Breakfast Frittata

Back in the kitchen with Breakfast stuff today.  Breakfast is probably my favorite meal and the one I generally expend the most Points on.  That's because I don't eat dinner during the week, so come breakfast I am 1) Starving 2) Breakfast is Protein time for me.  I never have understood eating heavy carbs in the morning when I need protein for energy to keep me going, then eating heavy protein at night when I am getting ready to shut down for the day.  Its just bass ackwards for me.   But I do need to watch what I eat for breakfast, of course.  

This morning I decided to make a frittata.  I really like these because they are sorta one pan meals and they make a lot that I can stretch over a few days.  And they are pretty yummy.  So lets reconstruct this thing.  

I start with a potato, what ever kind you have.  I had Yukon Golds.  

Just peel it and slice it along with an onion (again, whatever you have) and a bell pepper. 

Mix those up together.  Heat an oven proof frying pan over medium high heat, spraying lightly with oil or a non stick spray.  I use olive oil in a small spray bottle that I found from a company called Prepara.  I can actually use any oil in it and one day, I want to have an entire collection of bottles of tasty, healthy oils that I can spray into my cooking.  Here is my little bottle that I love. 

The lid pulls up and pushes down to pump air into the bottle. 

Then comes off to reveal a spray nozzle.  Clever, eh?

Don't you love kitchen gadgets?  Anyway.  So, where was I?

Ok, so add your sliced potatoes, onion and bell pepper to your heated pan and brown everything lightly.  You may need to spray the food a couple of time in this process.  It helps with the browning.   Remove from pan and set aside.  You can season this to your hearts content.  I just added some salt and pepper.

Respray your pan and add some mushrooms.  Spray the mushrooms a couple of times while they are cooking also.  Do not season your mushrooms until the are almost done.  Salt pulls water out of them and makes them soupy!

Try not to eat all the mushrooms before you put this thing together.  It will be a temptation, I promise you.

Remove from pan and set aside.

Add some lean diced ham to your pan and cook until any water is removed and you have lightly browned the ham.  I used prepackaged stuff and when I post the recipe at the end of this, the Points are based on the use of this ham.  Others may have more or less fat, sodium etc.  Watch your packaging.

Put everything back in the pan and mix around well so the entire list of ingredients so far is well combined. 

While your ham is browning, add 4 eggs and 4 egg whites to a bowl and whisk together well.  Pour over all the ingredients in your frying pan. 

Cook on top of stove for a few minutes, maybe 5, and then put in pre-heated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.  Remove and add 1/2 cup low fat cheese of your choice.  I used WW Mexican Style.

Return to oven for another 7 to 10 minutes or until cheese is completely melted. 

I have a wonderful set of non stick cookware, so this slides out of the pan very nicely onto a plate.

Then I cut it into six servings and scarf it on up while its still hot. 

Aint' it purty?!!  For my Weight Watcher Buddies, everything in this Frittata is considered a filling food except the ham and cheese. And trust me, that wedge is filling. 

Breakfast Frittata

POINTS® Value: 4

Servings: 6

Ingredients

4 serving(s) (1 8 oz pkg) Diced Ham, John Morrel
1 medium potato(es)
1 cup(s) red onion(s)
1 item(s) bell pepper(s)
12 oz mushroom(s)
4 item(s) egg
4 item(s) egg white(s)
1/2 cup(s) Weight Watchers Reduced Fat Shredded Mexican-Style Cheese
Seasoning to taste
Instructions

Lightly spray non stick fry pan with oil of your choice (I use olive oil).

Slice and lightly brown potato, onion and bell pepper Additional sprays may be used to help brown potato. Remove from pan and set aside. Respray pan and add mushrooms , spraying tops before turning. Cook mushroms completely. Remove from pan and set aside. Add ham and cook water off and brown gently. Recombine all ingredients.

Scramble eggs and egg whites thoroughly and pour over frittata mixture in pan. Move mixture around and allow the egg to penetrate throughout . Allow to cook on stovetop another couple minutes and then move to preheated 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and spread cheese over the top. Return to oven for another 10 minutes or until cheese is well melted.

CAREFUL, this will burn easily if left too long on stove or in oven.

Weigh In and Not Bad for a Vacation

Ok, then!!  I am up .2!  I am soo happy with that.  I was scared to death that all those scallop tacos and beer and Nachos, did I mention beer? and chips and dips, and oh, and don't forget the beer!!  So you can see, I didn't deserve the break that my body cut me on this one.  But I will take it and have already re-committed to getting back on track immediately. 

I just got back from the grocery store and damn near bought out the produce section.  Everything is ripe and on sale.  What a wonderful combination.  Lettuce, tomatos, sweet onions, carrots, zucchini, you name it!!  Its going to be a wonderful salad that I hope will last me the week.  I also bought a watermelon and a cantaloupe and some cherries!! I can add a little lean protein to a salad and nosh out on fruit and I will be back at my pre-gain weight in no time.  I am rockin' this!!

I have a digital scale and there was a moment this morning that it kind of rocked me back on my heels a little.  I stepped on and it read 185!! I was dumb founded and then angry and I thought about not going to my meeting this morning because that would have meant I gained 6 pounds and I was ashamed!! But then me and myself sat down and had a little heart to heart and me convinced myself that going to the meeting was essential regardless of the gain.  Maybe even more importantly BECAUSE of the gain.  I need to be accountable for that! Running away from it wasn't going to make it any prettier, for damn sure! So I went ahead and got ready to go, all the while steaming about my traitor scale.  Then the more I thought about it, the more improbable that much of a gain became so I pulled the scale out again, moved it to a different spot and stepped up.  179.6.  Now thats more like it!  Regardless, I was going to my meeting tho' and I think that is as much a victory as slapping the scale into submission.

We're Back!

Wow, what a day!!  Our 7:15 am flight was cancelled and we were moved to a flight that didn't leave Cabo until 3:40 pm! We did not get home until after midnight and I didn't get to bed until around 2:00 am.  That was not in the plans.  Also, the hot water heater isn't working for some reason, so no way to shower this morning.  Not going to work like this!!

On a lighter note:  Looks like I maintained fairly well this week.  Its back on full plan now though.  Hope to actually show a loss come Saturday.  Join me for Weigh In news then!

Food, Glorious Food

Ok, here are a few of the things I have tried and really, really liked.  Aguachiles, kind of a marinated shrimp dish, hot and spicy!!  Beer Butt Chicken!!  Can you believe I had to come all the way to Mexico to try this?  But not anymore.  Will be making this at home on a regular basis, to be sure!  My cousin turned us on to the wonder of Taquieria Rossy, a taco stand that makes the best stinking shrimp and scallop tacos you ever, ever ate!!  Actually it was the first time I have ever had a "fish" type taco and I could like move into the back room and wash dishes for tacos.  They were soooo good.  OH, almost forgot the pulpo (thats octopus) salsa we had the first day we were here.  That was delicious too.  Ah, who the hell am I kidding?!  Its all been a gastronomic vacation of the best kind. 

Tonight we are grilling steaks and I am making Cucumber and Cantaloupe Salad.  Not sure if I have posted this before, but if you love and trust me, you will make this.  And if you don't love and trust me, if you make it, you will afterwards!!

Cucumber and Cantaloupe Salad

Peel and clean one cantaloupe and cut into bite size pieces.  Depending on the size of your cantaloupe, peel and cut 1 to 2 cucumbers into bite size pieces.  Your goal is to have equal (or close to equal) amounts of each.  I always complete the cleaning and cutting part long before we are actually ready to eat it, so I put the components into their own individual ziploc bags and refrigerate until I am ready to serve the salad.  You don't want to mix this up too early or it gets soupy!  Right before you are ready to serve this, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of Best Foods Mayonnaise.  Do Not Use Miracle Whip!!  You want enough Mayo to coat everything but not too much!  Add Salt and Coarse Ground Pepper, mix and serve.  With a large Cantaloupe, 2 cucumbers, 3 tablespoons of mayo, you should be able to serve about 10 people!  Yeah, makes alot of salad!!  and is only 1 WW point per serving.  You heard it here first!!  Buen Proveche!

Time Share Presentations

We sat through a time share presentation this morning at a resort here in Cabo.  A spectacularly beautiful place that I would give my left arm to have bought into, but we don't have that kind of money readily available and I am reallly quite fond of my left arm.  For putting up with the "Bullies" tho', we got 3 days free rental on a car, $100 in dining certificates, rental on a jet sky for 30 minutes, more food and beverage certificates, and Day Spa certs for 2.  Score!!  I felt kind bad knowing I wasn't going to buy in from the beginning and that I would be getting all these freebies regardless, but not bad enough to not do it anyway. 

I am trying like hell to watch what I am eating and only marginally succeeding.  Oh, well, it is vacation and how many more times to I expect to do something like this.  Zero!!

My cousin does not have a USB cable that fits my camera, so close your eyes and imagine a patio overlooking the Sea of Cortez with an ocean breeze blowing over you seducing you to buy time shares.  Um, I will post pictures when we get home!

Cabo San Lucas, Here We Come!!

Weigh in and What Did I Expect?

Did you know that a Snickers bar weighs 1.6 lbs?  Maybe not quite that much. I am sure the addition of those Spicy Dorito Chips added to the overall impression of that significant number!  Wow!

Well, what did I expect?  I know can't eat like that and the little mini-revolution that was going on with my taste buds only proves that those items should not be any where in my world.   So, today is a new day and a new start.  I have been getting back on track and intend to stay there.  It is my intent to, at the least, maintain while I am on vacation.  Lets see if I can pull it off!

Back on Track But For How Long?

Ok, I have done ok.  Not spectacular, but ok, for the last couple of days.  However, I am getting ready to go to Cabo San Lucas.  I do not plan on being terribly on plan for a week or so.  As a matter of fact, I plan on blowing this whole thing all to hell in just a couple of days.  Not really, but that sounded so dramatic, didn't it?

Growing up around the Mexican culture I know that quality Mexican food is full of good vegetables and fish, pork and seafood, most especially in and around the Sea of Cortez area. We will be right in the thick of that.  My cousin, having lived there for a number of years has promised to show us to the "good" spots, which means those place that don't normally see alot of tourist traffic and are therefore more prone to serve things other than the regular bean burrito or greasy taco.  So, while it may be a tightrope walk, I know I can do it.  And I will still enjoy my vacation regardless.

And you know what?  I am in love with Tootsie Roll Midgees!!  Nuf said! 

What's Wrong Today?

I have been so off plan today.  I am talking candy bars and Doritos!! WTF?! This is my nightmare.  I don't want to do this.  Well, most of  me doesn't anyway.  My mouth is formenting revolt!  My tastebuds are calling for a total overthrow of the current regime!

I ate good healthy stuff too, lots of fruit in particular, but these junk food craves are gonna be the death of me.  Literally and figuratively!

Stuffed Mushrooms

Dinner was light but yummy.   Mushrooms stuffed with diced ham, bell pepper and onion.  Cooked in olive oil.  Once again, perhaps not the Point friendliest meal, but nothing overly off plan.  The crescent is low fat also. 

These were beautiful mushrooms, perfect for stuffing.

Summertime and Sangria Wine

They just go together!!  When we lived in Spain, we learned to make our own Sangria.  Here's a quicky recipe.

About 4 cups Burgundy Wine
1 Liter of Orange Soda
1 liter Lemon Lime Soda
4 jiggers Triple Sec
1 cup of Sugar
2 Red Delicious Apples, cored and cut into bite size pieces
3 Valencia Oranges, chopped into bite size pieces (leave the skin on!)
2 cups green seedless grapes, sliced in half

Mix the first 4 ingredients and stir well.  Add the fruit and some ice and allow to stew for an hour or so.  Enjoy!

Now, I Weight Watchered this up using diet sodas and Splenda.  This will serve a number of people for a day or two (unless you have a drinking problem?!) I figure its about 2 points an 8 oz serving.  It's yummy and goes good with a BarBQue or Stuffed Mushrooms which is on my menu tonite!! 

                                                                                     

This picture is before adding ice.  That will dilute it significantly.  It needs it, trust me!!

Dinner was Pretty Good

Everything was about the Corn on the Cob, which was actually so-so.  Here is what I have learned about corn.  The longer it sits after picking, the less sugar/more starch you wind up with.  So if at first harvest its 80 sugar, 20 starch and you don't get it home to the table PDQ, you wind up with 20 sugar, 80 starch.  Um, lets just say my corn was old!

Anyway, the steak was good and I made a totally not WW friendly salad but damn, did it taste good.  Made up for the disappointing corn.  Here's a pic or two. 

This is my salad.  It has PINE NUTS and GOAT CHEESE.  Its temporary insanity, I swear.  But my taste buds were very, very happy. 

This steak is exquisite.  You can't go wrong with this recipe unless you overcook the meat.  Then you should be shot or at least sent to your room without supper.

So this is what the fnal damage looked like.  I don't think I will get drummed out of my next WW meeting,

Saturday Food

Ok, yes, the title is Saturday food, but first, let me cover Friday food!  I made shrimp cakes yesterday.  I don't know what to think about them.  They taste ok, but the texture...hmmm.  Hubby liked them.  I doubt I will do them again. 

Tonite, we are having skirt steak marinated (since 5 am mind you! overnite is even better!) in a wondermous balsamic vinegar, olive oil, basil, garlic, pinch of sugar concoction that will render it amazing!  Along with that I will roast a couple ears of corn and make a salad.  I love this time of year.  If I can avoid diving head first into my meal tonite, I will try to get a picture.  I am drooling just thinking about it.

Weigh In and Blog Awards

Weigh In...Down .6 for a total of 34 lbs gone!  Ok Then!!  I was hungry this morning and took a banana and milk with me to the meeting and chowed down while we talked about breakfast.  I love breakfast.  Normal breakfast for me is an egg, a couple of slices of crisp bacon, a Sandwich Thin and fruit of some kind.  And don't forget my 12 oz of fat free milk!! I have no problem with a 9 point breakfast.  It gets me going and keeps me satisfied until lunch and that's what its about to me.  And, of course, anything with bacon is heavenly!

Suzi gave me my blog award last week and I did part of the requirements but had not passed it on as yet.  So here are my three awardees.  Love your blogs, all!!  Enjoy.

Rapunzel   Jessie   Sally

A Blog Award!

Wow, my long lost little sister (ok, maybe third cousin twice removed, but we don't care) Suzi at http://okjustonemorebeer.blogspot.com/ gave me an award! Hugs and kisses, babe! It's that flashy green thing to the right over there, the Oh My Blog award. Gorgeous, isn't it? There are rules (Aren't there always?) and they go something like this:

1. Get really excited that you got the coolest award EVER! – CHECK!!

2. Choose ONE of the following options of accepting the OMB award:
(a) Get really drunk and blog for 15 minutes straight, or for as long as you can focus.
(b) Write about your most embarrassing moment.
(c) Write a “Soundtrack of your childhood” post.
(d) Make your next blog a ‘vlog’/video blog. Basically, you’re talking to the camera about
whatever.
(e) Take a picture of yourself first thing in the morning, before you do anything else (hair,
makeup, etc) and post it.
3. Pass this award onto at least 3, but preferably more, awesome bloggers as yourself. Don’t
forget to tell them.

Excited? I am thrilled. I feel uber special. I figured out how to post a vlog. Aren't I clever?! I need to do a little research into which one of my friends does not already have this award and that is gonna take a day or two. In the meantime, I want to get it posted and thank Suzi!! With all my heart.

And yes, I am as old and tired as I look!! Especially today.

Weigh in and Shopping

Well, down again, .8 this time.  Such a crawl, but as I say, down is down.  I am not going to complain.  I am within 13 lbs of what I weighed when I got married.  I have lost 3x time that already.  I can do it, I just need to be patient!

On the other hand, just went and spent a small fortune on clothes.  I have been adjusting my wardrobe for work, but not for play and really had little in the way of summer clothes, especially pants/capris/shorts, things of that nature.  I have given all of my larger stuff away including all my brand new capris from last year that no longer fit me. 

I love Kohl's and they are having a tremendous sale right now,  so after my meeting this morning, I hit the sales racks.  I got several new capris and I think Gloria Vanderbilt rocks!!  Her clothes fit me so well.  And, despite the name, the cost is reasonable.  A winning combination, fit and affordability. So, I am set for the duration of the summer, I do believe!!  I know I have more weight to lose and am sure I will do so, but I don't think I will lose it fast enough to shrink out of these clothes before summer is over!

Going on Vacation!

OMG, I just booked travel for 2 to Cabo San Lucas!  I am on cloud 9.  We will stay for a week with a cousin that lives there.  I cannot wait!!

I have to buy a bathing suit. I am not looking forward to that!!  And my passport picture?  Dear God, its frightening just how heavy I was.

On another note, I did my 3 mile walk yesterday and wore blisters on my feet, so only did 2 today.  Notice I say ONLY.  I think I have lost my mind!!  This from someone who once did not walk more than 200 feet without complaining is now developing a guilt complex because she didn't walk 3 miles with blisters on her feet.

More Walking Talk

Ok, so I have been doing about 2 miles of aerobic walking a day and an additional 3 miles just booking around the job.  Getting my recommended 10,000 steps a day in.  But the 2 miles is getting "easy" so I have been trying to figure out what is going to kick it in gear for me and not kill me.  I can't seem to find an "attractive" route around work that will allow me to expand the length of my walk and I don't want to double up on the same route...BORING!!  Fastest way to convince me not to do that again! 

So I went to MapMyWalk and set a course around the neighborhood.  I set a 3 mile course that I know will be uphill in the beginning, but mostly downhill on the return side and I think I can do it in an hour or less.  I have changed my work hours some, so I can get an early enough start to walk first in the morning then come home and get showered and  ready to go in.   Wish me luck at least for these first few days.  I have a feeling I am going to need it. 

At least I will be walking in the dark so I don't scare the neighbors!

Imitation Crab

Costco used to sell the most awesome imitation crab and they had an awesome recipe for a salad that if my memory serves was something like Mermaid Salad.  Which kinda gave me the Willies cause I always had a vision of Ariel missing a bite out of her tail!!  Anyway, Costco quit carrying this yummy stuff and I quit eating Mermaid Salad because I am suspicious of fake food and without an opportunity to taste I wasn't investing anything into fake crab from a lesser source.  Until yesterday...

I went to Safeway to pick up a few things and I wanted some shrimp.  I didn't see any right away so asked the butcher, a young woman, and she showed me right to the shrimp.  We were talking about recipes and she asked me if I had ever tried their imitation crab and, of course, I hadn't.  And then she gave me a sample and then I swooned.  No, actually, I grabbed a package and brought it home and made some Mermaid Salad for lunch today.  Ariel be damned!!  I should have bought more, its on sale, and I might go back and get some to freeze.  Wow, just wow.  Here is the recipe.  Please note, I used full up mayonnaise and whole (white and yolk) eggs for this.  If you use light or fat free mayo and only egg white, this is probably practically Point free.  It's also nowhere near as tasty.   Also, I think next time I would add a little more fake crab.  Its good. 

Mermaid Salad
POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 10

Ingredients

4 item(s) whole hard-boiled egg(s), diced
1 cup(s) Vidalia onion(s), diced
1 1/2 cup(s) tomato(es)
3 cup(s) Iceberg lettuce, Shredded
3 medium stalk(s) celery, diced
1/2 cup(s) Best Foods Real Mayonnaise
1 tsp table salt
2 Tbsp McCormick Ground black pepper
1/3 pound(s) imitation crab, chopped or shredded

Instructions
Mix all ingredients together. Serve on Triscuits or Flatout (rolled up).
Serving Size is about 1 cup

We put about a cup on a Flatout Flatbread and rolled it up. Oh, mermaids are yummy things!!

Weigh In and Back to the Struggle

Well, I was down -4.  Whoopee! I know, down is down, right.  Sometimes its such a struggle.  I started walking in an effort to boost my loss rate, and it seemed to work last week.  Not so much this week.  But I am not going to stop walking.  I am liking it too much!  So, if we must do this in half pound increments, I guess that's what we have to do.  I am here for the long haul.

A Few Yesterdays Ago!

Today I was reminiscing about youthful escapades and a favorite memory popped up!  One in which I was relatively thin and really young, maybe 25!

I don't recall exactly how it happened, but somehow or another I wound up being a chaperon for the Base High School's senior class trip!  Remember, my husband was in the Air Force?  Anyway, the trip was 4 days, 3 nights to Ibiza, a beautiful island in the middle of the Meditteranean Sea off the coast of Spain. I had to pay my own way, but I wanted to go so badly. My husband stayed home and it was just me, one other adult not much older than I, and about 30 teenagers. 

When we got to our hotel on the island, I called a meeting on the patio while the hotel staff processed the stampede.  I told everyone "You are or will be legal adults in the not too distant future.  I am not going to tell you how to behave, where to sleep, what to drink or not drink, etc.  I am here to make sure that there is an adult available in case of an emergency.  Otherwise, you guys all go have a good time.  I will leave word of my daily location with the front desk if you need me".   And then I prayed.  And then I headed for the beach!

Topless Beach!!  Now, before you go getting all freaked out, this is totally normal on most of the beaches in Europe.  They have a totally different attitude about the body than most Americans do.  We are really prudes!  It took me all of about 30 minutes to relax enough to actually go topless on the beach and I probably did it more because I felt out of place fully dressed (with top) when everyone around me was half naked. 

It was glorious fun and I enjoyed the rest of the time we were there getting sunburned in the damnedest places.  The kids actually did really well and we only had one mishap; a broken leg in a moped accident.
Of course, there is no telling what happened nine months after the fact.  After all, I wasn't checking beds.

New Clothes or No?

Ok, I have to ask here because I love to stir the pot and would like to know what you all think.  In the process of your weight loss, did you buy new clothes along the way?  Did you wait until you had lost 5 sizes before you could convince yourself that you needed some new duds?  I, personally, am having so much fun buying clothes and I still have a metric ton (ok, a metric 30 lbs) to lose, but I like to look nice and I don't feel like I look nice in the gunny sacks that my previous sizes have now become.  Just by virtue of the fact that they just hang on me.  I am also removing my "fat" clothes from my closet as soon as they can actually be defined that way.  I won't leave myself any excuse for backward movement.  On the other hand, I know a number of people who won't make the investment. 

To me, that is self doubt.  I know where I am headed.  I don't intend to go back where I came from.  I may never make it all the way to the goal that WW says I should be reaching for.  And that's ok.  Dammit, I am an old lady.  Even the doctors expect some fat!!  But I will no longer allow myself the indulgence of 220 lbs.  Ridiculous!! 

Cold in Arizona in May? What is that about!!?

I got my walk in this morning, but it was like 44 degrees and the wind was probably blowing about 10 mph.  Just enough to make me miserable.  It was cold, brrrrrrrr!!  I am a desert rat and anything below 60 usually has me grubbing for fleece!  I got a 1.5 mile power walk, and still managed to get my 5+miles overall in.

I am complaining about it being cold, but a few years ago, I wanted to take my grandkids to the Desert Museum, a really cool zoo here in Tucson.  It was in the summer and I had to wake their little tyke butts up really early so we could get moving before it got too hot.  We arrived at the zoo about 7 am.  It was, now no kidding, 110 degrees.  At 7 am!!  I wanted to die!!  We strolled for a couple hours, but that was it.  Nana was melting and even the damned coyotes have enough sense to get out of the heat!  Went home and got in the pool. 

Damned Chinese Food!!

Weigh in and Walking Results

Saturday morning weigh in and I am thinking "Well, if I didn't lose some serious poundage this week I don't know what is going to jump start my loss motor."  Well, Ladies and Gents, I am pleased and proud to announce that I walked off 2.8 pounds last week for a total loss of 32.2 lbs.  I also lose another  food Point this week but that's ok, I have not been eating them all anyway.   Yeehaw!!

Other Things on Laura's Mind

Ok, so y'all are probably sick of reading about walking and I don't blame you.  I do have other things on my mind.  Some great weighty things and some other just interesting (at least to me) things and being that this is MY blog, I guess I get to be the judge of that.  I always wanted to be Queen of the World.  I just didn't expect the scope of it to be quite this small.  Oh well.  So here goes...

When I was a little girl, my dad called me Lard Bucket.  It was a term of endearment.  Really!!  and it fit.  I was a chunk.  Look..

Look at the rolls on those adorable thighs.  I think that was the last time my thighs were adorable. Anyway, dad called me Lard Bucket for years.  In case you don't know, lard used to come in little miniature buckets.  Back when my dad was young those buckets were made of tin and used for lunch pails once emptied.  So, it when I reached about 3 years of age, I think I was just about a year here, someone said to me "Aren't you cute?! What is your name?"  and I answered "Laura Bucket Powell".  My dad quickly found a new term of endearment!!

Ok, now a more serious subject.  If you are a follower and have read back in the blog, you know that my mother and I had to make a decision as to her care when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2007.  The treatment was as hard, if not harder on her than the disease, and we reached a point where we needed to just spend some quality time together and know that eventually her disease would kill her, but she would not suffer any undue pain.  We did just that and had a 6 months of her being ok and able to enjoy what was rest of her life without the constant interference of the medication.

The medication is the issue that I have.  First, I need to address the fact that modern medicine is amazing and can and does do miraculous things every day.  And Oncologists are often nothing short of miracle workers.  However, their reputations and careers are solely based on keeping patients alive.  Without regard to the quality of that life.   My mother's body was broken, her spine was crushed and compressing more all the time, her kidneys had been damaged by the disease.  The doctor said "Well, we can probably give you 2 more years."  But what kind of years?  Years in pain?  Years sick because of the potency of the meds?

The reason this comes up today is that last night I was watching the news and Dr. Sanjay Gupta was running on about a new Prostate Cancer "vaccine" that was probably going to be approved by the FDA very shortly.  And its big plus?  It could give a man maybe 4 more months to live.  4?  4?  And its cost?  Astronomical!!

Maybe I am seeing this through a different lens than others but I could not for the life of me grasp the benefit of this.  Is this what medical science is spending billions on?  Is this why our medical costs are so high because of R&D cost on drugs like this?  I love the people I love and like most everyone else and I would not give this drug to anyone that I love or like.  Because 4 months is a false promise at best and I can't imagine anyone that loves me or their families (the ones I like) willing to bankrupt their families to postpone the inevitable for 4 months.   Senseless.

Enough for tonight.  I will do more like this later

I got to walk today!

It was chilly when I got to work this morning, but I had a nice little fleecey jacket with me so I grabbed it, the iPod and my pedometer and took off.  I power walked 1.81 miles.  I am going to have to change up my route soon so I can add distance. Which means, of course, that I will have to make time concessions somewhere.  I don't know that I want to go in much earlier, I already get to work right around 5 am.  However, I don't like staying later in the afternoon either.  I could start running but not sure I am ready for that yet. 

Anyway, here is my picture of the day.  Just in case you thought I was kidding.

That's 5.25 miles today total.  I am choked up!

Still Moving (Sorta)

Well, I never put my pedometer on today because, as I anticipated, the wind was blowing something crazy and I didn't go for my power walk this morning.  Know how I felt about that?  Disappointed!!  Go figure!
So, in a snit, I just didn't measure any of my walking today despite the fact that I generally walk at least 3 additional miles over my power walk in the morning.  Oh, well, my mind measured it and somewhere deep in the flab, my fat measured and cringed a little. Imagine, cringing fat!

5 Miles Milly

Got my 5 miles in today (actually 4.66, but who's counting?).  I am developing a love/hate relationship with this.  I love doing it, I think, I hate the fact that I have to do it!! I will probably not walk for the rest of the week because the weather is supposed to be yucky and I don't do yucky weather.  Its all I can do to get out of bed in yucky weather.   But you know what?  I have walked almost 15 miles in the last 3 days.  That's freaking amazing to ME! Who'da thunk?  And I promise, if the wind is calm in the morning then I will walk.  I just can't walk in a hurricane!! (in Arizona?)

Walking, walking

Well, I now have 2 days of solid walking under my belt.  I start first thing in the morning and do an aerobic walk between 2 buildings at work.  It's almost exactly 2 miles and I can cover it in about 25 minutes (if I don't have to pee!!).  It not exactly flat as I originally thought, there is a slight grade to it, but its a good training course for someone that hasn't walked more than a 100 yards in damn near as many years.  The weather is changing and the winds are supposed to kick up and I hate wind.  If its bad, I won't walk, which inspired me to walk today.  Now there is a combination of words I would have never expected from myself;
Walking and Inspiration!! 

The balance of the day, the other 3 miles, is just the distance that I walk around work.  I make a concerted effort to go to the bathroom farthest away from my desk (without leaving the building) and as much water as I drink, I go lots!! 

Aren't I just something (or other)?

Activity Points

So, today I walked 10,400 steps, with close to 4000 of those being aerobic.  I would sure like to know how to convert that to activity points?  Help?!

Spaghetti Pie

This was pretty good.  Very rich!! I don't know who could possibly eat a sixth of this pie, its so rich!  So I broke it into 8 servings.  Even with that it is very filling.  With a salad, its a perfect meal.   And its very purty!

Spaghetti Pie

POINTS® Value: 6
Servings: 8

Ingredients

1 pound(s) cooked ground beef 93% Lean
2 cup(s) Prego Heart smart fresh mushroom Italian sauce
6 oz uncooked spaghetti
1/2 cup(s) Egg Beaters Refrigerated Egg Whites
1/2 cup(s) grated Parmesan cheese
3 oz fat-free cream cheese
1/2 cup(s) light sour cream
1 cup(s) scallion(s)
1/2 pound(s) brown italian mushroom(s)
4 clove(s) garlic clove(s)
1/2 cup(s) Weight Watchers Reduced-Fat Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions

Brown ground meat and season to taste, I use salt, pepper, garlic pepper and a little Italian seasoning. Add the spaghetti sauce.  Set aside. 

Cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain. Add the egg substitute and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of a 9-in. deep-dish pie plate coated with cooking spray. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, green onion and remaining Parmesan cheese. Spread over spaghetti crust. In a nonstick skillet, saute mushrooms and garlic until tender. Spoon over cheese mixture. Spread with spaghetti sauce. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese; bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before cutting.

Makes 8 servings.

Followers, WooHoo

Girls, I am loving this.  I didn't know a body could get so excited about internet friends.  Its too cool. 

I came across a Marilyn Monroe quote that I love and I think it reflects my attitude about myself.  I have always tended to try to "improve" me when I felt loved and accepted for being just the way I was.  When I am pushed to make changes, I am prone to bow up and resist with everything in me.  Interesting insight into myself.  Stubborn, I am!!

I wanted to put this in my sidebar, but can't figure out how to make it look cool, so for now, here it is::

"I'm selfish, impatient, & a little insecure. I'm OUT OF CONTROL & at times I'm hard TO HANDLE, but if you can't handle me at my worst, THEN YOU SURE AS HELL don't deserve Me at
My best"…Marilyn Monroe

Math and Spaghetti Pie

I just went to post my weight on the WW eTools which is where I keep all my "records" and realized that my leader needs some remedial math studies.  I actually had a 1.8 gain, not just .8.  Now is it the end of the world?  Absolutely not!  As a matter of fact, its a down right beautiful morning and I am making spaghetti pie for dinner.  Sounds good, huh? I have never had spaghetti pie before, but the recipe looks really good.  I will write up a review afterward. 

County Fair Food!

That ought to be illegal!!  I didn't even eat my entire corn dog, like maybe a third?  But...You knew that was coming right??  Chile Cheese Fries.  Dear Baby Jesus!!  Ok, so they were horrid and nasty (not) and we threw them away (yeah, right) and I wiill be a good girl forever and ever amen (or until the next county fair).  That was easy!!

Weigh In and the County Fair

Well, I was up a bit today, .8 to be exact, but that's ok. Traveling is hard on the Plan and regardless of what I did (or didn't do) there were so many variables that I couldn't meet.  Just my water intake alone was hosed!!  So, its all good and we move on. 

I am still really "puffy".  My hands are swollen and my fingers look like little sausages. I need to drink lots more water and wash this crap out of my system. 

Its been a busy weekend.  Got hair cut and colored yesterday, weigh in today and nails done too and we are going to go to the County Fair tonite.  One of my favorite country artists, Jake Owen, will be performing and I really would like to see him.  Linky thing -- > YeeHaw

And somewhere out there, there is a corndog with my name on it!!

Our leader today asked us if we "partied" after weigh in, knowing we didn't have to do that again for a week.  Of course the answer was Yes!  Then she asked "When do you start making those plans?"  My answer:  "As soon as I step off that scale".  I don't think I got any points for honesty!?

I Love Spring

Despite the fact that the weather has been weird, cold and wet for us, I love Spring.  Things are blooming and the birds are all dancing and singing and nesting and getting those eggs layed and hatched.  This is just my favorite time of year.  The following are just in my front yard.  And remember, I live in the desert and I don't water anything.  Mother Nature takes care of that for me.  Its the only way to roll when you live in a water deprived environment. 

This is a kangaroo paw.  Its native to Australia.  Its a strange, lovely plant and I should have taken this picture several weeks ago when those little fuzzy things were crimson in color.  Unfortunately, they fade over time and I didn't catch them soon enough.











This is my driveway wall.  Its covered with a cat claw vine which I need to cut down to the ground, but wanted to get some photos of before hand while it was blooming. 

Its very prolific and if left to its own devices will tear up the wooden cover of the driveway so we cut it down every year and it comes back looking like this.  I love my cat claw!!

See, up in the eves how thick it is.






This is an even better picture of that density. Its cool cause the birds like to nest in it, and I don't mind that myself.

And the flowers are beautiful.

Fish Tales

Am I weird that I don't like salmon?  I mean, I really don't like salmon.  I like mild, generally white meat fish, like mahi mahi, sole, tilapia.  Salmon is just too...something.  Yuck!  I think its because its heavy and kind of oily.  Fishy!!  Isn't fish supposed to be fishy?  I don't know, I am so confused.

There is No Place Like Home!!

Ah, two Wizard of Oz references in just a couple days.  I think I need to pull out my WoO video and watch it.  I would love to have a Flying Monkey or two.  Anyway...

I am home!  Yayyy!  Took me forever it seems like.  Yesterday morning I woke up at 2 freaking 30 in the morning and could not go back to sleep.  So I just got myself cleaned up, packed up and sat and read for several hours until I could go get some breakfast and head into the last day of the conference.  Talk about boring!! I actually did not stay for the entire thing as the last section was not pertinent to anything I had to deal with so went ahead and left for the airport.  Got the car turned in and went to check in, but they wouldn't allow me to check my bags more that four hours early?!  What?  I didn't think I was that early, so I asked the ticketing agent and she told me that my flight had already been delayed 2 hours!  OMG!  I wasn't going to get home until around 1 a.m.

I asked her if she could get me on an earlier flight and bless her heart, she managed to get me on the next flight out.  Eileen, I love you. For real, Girl!  But now I have a 3 hour lay over at LAX.  That's cool.  They sell Lite beer and I can sit and watch people for hours.  And I am very friendly and enjoy talking to people. I got to pet Hercules who is the Pit Bull buddy of the Little Person who has the Pit Bull/Little Person show on Animal Planet!  It was kinda fun actually. 

My flight out of there was supposed to be at 7:05, so I head over to the gate, only to discover that it was going to be late too!  8:05 to be exact!  Except we didn't get off the ground until 8:30 and I didn't get home until after 10.  I said my hellos to the golfer, put my jammies on, took a sleeping pill because I was too tired to sleep and crashed.  I am still exhausted.  I am getting too old for this nonsense. 

Its good to be home.

It's a Good Thing that Divorce is Expensive and I Am Broke!

Yesterday, before I left the house headed for the airport, I kissed the Hubby goodbye (woke him up to do this) and told him I would call him when I got to my destination later that afternoon.  We had spoken about this the night before so this was sort of an affirmation of that conversation and the plans we had already made.

So when I got to Santa Clara and checked into my hotel, I called home.  No one answered.  And I called again a short while later and...no one answered.  And again and again and again.  Until I started to get frightened because this is rather unusual for Hubby.  When we have plans, he generally follows the plan.  So I called my sister who, as usual, did not answer her phone and then I contacted my best friend to schedule her to run by the house on her way home from work to check on Hubby, who by now, in my imagination, was lying in a puddle of blood after having amputated his arm with some power tool or had had a heart attack and one of the pugs was licking him to death. 

He called me when he got off the golf course.  I think I should have just let the pugs lick him to death.  It would have served him right!!

Watermelon, Strawberries and Grapes, Oh My!

Breakfast Blues

Ok, I am at a conference and registration is in an hour.  With Continental Breakfast which usually equal coffee and pastries. So to avoid that trap, I am on my way to the restaurant for an Eggbeaters Omelet.  Hopefully, the "free" food will also have some fruit.  That I will dive into!!

Hotel California

What kind of hotel is this?  There is no blow dryer?!  And I just now realized it! And its 3:30 am!  I am in deep doo-doo!! I do not have a hair style that will allow me to go wandering around in public without some extreme management technique being applied along with a can of hairspray.  Um, wonder if there is a Walmart anywhere around?

Edit: Why would you put the blow dryer in the closet in a little bag that says hair dryer? 

Travel!

Tomorrow I fly into Santa Clara, CA for a conference.  I have never been there and am (was) really looking forward to going, but looks like the weather is going to be all hosed the entire time I am there.  Pfffftttt!

So, taking some work out clothes so I can go to the gym in the hotel instead of talking the walks I so enjoy and, of course, an umbrella so I can get from the car to the restaurant I want to go to (I am going to the Fish Market for at least one meal).  As for working out in the gym, hopefully, it will give me the opportunity to try some of the equipment out and determine if I would like to actually join a gym at home.  I can't see me actually doing that, but, hey one never knows!  I could start a wild affair with an eliptical thingy (have no idea what it is actual called!).

I am so pathetic sometimes.

By the way, Saturday is the 1 year anniversary of my quitting smoking.  Damn, I rock!!

Birthday Parties - Someone Elses

We are going to a friend's house to celebrate her SO's birthday this afternoon.  I volunteered to make guacamole, because I make a killer quacamole and I like to make it (and I like to eat it!). 

Avocados are $1 each right now, which isn't horrid, but the last few I have purchased have been practically inedible with so many bad spots in them that you might get about 1/2 of an avocado you could actually eat. 

So with this in mind, I bought 10 avocados today, thinking if I get 5 avocados worth, it would be perfect.  Wouldn't you know, every stinking one of those avocados was absolutely perfect!!  So now, I have enough guacamole to feed a small country.  I will take some to the party this afternoon and the rest to work tomorrow. 

I haven't posted this recipe because most of us are trying to watch what we consume and this stuff has absolutely nothing to do with eating healthy.  However, if anyone really wants, just let me know and I will put it out there.  Its not a secret and as most know, there are as many guacamole recipes as there are people that eat the stuff.  I am just partial to this one (and I made it up so Mother Love and all that).

Oh, Tacos, You Exquisite Creatures

Could I wax poetic about tacos? Um, yeah, I think I could!!

In case you missed the debut, here is the run through again, this time with some more photos to pique your interest. 

Ingrediants:

2 lb. 93% Lean Ground Beef (raw) If you can find leaner, use it.
1 large, finely diced potato
Salt, Pepper, chili powder, fajita seasoning, garlic powder (to taste)
24 small (4") corn tortillas
4 tbsp canola oil
3 cups iceberg lettuce (shredded)
2 cups chopped tomato
1 cup diced onion
1 pound low-fat colby cheese or 4 cheese mexican style cheese
1 cup salsa

Add finely diced potato to ground beef along with spices and cook over medium heat until meat is browned but not dry and potatoes are softened. Set aside.

I use Arizona Brand White Corn Tortillas for Tacos and Tostadas. These are 4" tortillas and are 2 for 1 point. If you can find something similar (really thin 4" tortillas) they will probably work.

These are made commercially in Phoenix, AZ and sold everywhere.  If your grocery store does not carry them, ask someone to look into them.  They are available.

In a deep sauce pot heat 2 CUPS of canola oil to very hot. Oil should be rippling, but not smoking. Fold tortillas into taco shape gently so as not to break the bottom (the thin tortillas make this easier) and holding from the top with tongs dip rapidly into the hot oil, making sure all of the "taco" gets a bath and remove immediately.

Lay on a cookie sheet, overlapping the next shell on the last one, until all 24 have had their "bath". If this is done right, and the oil is hot enough, if you measured out the oil, pour it back into whatever you used to measure it with (let it cool first) and you should see that the tortillas didn't absorb more than about 4 tablespoons of oil. You need the entire 2 cups for depth in the pot only. Leftover oil can be reused, might have a slight corny taste.  That lone ranger taco laying sideways there was dud.  It tore before I got it out of the bath.  Into the garbage.

Fill shells using a normal serving spoon. Each shell should take about one ounce of meat. With my spoons, that's about 1 and 1/2 spoons of filling per taco. Do not over fill tacos.

You may have meat left over or you might be short just a little depending on how much you filled the tacos. Play til it works for you.

Put the tacos in the oven at 350 for about 20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and crispy. Bottoms will stay soft and pliable so you can open them without breaking. Are these beautiful or what?

Fill with Lettuce, etc.

This recipe is for 2 dozen tacos because that is what 2 lb of ground beef will make. You may have a little filling left over.  Freeze it or use it in a taco salad the next day. Making half the recipe should not affect the Points.

Edit: I just realized, I didn't put the best picture of all in!!

These are moist and delish and when you bite into them,. they crunch.  Divine! 

According to the WW Recipe Builder these are 3 POINTs per taco or 8 POINTs for 3.  I, under the threat of penalty of death, would not admit to how many I ate tonite.

Taco Night

Need I say more?!

WooHoo Weigh In!!

Ok, I did it.  I lost 3 lbs this week for a total loss of 31.2 to date.  This weeks meeting was about what motivates you and the things we may or may not track besides Points.  One of the things I do track sporadically is my measurements.  Our leader asked me how many inches I had lost and I couldn't tell her because I haven't checked it for a while.  So I came home and measured.  Are you ready for this?

Bust -5 inches
Hips -6 inches
Thighs -2 inches
Arms -1 inch

Somehow my waist measurement has gotten totally screwed but the fact that I can't keep my danged pants up speaks volumes even if I don't have good numbers. 

So what motivates me?  Obviously, positive results motivate me and I see their impact in every aspect of my life right now.  In our meetings the leader always asks "So how does that make you feel (losing 10, 20, 30 etc)" and today, I felt great.  I feel great.  My knees don't hurt so much, I have amazing energy (you are talking to the Queen of Naps here folks!), the comments and compliments are so good for my ego.  There are too many things to say about how getting the unnecessary baggage off makes one feel.  Its more than a physical concept, it forces you to examine different aspects of your life that contributed to you being overweight to begin with in order to not repeat those behaviours.  I think I am getting the hang of this!!

Middle of the Week Crud

Well, I missed several hours of work on Tuesday and stayed home yesterday.  Did go to urgent care only to be told there is some kind of weird cold going around that starts in the throat and chest.  Yippy Skippy!  They prescibed some nasal spray that does seem to give me some relief, so I ain't complaining. 

I went to work today to run into the "April Birthdays Celebration" that was all about pizza!!  Damn!  I ate 3 pieces.  Now, before we get all up in arms here, these were not slices, they were cut pieces about 3 inches square.  Even so, I ate more than I should have and the really sad part is, I didn't really enjoy it.  Lesson learned.

More and more people are complimenting me on my weight loss.  Its nice.  Its also inspiring and drives me to keep it up. 

Grandma Rubye and John

I love to read blogs and they often trigger memories, things forgotten in the rush as we move through life.  This is a favorite and I would love to share.

Grandma Rubye was my father's mother.  She was about as big as a minute, 5'2", about 110 lbs, fiesty as all get out and yet, every inch the Southern Belle.  She cooked good Southern food (read: biscuits and gravy and fried chicken), was a seamstress (made my wedding dress) and could and did put a dried pussy willow branch into the ground and coax it into living and growing into a tree.  She could also drink you under the table and I am sure from whence I inherited my love of beer.

My older brother, Bill, joined the Navy when he was 17, I think, maybe 18.  Of course, through basic training and tech school the whole family corresponded with him and once he was assigned a ship, he would share his family missives with his buddies.  Letters from Grandma Rubye got put on a bulletin board so everyone could see and we all baked dozens of cookies and packed them in real popcorn to send as care package to be shared with the crew.

Bill came home at least once during his tour and brought John home with him.  John and Bill served on the same ship and were buddies.  And John fell madly in love with Grandma Rubye. 

Bill separated from the service in '74 or '75 and John went on to do another tour, this time European (they were originally in the Pacific).  John sent Grandma presents from wherever he was including a beautiful and very expensive cameo he got for her in Italy. When he finally separated, John chose to settle in the same town we live in and he would come visit Grandma Rubye regularly.  He would bring her flowers, take her out to dinner, and just sit and pay attention to her. 

Now, Grandma was loved and appreciated by all of us.  She never did without and all she ever had to do was ask and anyone of us would bend over backward to comply with her every wish.  But we weren't a sweet young man who doted and paid court to her even with the most innocent of motivations. 

In the late 80's, Grandma was diagnosed with emphysema.   From Memorial Day to Labor Day, she failed rapidly.  John was ever present.  He even bought a window air conditioner for her room. She lived with my folks, and my parents were shocked and somewhat embarrassed.  They could have/would have done that, but John was so wrapped up in Grandma, he never even considered the appearance of his actions.

Grandma passed away shortly afterward.  John kind of drifted away.  He would ocassionally stick his head in the door just to let us all know he was doing ok.  I haven't seen him in years now.

However, I will never forget the young sailor that made my Grandma feel like a pretty young girl again.  Who was so gallant and caring.  He was and is a real hero to me. 

New Digs!!

Well, I think I like this?  It's a little busier on the banner than is my preference, but all in all, not too bad.  Your opinion please?

Sick!

God, I hate to be sick!  I woke up this morning with some kind of bug and feel crappy.  It's in my throat and chest.  I am fortunate that I haven't been ill at all in quite some time, but I would have happily continued in that mode indefinately.  I am going to go to Walgreens here shortly and see what kinda new fangle snake oil they are peddling to cure the common cold these days.

I have a new follower.  Folks meet Jessie, who in my opinion is quite adorable and has a fun blog.  You may also notice, I have lost a follower.  Its ok, it was just me.  Don't ask me how I wound up following myself but when I discovered I was going around in circles, I figured I better stop that before I got dizzy and fell down, or puked, or something!

Weigh In and What's for Dinner

So, I continue to march toward "less me".  Down .6 for a grand total of 28.2 lbs lost.  Not bad at all, if I do say so myself. 

The walk turned out to be 2.6 miles.  I plan to do it every day.  We will see.  Its an easy walk, level ground, with the only stressors being time and heat.  We have a short period in the day when we can get away from our desks and you don't want to take off on a hike in Arizona when its a gazillion degrees outside.  Even the coyotes have enough sense to get out of the sun and heat!!

Tonite for dinner I am trying a couple of new recipes: 

Lemon Thyme Chicken

POINTS® Value: 5

Servings: 4

Ingredients
3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp table salt
1 tsp black pepper
4 piece(s) Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
2 tsp olive oil
1 medium Vidalia onion(s)
1 serving(s) Brummel & Brown
1/2 tsp ground thyme
1 cup(s) fat-free chicken broth
3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Combine flour, salt & pepper. Set aside 4 1/2 teaspoons for sauce.

Sprinkle remaing flour mixture over both sides of chicken. Add oil to Skillet and cook chicken over medium heat for 7-9 minutes on each side or unitl juices run clear. Remove and keep warm.

In same pan, saute onion in butter until tender. Add thyme and reseved flour mixture; stir unitl blended.

Gradually stir in broth and lemon juice scraping up any brown bits. Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve over chicken.

With this side:

Rosemary Potatoes

POINTS® Value: 2

Servings: 6
Ingredients

1 bulb(s) garlic clove(s)
4 medium Yukon Gold potato(es)
1/2 medium Vidalia onion(s), chunked
4 tsp olive oil
1 tsp table salt
5 item(s) rosemary sprig
3 Tbsp Dijon mustard
4 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar

Instructions

Separate garlic in cloves. Leave unpeeled.
Cut potatoes into wedges.
Combine potato, onion and garlic in a bowl. drizzle with oil and add salt.
Arrange in single layer on cookie sheet coated with Pam. Top with rosemary sprigs. Bake at 450 degrees for 15-17 minutes or until garlic is tender. Remove garlic and cool. Stir potatoes and bake 5-8 minutes longer or until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. Discard rosemary . Squeeze softened garlic into a large bowl; mash with a fork. add mustard and vinegar. Add potatoes and stir gently to coat.

 This with some asparagus on the side and I will be one happy girl.

Birthday Tomorrow

Well, tomorrow is the B-day and, needless to say, I ain't getting any younger.  But you know, I am getting better.  I feel better, I look better, I eat better, I sleep better.  I am just all around better.  I need to give up my beer and that's a tough one.  I like nothing better than a cold beer or two (or 4) after work, so its decision time.  Looking in the mirror and seeing the progress I have made to date makes me wonder what I could accomplish if I stop the brewskis.  I drink light beer (and truly, rarely count it!) so I know without a doubt there is impact in that lovely cold can.  Hmmm, what a dilemma. 

I got an opportunity to take a really nice walk today.  I work for a very large company and we have a huge compound with multiple buildings.  We were having a meeting in a different one than the one I work in and it's quite a ways away. As we were getting ready to go, I piped in with "Who's car are we taking?", my co-worker said "Let's walk".  Now I immediately figured the dude had lost his mind because driving it I would say is easily a mile and we had about 15 minutes to get there.   He assured me it wasn't that far and we set out on our little trek.  Whatya know?  He was right!  and it was a beautiful glorious morning for a walk.  So I am going to start walking it everyday.  I don't know exactly how far it is, I will wear my pedometer tomorrow so I can get a better sense of that.  I think its about 1 mile round trip.  Which is easy to do on my lunch hour.  I love our desert and this path cuts right thru it with amazing plants and animals on both sides. 

I am one lucky girl!

Low Point Italian Food?!!

I found a good looking recipe online yesterday and did a little finessing it.  It came out sooo good.  I am not a big pasta fan so I think I really liked it because the pasta content was minimal. 

Pasta Bake

POINTS® Value: 3

Servings: 8

Ingredients
1 pound(s) Laura's Lean Beef® 96% Lean Ground Round
1/2 medium Vidalia onion(s)
2 cup(s) mushroom(s), sliced
1 item(s) bell pepper(s)
30 oz Del Monte Petite diced tomatoes in brine, seasoned with basil, garlic & oregano, 2 15 oz cans, drained
1 Tbsp canned tomato paste
1 Tbsp McCormick Oregano leaves
1 Tbsp garlic powder
2 tsp black pepper
1 cup(s) Weight Watchers Reduced-Fat Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
4 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
2 serving(s) Dreamfields Rotini

Instructions

Bring a pot of water to boil and add 1 1/2 cups of Dreamfields Rotini. Cook until not quite done, a firmer al dente. This is going to cook in the oven a bit so you don't want pasta mush.

In the meantime, dice onion and bell pepper. In a good sized non-stick skillet (cause you are gonna need some room to work here!), added ground beef, onion, bell pepper and mushrooms and spices. As always, spice to your taste. I list what I like and use, but that does not limit you in anyway. Cook on medium heat until meat is no longer pink and onion is translucent. Drain 2 15 oz cans of petite diced tomato and add to meat mixture. Add 1 tbls of tomato paste. Mix thoroughly.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Drain and add in pasta. Mix and pour mixture into large casserole dish.

Sprinkle top with cheeses and pop into the oven for about 30 to 35 minutes.

I served this with a green side salad. Yummy and Low in Points!!

I didn't get a picture of this, but it was quite attractive as well as tasty.  I don't know if you can find all the name brands I have cited here, but three of them are important toward keeping the points low.  Laura's Lean Beef is carried at our local Fry's Stores (Krogers) as is the WW Mozarella and the Dreamfields Pasta.  The Dreamfields pastas are specially formulated for diabetics. This formulation with a low glycemic index factor makes this ideal for my limited carb consumption.  I am not diabetic, but I don't do carbs well.  1 serving of the Dreamfields pasta, 3/4 cup dry Rotini in this case, is only 3 points.  Gotta love it!!

Weigh In and Hubby

Weigh In was good, -.6, can't complain considering the week contained things like fried shrimp and rattlesnake eggs (jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese, wrapped in bacon and broiled. To Die For!). Sometimes, Ms. Suzi I think our bodies just are so happy we gave them something NOT good for them, they reward us.  Like kids at Halloween!!  You don't need all that crap, but it sure makes ya happy!

I think Hubby has finally figured out that I am serious about this weight loss and not off on one my tangents, not that I do that often, but its not unheard of. 

Last weekend,  I decided to celebrate my 27 lb loss with a steak barbeque.  I made baked potato and black eyed peas to go with.  I bought a T-Bone for me (I only eat the loin side!), and a Porterhouse for Hubby cause that's his favorite.  So, I got my plate prepared, my loin steak, half a baked potato and about a cup of beans and I went to the table.  Hubby came in a few minutes later with HALF of his steak, the other HALF of my baked potato and about a cup of beans.  WOW, I was so impressed.  He's starting to pay attention to what he eats.  I can't get him to weigh himself, or at least tell me what he weighs, but I figure he could stand to lose 30 to 50 lbs, just like me.  So if I am rubbing off on him, this is all the better.

BTW, I was thinking about my weight loss to date earlier today.  I am averaging 1 lb per week.  That's good, right?!  So, to extend that out to one year, I will lose 52 lbs if I stay the course.  Thats only 6 months away!!  I can do that standing on my head!!  Well, maybe not on my head, but you know...