanging on for dear life, I won't, I simply will not give in to this weight gain crap again!!

Slacker!

I am such a Slacker!  I have no excuse for not posting, heck I was up a pound, I own it.  I was not happy about it because I didn't think it was deserved.  but in retrospect, it was!  I have a co-worker, a temp who is permanently gone as of Friday, that insists on bringing Costco size boxes of Yorks Perppermint Patties (the little ones) to work.  This is like crack to me.  I don't think I have tracked a single one of the bazillion of these things I have eaten in the months she has been there.  Kate, I love you, but I can't be happier to see a human leave my environment. 

Today, I ran into a man who, along with his wife, had been members and attendees of the same meetings I go to.  I was shocked!  "Dave, how are you?"  "Totally derailed", was the answer and I took a second look and he had gained a lot of his weight back and he was well on his way to a 100 lb loss.  So sad!  We met in cafeteria and what did he have on his plate, a burger and fries.  My comment to him was "You know what you have to do to stop that!" and he agreed.   I adore the guy but would like to bonk him good!!

Weigh in and I Got This!

So, I have been on vacation since the 27th of May.  That vacation from work, from Weight Watchers, from counting, measuring, weighing, etc.  And today I weighed in!  DOWN .2!!  I am thrilled.

What this tells me, is that even though I am not really trying, I have been doing this long enough that I naturally reach for those foods that are going to be better for me (natural foods) and avoid that processed stuff, which I really don't even keep at home and as I didn't go anywhere, it wasn't terrible hard to avoid.  What I do have trouble with is discipline.  I stay reasonably on plan on those days that I leave the house and go to work. I don't eat right when I am at home.  I eat haphazardly, with no plan and no accounting.  That's not good and can and will catch up with me eventually.  I go back to work on Monday, so I am not in any danger of crashing and burning just yet, but I have to find a way to stay on plan when my days are more loosely structured.

And loosely structured is what I really want in my future, I just don't want it to describe my body!!

Weigh In and a Valuable Quote

Up 1.2 Phhhttt!! 

"A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths. "


Quoted: Steven Wright
 
Works for me!

Weigh In and I Forgot...

to post about it!  I am getting old and senile!  But, I am also getting thinner, down another pound.  I love it. 

There is mucho trouble on the marital front.  Its hard to figure out what's going on, maybe everything is going wrong.  It sure feels that way sometimes.  My sweet husband can morph into Ivan the Terrible so quickly these days and then when I lose my cool, he's all back sweet as pie again.  So, here I am getting myself healthier and better looking and he's making me think about how wonderful it would to be single again!  This was not in the plans. Oh well, I am sure it will sort itself out.

We went to a party this weekend and I took Sloppy Joe's that were really good and pretty lean.  They were 4 points a 4 oz serving, which was too much for most (certainly for me!).  The tang kind of makes you want to limit your intake.  I had a bit on a half hamburger bun and a half a cup or so of my Kidney Bean Salad which I also had taken along.  It was probably the lightest party meal I have ever eaten.  I made up for it with about 4 margaritas.  Shh, don't tell anyone!

Weigh in and Other News

Down .2 this week.  Phhhhhttttt!!  Ok, now that I have that out of my system... Ok, so yes it was a loss, but hey, what happened to that 2+ loss from last week?  I could have used another one of those! Oh well onward and downward (upward would not work in this context!).
I checked my measurements last week and have lost a total of 27 inches, which is nothing to sneeze at! I am so happy with the progress I have made and happier still with my commitment to continue on this path.  So, many times in the past I have reach a goal, or almost reached and then quit thinking that was good enough.  I am now convinced that this is a forever change in my life and I will continue eating like this forever.  Its good and, obviously, its good for me.

Last week, we had to have our little girl pug's left eye removed.  Poor baby.  She had been blinded as a very young puppy by a bite from a larger dog.  Because they can't discern light through the eye, they tend to not close it all the way and it dries and becomes prone to infection and starts a vicious cycle that is best ended by this type of surgery.  She now truly defines the words "pug ugly", but we love her nontheless. 

A Visit from a Loved One

Well, if you have read my blog back to the beginning, you know I took care of my mother during the last 13 months of her life. 

Sometime in the summer of 2008, when she was still feeling pretty good, she and my step dad went to church and then lunch and when they got home, she realized that she had lost her wedding ring!  She was so upset.  We looked everywhere, called the church, call the restaurant, all to no avail.

Today, Mother's Day, I found my mother's ring on the floor in the room where she ultimately died.  

I think she came to say HI!

Weigh In and Get a Load of This!

Another 2 lbs GONE!!  Is that awesome or what?! I feel so good about these losses.  I haven't posted significant losses in months and now, all of a sudden, I am dropping rapidly.  I am within 3 pounds of my 50 pound loss and 13 pounds of goal if I continue to strive for 150. 

My back is still miserable, although better than it initially was.  I think its time to go back to the doctor for a follow-up.  The source of the pain seems to have shifted upwards so maybe its not was I thought it was at first.  I think an MRI might be in order and then, hoping it finds nothing, some physical therapy.  This kind of pain really wears you out.  The other problem is I take pain meds to dull the roar that is my pain and then wind up exacerbating the issue because I do too much because I don't hurt!  Vicious circle! 

I am making chicken enchiladas tonight.  I will try to get some pictures posted.  I make them as WW friendly as I can and do a pretty good job.  The biggest problem with enchiladas used to be portion control, but I can no longer eat my weight in them.  A couple is very satisfying so I can make a batch and take them for lunch during the week. 

I like being a Weight Watcher!

Weigh In and Back on Track

Weigh in was super this week, -1.8 lb, almost 2 pounds.  I have to attribute it to eating way less than my allotted PointPlus.  While I like having my 0 PP fruit, I do think it adds a bit too many sugars/carbs, natural though they may be, for my particular body to lose on.  So I am being more judicious in my use of fruits, I have added red pears to my repetoire because, well I like them, and they have an abudance of fiber which does me a world of good. I have quit grapes and am about to quit bananas, or eat less of them or smaller ones, or something because I love bananas, but all those starches...

I also tracked really well week.  I ate the same thing every day for my lunch/dinner (see Stuffed Bell Peppers below) so that made tracking easy and they were incredibly good for only 7 PP each.  I ate alot of veggie omelets too, with maybe an ounce of ham thrown in.  I use Eggbeaters or 1 egg and 2 egg whites for my omelets, so tons of protien, lots of veggies, and good filling foods.  I noticed in eating last week that I got alot more of my good health guidelines covered that I had been recently, so that probably had a lot to do with my loss also. 

So, good week.  OH, and the back has let up considerably!!  So Laura is a happy camper this morning.

Sandwiches!

What's your favorite sandwich? Mine is a BLT!  With lots of bacon, and tomato and some token lettuce.  Oh, and lets not forget the mayonnaise! 

For obvious reasons, I don't do BLTs all that often, but today, I wanted the whole enchilada. 12 Grain bread, 4, at least, slices of bacon, three good slices of tomato, and don't forget the green stuff.  And a glass of really cold milk! It was so good and I paid 16 PPs for it.  Worth every bite!!

Weigh in and Hanging in There!

I had a pretty good weigh in all things considered.  As I previously mentioned, I didn't go to my meeting a week ago because I was in too much pain.  So I weighed myself at home and was up ALOT, like 4 pounds!!  Yes, 4 days of incredible amounts of alcohol and living on scrounging "what you can find because this campground cum mudbog" isn't what you envisioned when you planned your trip really did add up.  Now, most of it was water, and tons of sodium no doubt.  So when I went to my meeting yesterday and was up 1.6 lbs, I felt pretty damned good!!
So, while my back is still killing me, I am back on track. 

Today is Easter and the kids will come to eat.  I am making a ham, some potatoes, and probably asparagus.  I also already made some stuffed peppers for the week. I can take these to lunch.  They are very point friendly and I won't be depending on Easter leftovers to get me thru the week.  I will send a great deal of ham home with them, husband will have a load of it for his sandwiches and I can pretend like ham doesn't exist which isn't all that hard for me, not being a big ham fan.

Oh, want to see my peppers?

These are so incredibly simple to make, that posting a recipe is almost a sham. 

First thing I do is make a pot of Royal Blend Rice.  One cup uncooked makes about 2 3/4 cups cooked rice.  I actually made my rice several hours in advance of making the rest of the ingredients.  (Do it the night before or this can be a good way to use up left over rice from Chinese take out (you are not doing that are you?) or brown rice from dinner. 

Later I browned 14 oz (.85 of  a pound) of lean ground beef and seasoned with pepper, fajita seasoning, red chili powder, garlic powder (just a lot of our favorite seasonings and I tend to go Mexican whenever there is a blend like this).  Notice I didn't say salt!  Alot of the ingredients yet to come, contain alot of salt.  Hold off for a bit.  Spices are always to the consumer's taste.  I like stuff spicy, but not everyone does, so make it taste like you want it to taste.

Once my meat was no longer showing any pink, I mixed in my rice.  Then, I dumped a can of Rotel's in there! It could have used two, because I like it hot, but I only had one.  So I also added a can of stewed tomatoes with green pepper, onion and herbs or something.  Remember the salt warning.  These tomato ingredients are incredibly heavy in sodium.  Do not add salt until you have tasted your filling. At this point,  I will bet that this will be more than salty enough for you.

If you haven't already, scalp your bell peppers and pull out the ribs.  Rinse them off and set them in some kind of oven proof dish.  Fill them with the meat and rice mixture.  Go ahead and pack 'em down a little bit.  Now, you can always take whatever doesn't fit in the pepper and pack it up for the freezer, or like I did, dump it around the base of the peppers. 

Pop them in 350 oven for about an hour.  Then I sprinkled a little token cheese on them and broiled them for a few more minutes.  Now if you really want cheese, I would slice these things in half long ways before stuffing and really cheese them up at the end (but you didn't hear that from This Weight Watcher!)

Anyway, thats where I am, what and how I am doing.  As long as this back is acting up, I am basically in survival mode.  Not much fun to be found until the body heals.  But still on the right path and that's all anyone can ask of me right now.

OH, My Aching Back!

Yes, folks, I have done my back in.  Too much camping fun, throwing around 5 gallon water jugs, walking over uneven terrain, boogeying my behind off and my back has decided enough is quite enough already!! 

Monday morning I woke up almost unable to move.  Could not get a doctor's appointment until Friday.  This has happened to me before, its a form of arthritis and I have the misfortune to have it in my lower back. Its been a while since I have had a flare up and I hadn't missed it a bit!

So, the good Dr. put me on some decent pain meds (Tramadol, cause I don't like narcotics and it works well for me) and I ordered a new TENS unit cause I don't know where my old one disappeared to! 

I didn't go to WI, I just couldn't imagine sitting in one of those chairs for 5 minutes, much less 30!  Hopefully, by Saturday, I will be feeling significantly better and will go then.  I am not using this as an excuse to get off plan, that won't happen.  Just don't have any stats to report.

I Have Returned Older, But Not Necessarily Any Wiser

Well, I had a blast!  It was a pretty intoxicated 4 days, but I really remember all of it, including the rain, the freezing cold, the mud, my camp stove not working, did I mention mud?  I have a sunburned nose and decolletage and I threw my back out!  Oh, and my lower lip hurts like hell!!

I also met some really great people, listened to some awesome music, drank a beer bong (Yep, at 8 am on my birthday!) and have already determined to go again next year.

I don't think I did to bad as far as any weight gain, but there was no real way for me to track points and, frankly, I drank much more than I ate.  Oh, well, its once a year.  And worth every pound.

"The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."

Thank you, Mark Twain, for the perfect entree to this entry!! 

Sorry guys, I have just been incredibly busy trying to get ready to go on a brief vacation!  Yay!! I was down last week .6, which is good, but bet I manage to screw it all up before I weigh in again a week from this Saturday.

I intend to have a really good time rockin' out (camping) at a Country Music Festival that runs from Thursday to Sunday of this week and my birthday falls in the middle of that somewhere so I have even more celebrate.  Let's see how much damage I can do!!

Actually, the plan is to be a really good WW.  I am packing fruit and veggies, have seafood on the menu, and brought lots of water to cut down on my beer consumption.  I may just surprise all of us!  Wish me luck!

Weigh In and What To Do About It

Well, weigh in was not as bad as I expected.  I was down .2 actually which was a miracle.  But I need a bigger miracle so I am going to have to knuckle down and do this right. 

I have not been meeting my good health guidelines for starters, so this week I will map out every day ahead of time to make sure I get my dairies and oils in (which I am bad about) and quit eating crap every day that I don't need.  Its not hard, I have done it before, I just have to be disciplined about it.  And, starting yesterday, track, track, track and track some more.  If I am honestly tracking, I will honestly be losing!  I know that about myself and when I don't track, its because of the things I don't want to see, like the handful of almonds or the York Peppermint Patties, corn chip and guacamole...you get the idea.

I made some yummie meals the last couple of days.  Roasted Red Pepper and Herbed Pasta with Shrimp, really, really wonderful.  You can find the recipe at Cooking Light.  I changed up angel hair pasta for the penne, reduced the oil a little, and omitted the cheese completely.  Its works out to about 9 PP per very filling serving.  Whodda thunk one cup of pasta was so much?!

Last night we had Turkey Tenderloin with Tarragon Mushroom Gravy.  I don't remember where I found this recipe, but have tweaked enough that its mine now anyway.

Turkey Tenderloin w/Tarragon Mushroom Gravy


PointsPlus™ Value: 5

Ingredients
1 1/3 pound(s) Jennie-O Turkey Store Turkey breast tenderloins
2 Tbsp Best Foods Light Mayonnaise
2 tsp dried tarragon, divided in half
1 tsp lemon pepper
2 pkgs sliced crimini mushrooms (or slice your own)
1 cup diced raw onion
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
15 oz fat-free chicken broth
1 Tbsp olive oil

Instructions

Heat oven to 350?F. Spray large skillet with nonstick cooking spray. In bowl, combine mayonnaise, half the tarragon and pepper. Spread over turkey breast tenderloins.

Pan sear turkey.

Remove and set aside. Add up to 1 tblsp olive oil and mushrooms and onion to skillet. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Return turkey to skillet.

Pour about 1/3 of the broth and remaining tarragon over mushrooms. Cover and Cook 30 minutes.

Remove cover and cook and additional 15 to 30 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink in center. Remove turkey to serving dish and cover with foil to keep warm. Return mushrooms and broth to burner and bring to a boil. In a jar, add rest of broth to 2 tablespoons flour and shake vigorously until no lumps remain. Add slurry to hot pan with mushrooms. Whisk until a thickens and a smooth gravy is formed.

Serve with Mock Mashed Potatoes.

This is an incredibly good meal.  I actually weighed 3 oz of turkey tenderloin out.  Its not alot but I was satisfied with that.  I love the Mock Mashed Potatoes and they are free.  Smothered in low PP value gravy that is incredibly flavorful.  And with Asparagus on the side.   That's a good healthy meal!!  I will get back to taking pictures eventually.  In the meantime, try these and let me know what you think. 

Wow, tough week!

This has been an incredibly awful week for me.  Work was hell and my eating was horrendous.  I mean, I ate really good food, just the wrong food and way to much of it.  Lets recount a few of the more glaring errors:

Avocados were on sale, so I bought 10 and made guacamole for the office on Monday.  That meant guac for breakfast and lunch along with the accompanying chips.  Now, mind you, I made the dip and the chips as WW friendly (baked chips, low fat additives to the guac) but there was no sense of portion control at all.  Damn good stuff, but...

Tuesday, left over chips and salsa that a co-worker contributed.  Score: Chips 2, Laura 2 lbs!

Wedsnesday, vendor meeting that spilled into lunch.  One of the best Mexican Food restaurants in town.  More chip, more salsa, refried beans with cheese, mexican rice, green chile beef.

I am going to get ex-communicated from Weight Watchers, you wait and see.  Did I write it down? NO!  Did that make it any less points?  Absolutely not! Tomorrow, I face the scale!  Crap!

Long Walk in the Desert and Hubby-Pain-In-The-Ass!

I started this yesterday, but Blogger has been giving me fits.

I purchased a Groupon for a years family membership to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum which is a world famous zoo (actually) that features the flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert.  Its actually quite a marvelous place.  Animals are in enclosures, not cages.  And the enclosures are designed to mimic their natural habitats.  I love it.  So it was a really good deal, but I had to get there and cash in my Groupon by April 1 or it would expire and I would lose the $25 I plunked down on it!  So today was the day. 

I asked Hubby-Pain-In-The-Ass (hereby referred to as HPITA) if he wanted to join me.  I emphatically told him that his presence was not required and that if he was going to be grumpy I would prefer he stay home.  No, no, he would go. "By the way, when are you coming back?  Game starts at 3!"  (Please, just shoot me now!)  I told him we should be able to get back by then but reminded him this was a very large place, I was not going to be hurried.  I wanted to go and take my time, take pictures and enjoy the day outdoors.   "No Problem."

We got there about 9 am and probably started walking around 9:30 or so after getting in and using the facilities.  At about 11:30 we got close to the restaurant and I asked him "Are you hungry or do you want to wait until we leave?", thinking we had just split a breakfast burrito and I wasn't really hungry and didn't really expect him to be.  "Well, when were you planning on leaving?" "I don't know, to get home by 3 we need to be moving that direction by 2:30, I guess."  "Oh no, my back won't take that!"  WTH?!  Since when do you have a back problem?

He was bored and wanted to go home.  I should have never taken him to begin with!  These are the days that test my marriage vows to the limits!!

I did get some good pics:

Can you see that beautiful hummingbird among the orange flowers?

The beautiful Harris Hawk.  They hunt in family groups and hunt like wolves where certain members of the pack will drive prey to the hawk that is aligned to make the kill.   This is a male, the female is larger and their society is matriarchal.

Speaking of wolves, a beautiful Mexican Grey Wolf.  They are slowly being re-introduced into the Sonoran desert after having been hunted to near extinction.  Needless to say there is a lot of controversy over this with all the cattle ranching that goes on in Arizona.

Bobcats!  Too cool!   The rock ledge they are laying on and the rock above them, in fact their entire enclosure is man made.  It looks so natural, you might not know if you weren't made aware of it.

A beautiful dried agave blossom from last year.  These make exquisite dried "flower" arrangements except they are about 10 feet tall!

When the desert blooms, the colors are incredible and its always amazing (at least to me) to see the juxtaposition of this delicate flowering next to the the apparent harshness of cactus. The yin and yang of the plant world.

This is Datura. Its highly toxic and can be fatal if misused.

This is quince?!  I have no idea, but it was really pretty.

The only time I really like doves is when they are nesting.  This little lady was totally undisturbed by the fact that I was invading her space.  As a matter fact, all the animals at this "zoo" are completely at ease around humans.  Even those in the wild, which are many.  Many of them were born here and have no fear of humans because we are not perceived as a threat.  They've never been harmed or even frightened by humans.  Whats to fear?

What is not to love about a hummingbird?

Another little momma reminding us that spring is here!

And another.  

I do like this new camera.  Its easy to use and takes a pretty good pic. 



Giveaway Winner!

Well, Christy, as you were the only person to respond, you get a great book.  Please email you address to me and I will be thrilled to send it right out to you.  It's an awesome book and I know you will love it.

Weigh In and Not Moving in the Right Direction

Very Frustrating!  Up .8  Its back and forth and back and forth and its frustrating.  I can't seem to find a rhythm to this weight loss dance since WW changed things up.  I mean, I am not doing horribly, but I just can't seem to make sense of it.  I am not find the formula that works best for me to keep me losing consistently.  Just have to keep plugging away at it, I guess.

300th Post and a Giveaway!

Wow!  I have impressed me!  And now, I want to impress you.  In celebration of this auspicious occasion and my newly developed love of tasting good stuff, keeping it light and cooking in general, I want to give away a couple of copies of my favorite new book!

This wonderful tome will help you put together flavors so they enhance each other.  Want to cook some Butternut Squash, but not sure what spices work with that?  Look up Butternut Squash and find a bevy of wonderful herbs and spices to complement your dish.  Or, conversely, look up the spice and find something to use it on.  Great way to get introduced to new flavors!

So, whattya gotta do?!  Not much of anything.  Just pop in, say howdy!  and then I will give you a number and let a randomizer sort it out because I don't like to play favorites, I love ya'll equally! 

I will close this opportunity on Saturday, March 19th at 6 pm PST.  That'll give a anyone thats interested more than enough time to give me a shout out!

So what do you think?

Chips and Dip

Yesterday I made tacos for dinner, but I also made chips.

I have extolled the virtues of Arizona Brand Tortillas before, but in case you missed it, these damned things rock!!  Emphasis mine! 

These are made in Phoenix, but I know they are shipped everywhere, so if your grocer doesn't sell them, threaten to break his kneecaps or something til they get them for you.  You will love me forever. 

Its hard to see in this little picture, but under the words "Corn Tortillas" is written "Tacos and Tostadas".  That means these are extra thin to help get that great crunch you want when those items are on the menu.  I believe I might swear off making tacos if I couldn't get my hands on these!

Anway, because they are so thin, they are 1 WW PointPlus for 2 tortillas.

So, I also use them to make chips.  I slice them long ways, as opposed to triangular, because they seem to crisp up more evenly, but you can do it however you want.  I spray them with olive oil from my Prepara Pump bottle and toss them gently on a cookie sheet. Put them in a 400 degree oven and then watch them like a hawk!!  Ok, kind of a lazy hawk, but a hawk nontheless.  Once they start to brown, they will go quickly.  Once you start to see a little color, take a spatula and turn them over (as best you can) and then back in until they are done to your satisfaction.  These are just about right!

Then I take them out and sprinkle them with seasonings.  Not too much salt, but I like Nacho Cheddar Popcorn Salt and chili powder.   I can have 2 oz or 20 chips for 2 PointsPlus.  Thats really quite a bit.  They are crunchy, totally not greasy, very flavorful and if I want a dip, I can use salsa or I can (and do) mix some Light Sour Cream with Salsa.   That is a yummy dip and isn't a deal breaker. 

So if you are craving chips, here you go. 

Even if you eat an entire dozen tortillas worth of chips, its still only 9 PP, but don't do that!!  Save some room for a taco or two!

Shh!! Look Over There in the Followers Boxes ------>

Jack Sh*t has decided to follow me!!  Dayum!!  I feel...I feel...I don't know, like I am being followed or something!  But, don't get all excited or anything, he might up and leave and then I would be sad. 

Hi, Jack, Welcome.  Glad to have you!  I am honored!

Weigh In Results, Dinner Last Night and Tonight!

Well, my weigh in was good.  Down .8. Better than the +1 of last week.  Then last night I copped out on dinner and we ordered Chinese.  But I did pretty good.  Had one adequate serving of each item (no white rice, yuck!), and stopped.  No seconds, no licking the spoons! A year ago, I would have gone in to a toxic sodium coma from consuming way too much of that stuff.  It was good, but knowng I have more control makes it soo much better. 

And then tonite we are having tacos.  You'd think it was my birthday week or something.  Nope, the planets just aligned properly and we are cruising the planet this week for eats.  I also baked 6 large chicken breasts, cut them up into 3 oz portions and froze them.  I have left overs from Friday, that 3 Citrus Chicken was really good and the bulgur I made to go with it was incredible (has mushrooms and asparagus in it!). My husband says there are too many choices and he doesn't know what to eat.  Such a problem.

Tomorrow is Weigh In, What's for Dinner Tonight?

Tonight I am going to make Triple Citrus Chicken Breasts (only with just Double Citrus), and Bulgar Wheat with Carmelized Onions, Mushrooms and Asparagus.  This diet is killing me!!  NOT!

Size 14!

Well, I am soundly in a size 14 these days.  That's from a 22!  I can't even grasp that.  I see myself in the mirror and I know, I mean I can't miss, that I have lost a lot of weight.  I am only 15 lbs from goal, so I have accomplished  quite a bit, but there is that mind/body disconnect that I think so many of us struggle with.  I get loads of compliments and I am buying clothes hand over fist, and enjoying dressing up for the first time in many, many years.  But I still see that fat girl in the mirror sometimes.  This is a tough issue to overcome.

Cheeseburger and Fries!

I have been jonesing for a cheeseburger for a couple weeks now and today, I organized a lunch group to go hunt the illusive Burgersaurus and we found it.  And it was mighty tasty.  I had a burger with swiss cheese, green chilies and avocado!  Is that decadent or what?!  I could only eat half of it, tho' I did eat all my fries.  But you know what?  I did dang good.  It was filling enough to be lunch and dinner, so I think I can stretch my daily PP to cover it.  We'll see!

Weigh In and Walk for the Cure

Up a pound at Weigh In.  This seems to be my way of lossing, down two one week and up one the next.  It takes so damned long to lose this way.  I wasn't terribly good at weighing and measuring last week so I will attribute my gain to that and start paying more attention.  I have no excuse not to weigh and measure.  I even have the tools at my desk at work if I get something from the cafeteria that I am not sure about. 

I dashed out of Weigh In and headed to meet up with my team for the Conquer Cancer Walk up Tumamoc Hill.  This is an annual event here and collect thousands of dollars that are kept in our community to assist those who are victims (and survivors) of cancer.  This was the first time I have participated. 

I got there about 7:30, I picked up my  T-Shirt, bright red with silver lettering and designs, and we (I was walking with co-workers) headed off about 8 am.  It was cool at first but in about 15 minutes we were already almost too warm.  All in all, its about 5 miles up a small hill in town.  Its not grueling but it was work.  At the top, brunch was served and it was really good.  

Because I had worn blisters on my heel we decided to ride the bus down.  Just about the time I got on the bus, I realized I didn't know where my car keys were!  Yikes! The bus pulled slowly down the hill and reached a Y in road at about a hundred yards.  There was a cop car there and I had the bus driver let me off the bus.  I went over and asked the officer if she wouldn't mind taking me back down the path so I could look for my keys.  She agreed and I hoped into the back seat of the squad car.  My first, and hopefully, last time to take a ride in the back of a squad car.  Uncomfortable! 

Anyway, she slowly drove down the entire road, in the center lane where possible so I could look along the roadside to see if I could see my keys.  No Luck!  I have another set, of course, but they were at home and hubby would have had to bring them to me from across town.  I really didn't want to make that call!  So Officer Friendly took me to where my vehicle was parked and I had her drop me by the team leader truck so I could look in the bed, thinking maybe, just maybe I layed in them in the bed of the truck when I picked up my T-Shirt.  As we pulled up to the pick up, we saw them, laying on the bumper of the truck in all their hot pink spring ring glory.  Thank you, God and Thank you, Tucson's Finest!  All in all, it was a great day!

Cancer Walk

This Saturday I will participate in a Conquer Cancer walk up an historical hill in town.  It helps to generate funds for the American Cancer Society and our company participates as a team and I am proud to say we are in 3rd place as of today in participants and funds.  Not too shabby!

What do I get out of this?  Well, there is the exercise.  And the free tee shirt (actually it cost me $40, but who's counting?) and a breakfast.   I know my gluts will be screaming by Monday morning and I will want to crawl into work.  Hubby has offered tea and sympathy.  Can't ask for much more.

Weigh In and On my Way!

Well, I lost 2 lbs this week and made my weight loss officially 45 lbs total.  My goal of reaching 150 is getting closer even though its still far enough over the horizon that I can't quite see it.   I truly do not remember ever being that thin. 

While I have some to lose in other places, the vast majority of my residual weight now lies in my bust! It just refuses to budge.  I have dropped a couple of bra sizes in the around measurement (44-40), the cup size remains the same.  It this rate, I am going to be so top heavy, we are going to have to prop me up with a stick!  Oddly enough, I don't look disproportionate yet, but who knows what another 15 lbs is going to do.  Oh well, I will worry about that when I get there

Ya Never Know!

Today I was talking with an acquaintance that I thought had everything.  Beautiful wife, 3 gorgeous daughters, great job.  Life was good, right?!  Well, turns out beautiful wife is an alcoholic, a bad alcoholic.  They've been married 30+ years and she's been sober less than one of them.  He stands by her, go figure.  His dad died of melanoma and he has had cancers removed himself. 

The fairy tale...it doesn't exist.  A trick of smoke and mirrors and what we all envy...?  Really, its a joke.

Week So Far

...and its only Tuesday.  I have eaten well so far this week, without eating TOO well.  All of a sudden I seem to be struggling to get in my good health guidelines and I have no real reason for it other than not planning.  So, scarce on veggies and oils and even my beloved dairy is getting short shrift.  Its laziness.  I think I have winter doldrums and, as most of the rest of the country would be quick to say, "What winter?  There is no winter in Arizona!"

Today stunk.  2 meeting practically back to back.  3 hours!  Out of a 9 hour day that is generally pretty packed anyway and today was crammed.  It makes for a mad house.  Oh, and they fed us during the second meeting.  Pizza, for God's Sake!  Now, thankfully, I did have prior notice to this so I brought salad dressing from home (yes, they bought salad too, Thanks, Barb!) and ate salad like a fiend.  Then I went in for pizza.  It was ok, not my favorite.  The pizza are HUGE and are cut into squares instead of wedges so I had 1 - 4 inch square with salami and sausage (I think), no veggies, no nothing.  And another, about half that size, of Hawaiian style.  And then I also had a cookie!  Chocolate chip, no less!  I don't think I did horrible, I have done much, much worse.  But I will never understand why, once you enter the doors of corporate hell, you are doomed the eat this crap.  Continental Breakfast, Pizza for Lunch, and huge expensive and caloric dinners if you go out with the gang. 

I think its a conspiracy.  We just want to kill each other off with cholestoral and fat induced heart attacks.  Its the fastest way to a promotion!

Weigh In and What Jack Sh*t Said

Yesterday's weigh in put me down .2, again for the bazillionth time.  I feel like I am destined to be stuck where I am and that perhaps I should get a doc to sign off on my current weight so I can be done paying WW. 

I said that same thing to my WW Leader yesterday and she asked "What can you do differently?".  I am sure that there a multiple things I could do differently.  The codicile to that is "Do you want to?".  I didn't say that to her, but I did indicate that I am not miserable about the lack of discernable loss.  I think I am at "Maintenance in Training" mode.  Problem with that is I have 18 more pounds I would really like to lose!  And its not happening!

And then there is Jack.  Who manages to put things in such a remarkable perspective.  I am more than the number on that scale.  I look good, I feel good.  I have a new attitude that exudes confidence.  I see where I was and I know where I am and I will never go back, even if I never take another step forward on this journey.  I am not quitting, per se, I am just quitting beating myself up over it!

Welcome Alisonds!

Alsionds has decided to follow me around!  I am so happy to have followers. 

Guess Who Got a New Camera?

And one she can use?  Rah, rah, f-ing rah! I missed having a camera!!  So tonite, my friends, I made yummies in the form of Shrimp and Pasta.  And it was lovely and it was on Plan, and both of us ate til we were satisfied and sent food back to the kitchen.  A first, I swear to God! So, want to see...?

This is Roasted Red Pepper and Herb Pasta with Shrimp.  The ingredients are:

What you see here are the prime ingredients.  I will post the recipe below.

I have no brand loyalty when it comes to herbs and spices and, while I rarely have fresh in the house, I can generally reach into my spice cabinet and find pretty much anything, from the most exotic to the most mundane of herbs and spices.   Anyway..

So start this dish up dicing onions and garlic.  I sprayed my pan with some olive oil and added those two together to sweat down a little.

While that was happening, I chopped some Roasted Red Peppers (from a jar) in anticipation of adding them shortly.  

One the onions and garlic started to tenderize, I added a pound of peeled, deveined shrimp.  I let these cook for a couple minutes and then added the red pepper and the juice of a couple lemons.

Then I added some parsley, thyme, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper flakes. I covered it and set it aside for a minute. 

In the midst of all of this heat of creativity, I managed to get some angel hair pasta on to cook also.  I am not happy with this!  I had purchased a box of pasta that said it was 14.5 oz.  I weighed out 4 servings (2 oz each) and it was the entire box!!  How could that be?!  Me thinks I got rooked.  I am going to have to investigate this!  Anyway, pasta is boiling, so once its not quite al dente, I am going to move it into this pan of shrimp and spices.  I tossed them together and let them sit a minute or two while I put together a simple salad.  This was really good for about 11 P+.  I am not a big pasta fan, but I really liked this.

Here is the recipe:

Roasted Red Pepper and Herb Pasta with Shrimp

PointsPlus™ Value: 4
Servings: 4

Ingredients

1 cup(s) vidalia onion(s)
2 clove(s) garlic clove(s), minced (medium)
1 pound(s) shrimp
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup(s) fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried sage
3/4 tsp table salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 item(s) bell pepper(s), Jarred is ok. (medium)

Instructions
Preparation

1. Preheat broiler.

2. Cut bell peppers in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membranes. Place pepper halves, skin sides up, on a foil-lined baking sheet; flatten with hand. Broil 15 minutes or until blackened. Place in a paper bag; fold to close tightly. Let stand 20 minutes. Peel and chop; set aside.  (I used a jar of Roasted Red Pepper and skipped this step!)
3. Cook fettuccine according to the package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain well. Set aside; keep warm. ( I used Angel Hair Pasta because that was what I had on hand.)
4. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and garlic to pan, and cook for 4 minutes or until the onion is tender, stirring frequently. Add shrimp to the pan, and cook for 2 minutes. Add bell peppers and 1/4 cup lemon juice to the pan, and cook for 4 minutes or until the shrimp are done and half of the liquid has evaporated. Add chopped parsley and the next 5 ingredients (through 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper) to the shrimp mixture. Remove pan from heat. (I did not use the butter and simply sprayed my pans with some olive oil)
5. Combine cooked fettuccine and 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large bowl; toss well. Add shrimp mixture, tossing gently to coat.

Nutritional Information

Calories:378
Fat:10.5g (sat 3.3g,mono 4.6g,poly 1.7g)
Protein:20.7g
Carbohydrate:51g
Fiber:4.9g
Cholesterol:96mg
Iron:4mg
Sodium:573mg
Calcium:91mg

Yummy + Brussel Sprouts = Lost My Mind!

Ok, the Sprouts and I have had a long standing detente.  I don't eat them and they ignore me!  Works out just fine for both us until now!  I found this recipe for Brussel Sprouts with Pecans and, while I didn't use any pecans (subbing bacon bits instead), I have decided that not only do I like Brussel Sprouts, but the little SOB's better grow legs and learn to run 'cause I can't get enough of this.  Its so good.  Give it a shot!

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000000522381

17 Posts to 300 and a Giveway!

I am approaching 300 posts and intend to celebrate with a really awesome giveaway!  Its a favorite thing of mine (or a duplicate of) and I know that the winner(s) will be thrilled.  Stay tuned!!

Weigh In and Worn Out!

Well, after this crazy ass week, I was up .2!  That's quite alright, it certainly could have been much, much worse.  I did not eat badly, I just didn't have alot of opportunity for careful monitoring of portions and some of the things I ate were less than stellar, but never was I out of control, for even a minute and I am quite proud of that.  I ate well when given the opportunity and used moderation when the choices were more limited.  I guess that's what learning to watch your weight is really all about, isn't it?

I am exhausted.  4 days of pacing hospital halls like a caged animal just makes me want to collapse.  I am much to ADD to sit around doing nothing for incredibly long periods of time, so I walk.  Until I wear myself out.  And then I sit for awhile and then I walk some more.  Lather, Rinse, Repeat.  For 4 days!  Blech! The really down side of all that pacing is I forgot to put on my damned pedometer and at least get some measurements of all the ground I covered in that time frame.  Dummy!

Hospitals!!

The business that kept me from eating properly yesterday was my stepdad.  He was scheduled for angioplasty today and we went to the VA hospital, per instructions, for a pre-op workup.  He determined that was the optimal time to point out that he had this thing that was hurting him "right here" on his left side, at which time the cardiologist pulled the brake rope and tossed us all, head first,  into a nightmare that could only be born in a hospital.

The cardiologist told us that he wanted my stepdad admitted for some further testing, but there were no open beds in the hospital.  So he notified the attending in emergency that he was sending him down for a CT scan and then wanted him admitted.  Off we went to emergency and they settled my stepdad onto a gurney and I went home. 

This morning I got up and called the hospital to find out what room he had been sent to, only to find out he was still in emergency and there were still no beds in the hospital.  Daammmnnn!  I wouldn't treat a dog like this, much less an 82 year old man with a heart condition!

So, to try and shorten this, all the addtional testing is done and any aggravating factors have been discounted and they will do the angioplasty tomorrow.  He will have to stay in the hospital until Friday and then he will be released to me at which time I will bring him home to alleviate the aggravation of having to drive across town and walk a mazillion miles across this huge hospital complex (because parking sucks!) so he can drive me batty in my own home for at least another week. 

I am so blessed! 

In-N-Out Burgers

Well, whodda thunk?! 

In-N-Out recently moved into our town and, while I was curious, I have managed to avoid sampling their wares.   I mean, I am a Weight Watcher.  Cheeseburgers and Fries are not part of my normal fare. 

Yesterday circumstances had me away from home without so much as a banana in sight and I was so very hungry.  I had only consumed about 5 PP earlier in the day and around 6:30 pm, headed home, I saw an In-N-Out! It was pure serendipity (isn't that a fun word?) but I decided that now was as good a time to try them out as any.  I had PP to spare and a cheeseburger would fill the bill. 

Well, guess what?  The In-N-Out cheeseburger is only 13 PP!  Hot Damn! Fries are fries and way too many PP to even talk about.  I ate about 1/2 a serving and pitched the rest in the trash.  But that cheeseburger was really, really good and well worth 13 PP.  I don't intend to make it a habit, but its nice to know its available in a pinch!

Boundless Energy

One thing I have noticed and not commented on much is my energy level since getting rid of this weight.  I am like a machine, I tell you!  Its crazy.  I have so much energy.  I have been doing laundry and buzzing around the house all day.  My husband thinks I am a changeling, because honestly, I am usually looking for ways to get out of housecleaning, not multiplying my cleaning by 10!  I have some hand washing to do yet and other than that, all the laundry is done.  I have done dishes.  I have taken apart 2 bookcases, sorted all the stuff and re-organized them.  And, of course, dusted as I went along. 

Who is this person? 

Weigh In and Milestones and Eating New Things

I haven't posted for a while, but I am doing great.  I was down 1.2 today, HOT DAMN.  I have so struggled sometimes, and rejoice when the loss is significant like this (as opposed to a .2 loss).  I feel great and I can't wait (I almost typed weight!) until spring when I can quit dressing like the Michelin Man.  I am now into a size 14 pants from an 18W/20W.  That's a 14 with NO W!!  Are you kidding me?! I don't ever remember wearing a 14.  Ever! 

I had to take a sweater back to the store because it was too big.  Another giant NSV.  I am busty and tops are (were) a problem.  I have often been 2 sizes larger on top than on my pants or skirts, and dress or sets have been almost impossible for me to buy.  So anyway, I bought this gorgeous sweater made even prettier by being on sale and low and behold, it hung on me like a gunny sack.  A very attractive gunny sack, but still!!  I took it back and exchanged it for the next size down.  (I hate to try clothes on in stores, a phobia born of trying to buy clothes that look nice on an obese teenager, with critical parents standing by.  Its murder on ones self esteem.  I hate dressing rooms and mirrors. So I don't try things on.  I buy them, take them home, try there and take them back if necessary. Silly, but something I may never recover from!)

Trying new foods! What fun!  So last week it was bulgur.  I have made this before and it wasn't so hot!  But that was my fault!  I didn't give it a chance!  This time I researched recipes and found ones that interested me and kind of concocted my own mix of flavors that appealed to me.  I made a bulgar recipe that called for green onions, tarragon, parsley, garlic and chicken broth and a bit of orange juice and zest.  OMG, its all I ate for lunch for 3 days.  1 cup cooked bulgar = 5 PP.  And it was good and it was filling and its flavorful and I bought more bulgur at the store today.  I am hooked.

I also bought a couple of Pepino Melons.  Unremarkable little boogers and certainly not worth $4.99 a lb in my opinion.  Oh well, win some, lose some. 

I am so happy that I have the opportunity and the wherewithall to try new things and that I am the kind person that enjoys doing so.  I have an adventurous pallet and I consider that a great asset in the weigh loss journey because I am not stuck only eating certain things or denying vegetables cause "I hate veggies" or "You ate what?!".  I will try anything once and if something I can adapt to my life and I can afford it, what the heck, I just expanded my horizons.

Karaoke?!

My girlfirend and I were talking the other night and she told me she loves to go to Karoake.  I didn't know that about her and she didn't know that I love it too!  So, yesterday, she sent me an email telling me she was going to be Karaoking at a bar in midtown and gave me the time and place. 

Now hear this!  I am normally in bed by 7:30 pm - 8 at the latest. I get up at 3:30 am on weekdays and damn near that early on days when I don't work.  Its horrid, but I accept it as a fact in my life.  Karoake doesn't start until 9:00 PM.  What are you guys, a bunch of damned singing vampires? Just kidding because, know what?  I think I am going to go! 

I am going to try to get a quick nap this afternoon and then get dolled up and meet my BFF for some yodeling good times and I am a darned good singer too.   It should be a lot of fun if I don't turn into a pumpkin!

Sam, I forgot to mention Sam!!

If you look over there --------> in the follower box, Sam has joined us!!  Yo, Sam.  Welcome!

Yay for Today!

Ok, so not only am I challenging myself here, I have joined a Shape Up program sponsored by the company wherein we join up on teams to try and best each other in a number of categories, one of which is weight loss!  Hey, I figured if I was doing this anyway I might at least give a colleague or two the benefit of my weight loss! 

I have also signed up to do a cancer walk up a giant mountain (ok, a little hill, but that doesn't sound so impressive) on March 5th.   It may be small, but what do you want to bet I will be bitching about how sore my ass is for a week afterwards?

So trying to get in shape before they have to haul my butt off the mountain hill on a gurney, which would be thoroughly embarrassing, to say the least.

Weigh In and Wow, What's Going On?!

Well, down .4 this week.  Nothing stupendous, but down!  I will take it! 

I just realized I haven't blogged in quite some time.  Me, Write? Wrong! I have been so incredibly busy (and resultantly tired) that its all I can do to read ya'll's blogs, much less try to string words together into something resembling a sane conversation with myself, cause really, isn't that what this is?  (Not to discount you all!  I love you all and am really, really happy you are here!)

I am once again caring for a "parent", this time my step father.  He's 82 years old and recently started experiencing heart problems.  He underwent emergency angioplasty the Dec 23rd and had one artery rotor-rootered.  The other is expected to be done on Feb. 09.  I hold his medical power of attorney so I have to be involved in all the hoopla.  Oh joy!  And to top things off, he has the pain threshold of a gnat!  So, the whining is often unbearable to me who has a tendency to approach life with an over abundance of "Suck It Up".  My personal physican would tell you I have a little too much of that, to the point of ignoring things that I should pay a little more attention to, but getting sick takes time and I don't have any to spare, Sorry!

I really want to blog about the Hellions too!  The cats, that is!  They are so funny and exasperating!  One minute I am laughing at their antics and the next I am looking up phone numbers for "Coyotes R-US" with the intent of feeding them to said Coyotes.

I have received another award/recognition from my sweet little (quasi) sister Suzi, who apparently inherited all of the runner's genes, because I got none!  I will post a separate note about that, because I think it deserves special notice.

Ok, considering that I am rarely posting at all these days and that I have done three loads of laundry and moved furniture (think giant computer armoire) out of my office and typed this thing up all simultaneously, I think I will take a break. 

Weigh in and On a Roll!

I was down another pound yesterday.  That's 2 weeks in a row now and I am hoping its a sign of things to come.  I wasn't the best WW last weeek (read bout the onion ring debacle in my last post) so I was happy to see the scale grant me a little leniency.  I promise to do better this week. I only have about 20 lbs to lose so I hate dragging this out forever.  I would like to get there and stay there and the sooner the better! I know, Patience, Grasshopper!

I tracked like a crazy woman last week, including tracking my beer.  Hear that Suzie!? It wasn't pretty but I managed to stay within my allowances.

I am liking having access to the fruits.  I made a fruit salad last night with some kiwis that were going to go bad if I didn't so something with them, a couple of bananas, a can of pineapple tidbits (drained of course), a can of mandarin oranges (also drained).  Mixed it all up and let it sit for a bit and dang was it good!  Sprinkled a tablespoon of a sweetened sliced almond concotion that is made for salad topping to get a little crunch in there and felt like I was having the most decadant dessert in the world!  For 1 PP.  Ok, Then!!  This I can do!

I also returned a pair of size 16 pants on Friday because THEY WERE TOO BIG!  I have gone from a 20/22W pant size to returning size 16 pants.  I am so thrilled!  Now, as you all know not all size 16's were created equal so I still believe that 16 is about my size, but we are knocking on 14's door and will not be denied. 

The Mind Boggles!

Today, I took a tuna sandwich to work.  2.6 oz of tuna, 2 slices of bread, a couple of teaspoons of mayo, about 6 PPs.  Not bad!  I thought "I will get a couple of slices of tomato and some lettuce from the cafeteria at lunch time to dress this up.  What about some Pop Chips?"  So I investigated PP for Pop Chips.  3 PPs a serving!  "Too High!, I'm not wasting 3 PPs!" 

So, come lunch time, I toddle over to said cafeteria and go to the counter to get some tomato and lettuce and guess what I wind up ordering in addition?  A side of onion rings!  "Are you kidding me?  Are you gonna eat those?" 

Well, the answer was yes!  So while I found 3 PPs worth of Pop Chips outrageously high, somehow I could justify onion rings (8 PPs by the way).  Yep, I tracked it!  DAMN!

Doing Better

A few years ago, heck a few months ago, I would have buried myself in a box of crackers and a jar of peanut butter with tall glasses of cold milk because I was depressed about the happenings of the last several days. 

I am now better equiped to deal with life's crap and know that food won't fix any of it and ultimately I will feel worse, not better. 

I have had a good on plan week, so far.   I made a big pot of Chicken Tortilla Soup on Sunday and I always make enough for lunches through the week, so eating soup!  Its about 6 points for 2 cups which is rather filling and I like all the fixings, so I wind up with about a 10 Point+ meal. 

I had a one hell of a day today.  I was bitchy and wound up jumping down the throat of a co-worker who is trying to do her best to support us in less than ideal circumstances right now.  I apologized profusely, but, you know, you can't unring the bell.  It never really goes away.  I am glad that we are pretty good friends in addition to being co-workers.  We will be ok in the long run.  I need more patience!!  

Weigh In and Really Rotten Day!

Yippee, I lost a couple pounds.  

Today, a vibrant young woman, wife of a U.S. Air Force Pilot and Astronaut and mother of 2 children was gunned down on the streets of my town.  Gabrielle Giffords was/is a Senator from Arizona.   As of right now, she has had surgery and is expected to recover from a gunshot to the head.   I am soo sad!

New Best Stuff to Stuff Me With!

Well, stuff is probably not the right word, but stuffing my face with darling wonderful Sugar Snap Peas and then Cherries?!  How does it get any better than that?  And 0 Points+ for either one?

I have determined that the scale on my Wii is more accurate than the one in my bathroom so I now have a reason (other than, you know, actually excercising!) to turn on the Wii first thing in the morning.  I know I am not supposed to weigh myself during the week but I can't help myself.  Now, more than ever, while I try to find my sea legs on this new WW venture, I find myself drawn to the scales, praying for some scale love.  So pathetic!

But the little Wii guy told me I was -2 lbs today. Seductive little bastard, I hope he's telling the truth!

Goal Day 1

I did it! I went up and put my money down on a membership at the gym! $35. for the year and $15 a month.  That's doable. 

Down side is Gym will not officially open until the end the month!  So, I will add some walking to my regimen and just do what I can to increase my activity until such time as I have access to a facility where I can go and get sore.  Can you tell how excited I am?

Speaking of sore!  New Years Day, my daughter and family came over for dinner and we Wii bowled.  The cheeks of my behind and my right shoulder are really sore.  My DH said, "You wouldn't be so sore if you didn't get so INTO it!".  I thought that was what you were supposed to do!!  Standing there flicking your wrist just doesn't quite cut it for me.   That's ok, I like playing my way.  Its more realistic.