Day 57, New Year

Wrinkly and worth it.  An amazing post I saw on FaceBook and had to link to here, we all need to remember this when we have bad days/weeks/months.....


http://www.danoah.com/2011/02/wrinkly-and-worth-it.html

Day 53 - 54, New Year

Week 8 is done with a loss of 0.6 lbs. Not a stellar loss for what I thought was a stellar week, but that happens sometimes. It will all catch itself up.  Total loss is 14.6 lbs, average is 1.83 lbs a week, still pretty good.

Last night I made my favourite almond butter cookies and only ate 2.  I was pretty proud of that.

This morning I ran up a flight of stairs at the train station and although I was a little out of breath at the top,  I wasn't dying.

All in all, this weight loss thing is going well.

Day 52, New Year

Happy Family Day to all my Ontario friends.

Three days done. The verdict: SUCCESS. I had no doubt if I focused and planned and made conscious decisions about food that I could eat stay on track and make better choices over the weekend than I have been the last few weeks, but doing it, is empowering and confidence building and proves that I can change habits if I want to.

I woke up this morning with a sinus headache that would not quit all day, so I was not as ambitious or interesting in my cooking today.  Since I was slogging over laundry for over two hours and I still had over 40 Weekly Points left I decided to treat myself to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I have two favourite chocolate combinations, chocolate and peanut butter and chocolate and mint, today the peanut butter won out.

Today’s meals were sorely lacking in fruit and vegetables but I’ll make up for it tomorrow, I normally have 3-5 servings of fruit a day plus 3-5 servings of vegetables.

My week goes Thursday to Wednesday and so far, I’ve used 10 of 49 of my Weekly Points and I’m looking for Tuesday and Wednesday to be easy-breezy days so I’m right on track right now.  I didn’t have plans to eat out this week, the first week since I started the program, so that helps a lot in being able to control the Weekly Points since I usually save them for that.

Tomorrow is back to work and back to my normal eating schedule….and…Wednesday is weigh-in #8.

Monday		Points Plus
	1 cup skim milk 1 pkg NSA Carnation Instant Breakfast	3
	100 g container of Source Superfruit Selection Yogurt	1
	4 all white meat chicken nuggets and 13 steak fries (all baked)	7
	Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups	7
	2 chicken thighs with thai chili sauce 1 cup basmati rice and corn niblets with leftover roasted veg (that never made into soup!)	13
	banana 1 tbsp Dark Chocolate Dreams coffee with cream	7
	Total Points Plus for Day	38

Day 51, New Year

 

Two days down and one to go for Operation: Stay on Track this Long Weekend.  It was less of a “munchy” day today. That’s one of the things I love about Weight Watchers, you learn to eat the right amount of food but it doesn’t matter how or when you break up your meals. I used two of my weekly points today.

Today I was reminded of the first 5-6 years when Den and I were first married, before we had the boys. I used to work a full time job, a part time job, and take college courses part time on weekends/evenings. The only day I would ever have completely off was Sunday.

Sunday mornings we would sleep in, go somewhere nice for brunch, a long drive in the country and then stop at a market (most times a farmer’s market) and pick up our groceries for the week. Head home, a lovely afternoon nap and then prep/cook for the week ahead.

I had so little time at home then, if I didn’t make all our lunches and most of our meals – we would have been eating out all the time – something we couldn’t afford to do financially or logistically, I didn’t even drive back then!  It was fun on Sundays to plan meals for the week and then make them, package them and label them. We both loved to cook and try new recipes and ingredients.

Weekday mornings started at 5 a.m. and we could just grab our lunches/snacks for the day and go. Dinner was sometimes a half hour squeezed in between work and school or sometimes after my part time job at 11 p.m., but there was always something ready to throw in the oven or microwave.

It was important to me then, that we didn’t waste money on eating out and that we ate healthy because we were both so busy and could not afford to get sick.

Then we had Iain and I quit the part time job, and took a break from school (I didn’t go back until Liam was in kindergarten) and somehow although I always made sure Iain had home made baby food and ate well, me and Den relied more and more on takeout. Going out for dinner became routine rather than the once in a while treat and somehow, cooking and prepping became a chore rather than something I loved to do.

Over the last few years, I’ve rediscovered my love of cooking and sometimes I’m really excited about trying something new again.

Sunday		Points Plus
	1 cup strawberries 1/2 cup non fat Greek yogurt 1/4 cup Go Lean Crunch 1 tbsp maple syrup coffee with cream	6
	1/4 cup spinach dip 10 multigrain rice crackers	4
	Shepherd’s Pie and mixed vegetables	15
	Baked apple topped with pecans and light whip cream	4
	Coffee with cream	2
	Total Points Plus for Day	31

Day 50, New Year

My goal for this weekend is to eat the same way I do during the week – not necessarily the same foods, since I have more time on the weekends, but to eat healthy, delicious, good for me physically and emotionally food.

My problem is not that I just don’t care on the weekends, it’s that I don’t plan the way I do for Monday-Friday and I am tired and use that as an excuse to grab something quick. Quick usually means overprocessed and unhealthy. 

If my boys are away at the weekend, I tend to graze rather than eat complete meals. That’s not a problem, as long as the grazing is on good stuff and controlled.

This three day weekend I’m turning that around.

Today was a success. I ended up having to put some pecans on my berries and yogurt to make up an extra 2 points to meet my 29 per day, I wouldn’t have bothered, but there was a day this week where I was 7 points short and I don’t want to make a habit of it.

 

Saturday		Points Plus
	1.5 cups skim milk 1 pkg NSA Carnation Instant Breakfast 1 banana 1/2 cup spinach 4 ice cubes	4
	1/4 cup Spinach Dip (recipe below) 1 toasted bagel thin 1 cup mixed melon	4
	coffee with cream 1 WW mint snack bar	4
	2 breaded fish fillets 1 cup baked sweet potato “fries” 1 tbsp non fat Greek yogurt mixed with 1/2 tbsp Thai chili sauce	12
	1 cup strawberries 1/2 cup Greek yogurt 1 tbsp maple syrup 2 tbsp chopped pecans	5
	Total Points Plus for Day	29

Spinach Dip

This is a recipe I modified from a Weight Watchers recipe.

• 3/4 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
• 1 pound baby spinach, uncooked
• 1/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
• 1/8 cup onion
• 1 clove fresh garlic
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• fresh ground salt and pepper to taste

1. Steam or microwave the spinach until wilted. Let cool completely and squeeze out excess moisture.
2. In a food processor, combine spinach and all other ingredients.
3. Process until smooth.
4. Let chill for at least 15 minutes.

Makes 8 servings. 1 serving = 1/4 cup of dip = 1 WW Points Plus

Day 49, New Year

Spinach Vermicelli and
Roasted Vegetables

This has the to be the most delicious meal I've made in a long time and so easy!!

I have a hard time cooking "for one", but tonight I was determined to take the time and make myself a healthy and delicious meal, but it had to be easy!

I picked up some spinach vermicelli at Whole Foods a few weeks ago but never got around to cooking it.  A one cup (uncooked) portion is a hefty 8 points! But today I had the points and I decided I would try it.

I put some halved grape tomatoes, a quarter of a white onion, a chopped zucchini and a full head of garlic (whole) in a roasting pan, drizzled some olive oil on it, some salt and pepper and tossed to coat. I roasted it for about 40 min in a 400 C oven and it was done. The vermicelli cooked in boiling water in about 45 seconds.  You can't really see it in this photo but after it's cooked, the vermicelli is a very light transparent green.

Absolutely loved this. It was worth the 11 points (vermicelli + olive oil).  There is about half the vegetables left in the pan and I'll use that pureed tomorrow with some fat free chicken stock to make a soup.

Long weekend here in Ontario for most of us....and I'm just relaxing and hanging out at home.  Hope your weekend is awesome!

Day 42 - 48, New Year

Week 7  and I was down another 1.2 lbs...total loss so far is 14 lbs. I am 9 lbs away from 10%. That's exciting :)

I've been doing ok. Weekends have become a challenge for me - I'm staying within my points (DP and WP) but eating crappy food on the weekends and it needs to stop. I'm all about having a treat if I really want it, or enjoying a decadent food just because it tastes good, but this is just mindless eating because I can't be bothered to cook. The food is crappy in nutrition and satisfaction - it's just blah! This weekend I'm going to break the cycle.

Valentine's Day came and went, and it was my first Valentine's Day as a single person since I was 13! The day didn't suck as much as I thought it would, to be honest.  I've gone through all the firsts now - first anniversary, first birthday, first Christmas, first Valentine's......it can only get easier right? That's my hope anyway :) I think the next "hard" thing will be the boys' birthdays and Liam's is in a few weeks.

It's a long weekend here in Ontario (for most of us) and I am looking forward to three days away from work.

Day 37 - 41, New Year

Week 6 of the new Weight Watchers Points Plus Program brought me a 1.2 lb loss. I was thrilled to get this loss because my last weigh in was just on Saturday and it was quite a good number.  I am now officially at 5% of my original weight lost (from my WW starting weight) and I got my shiny, silver 5% sticker. Little things make me happy!

I am still tracking diligently and staying within my points. Speaking of which, I have now graduated to 29 points per day which is the lowest number allowed on this plan, I still have 49 weekly points as well.

I have to thank some of my GTA blogging crew for their constant support and motivation - Kerry, Tiffany, Erin - you ladies rock and it is so inspiring to be doing this along with you all. I'm so looking forward to seeing you and the other amazing ladies on Saturday.

What else is going on in my life?

Truthfully - not alot right now. I've had a couple of busy weekends but life is pretty much back to normal this weekend and I am glad of the opportunity to relax and catch up with my boys, it feels like I hardly ever see them during the week because my days are so long and then every other weekend they spend with their Dad. Sometimes I look at them and think...Wow..they are men..when did that happen?  My "baby" will be 14 in a few weeks.

I hope you are all keeping well. Reading your blogs keeps me motivated, so I'm off to do that right now.

Day 34 - 36, New Year

It's been a whirlwind of a week. Drama was the word of the week, at home, at work, weather, personal stuff....I am so glad it's Saturday.

I am leaving in a few minutes to go into downtown Toronto to see Billy Elliot with my dear friend Bill. I'm so excited to be seeing this musical and be spending time with Bill.

Because of the winter storm we had on Thursday I didn't go to my regular Weight Watchers weigh-in. I went this morning and saw a loss of 3.9 lbs which puts me at 5% lost from my Weight Watchers starting weight 5 weeks ago. That seems like a big number but it was 10 days instead of 7 and it was a morning rather than an evening weigh in, so I know it will balance itself out when I weigh in again this coming Wednesday...but it's still nice to see isn't it?  My weekly average over the 5 weeks is 2.3 lbs - not too shabby!!!

The line up at the meeting was long - lots of new members still joining, but they had a special express lane for monthly pass holders so I didn't have to wait at all...that was nice :)  I wasn't able to stay for the meeting because I had to take my car in to be fixed but the flyer said the topic of the week was "Getting Back on Track" and I wish I could have stayed.

The last three days have been so hard for me. I've been struggling with mindless eating because I let myself get too hungry and just started grazing while waiting for my meal to cook, I was picking at leftovers, I was eating crappy food just because I didn't feel like cooking for one....a million reasons - all of them situations I have strategies for and have used successfully in the past.  Today I seem to be back on track and hoping that I am out of the worst and am refocused again. Will keep you posted.

Shout out to my blogger girls cause we're all doing lunch next weekend...woohooo!!! Miss you guys!

Day 31 - 33, New Year

Do I see cheekbones?
On me I mean..not him.