Enell's T-Shirt

Hi Again! Just wanted to say I got my t-shirt from http://www.enell.com/promo_page3.php they ran a campaign and gave away these shirts and I love, love, love mine!

Yeah, guess I have gone t-shirt crazy lately, but I really like what they say and I want others to know how I am feeling. Good evening everyone...

Weekend Over! Day 49, 7lb loss for Feb.

Whew!! Made it through the weekend! I battled my hunger ALL DAY Saturday, and I do not know why it was so hard to stay out of the kitchen. It seemed like all I wanted to do was go in there and binge on something. Isn't that crazy?! Why do I do this some days? I didn't have the urge Sunday, although this is the day we had my niece's birthday party and I did have ONE cupcake but I planned that into my daily and didn't partake of  the chips and dip or icecream, drank water. Who knows? I know I sweated bullets and a couple of times walked into the kitchen thinking, "this is nuts, eat before you go crazy..." but I made myself walk back out and go do something else. I was able to walk only once this weekend. It has been storming like crazy here. I didn't get to get pictures of everything this weekend but here is Sunday morning breakfast and if you never have had steel cut oats you need to try them.

I made these last weekend and froze a serving and this is what I started out with, looks blah doesn't it?

I added one mashed banana, 1 tsp of peanut butter and a shot of agauva syrup and it ended up not bad after I heated everything through:

I wasn't able to snap lunch but by golly I got the cupcakes!!

Next comes breakfast from this morning which was delish! I had my baked hash brown pattie and topped it with saute'd onion and asparagus, 1 egg with a little egg white, sprinkle of cheddar cheese and one oz of cubed ham all scrambled together for a 6 point breakfast:

and I made me a Green Monster for snack: 2 oranges and a handful of baby spinach whipped up with a pack of Splenda and ice:

And here is lunch: KFC grilled chicken breast, KFC taters, KFC green beans and steamed veggies from home for a very filling 7 point meal.

One more thing before I get busy, I found a great tasting snack if you have 4 points you want to burn for the bag, there is alot in there and very good. Curbed my chocalate craving too!

This week I will be in and out of the office as we are in the middle of a murder trial so I will be busy and may not keep the blog up like I should. I do plan to keep up with everyone else as I best I can this week. Take care and I will check in and out! Everybody keep up the good work!

7 lb loss for February, 2011



Here Comes the Weekend!

I tend to dread the weekend when it comes to my diet. It is on the weekends I have to control myself and my eating. I guess when I am not working I have time on my hands to "think" which gets the emotional eating going. This weekend I am going to have a goal which is to find something pleasurable to do, other than eating, every time the urge hits. I am going to stay in my points range, drink water and exercise Sat. and Sunday. I want to end Feb. 2011 on plan as I am happy to say I have been the ENTIRE month.

Here is breakfast a Ham, Egg and Hashbrown Scramble, a recipe I found on the WW site. At first I was hesitant to try it but it was VERY good. First I baked a frozen hash brown pattie and topped it with 1 egg and some egg white scrambled with ham pieces and just a sprinkle of cheese. The recipe says it's 4 points but I added the sprinkle of cheese and scrambled it in a little Brummel and Brown which upped it to 6 points for me. It was delish! and I will be fixing this again but plan on adding some veggies to the eggs:

Now on to the bad part...today was staff meeting for us and we always go out to eat lunch. I knew it was not going to be where I could pick decent at lunch today and it was not! We ended up at a hole in the wall where everything was friggin' fried! I ordered a fish plate with a baked potato and ate it sparingly and still ended up using 19 points!!! Look at this people:

Southern Fried Catfish! Notice there is beans and slaw to the side along with everything on the plate. I have alot to take home but the little I allowed myself to eat was soooo gooood. I won't be having anything tonight but a Green Monster (smoothie).

So how does everyone else handle the weekend or is it even a problem for you?

Rainy Day Eats

Woke up this morning to thunder and lightning for the first time since fall, it was a real boomer and now we are under a flash flood warning with the storms continuing to move through. I have been searching around different weight loss blogs when I had a little time this morning. I have found a couple I have added and want to follow. One had a quote I want to share before I move onto the most important stuff...FOOD... but it goes like this:

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always try just one more time." Thomas Edison

That pretty much sums up my lifetime with weight loss plans. My biggest weakness is that I give up but I always try again at some point. I am tired of giving up and am going to try my best to make 2011 the Year Kelly Gets Healthy and Feels Better About Herself. I want to see how, for the first time since I was a teen, what does it feel like to feel good in my own body. I realize weight does not define who we are, but for me it does define my personal self-image.

Today I woke up and looked at what I had laid out from the freezer-- a serving of steel-cut oats I was going to have for breakfast. I took one look at those gray-looking, cold oats and I said, "nope, not today..." I was craving protein as I had only had a smoothie of spinach, low-fat yogurt and frozen fruit the night before so I looked in the fridge and came up with this one--I took 4 asparagus spears and cut them very small along with a piece of onion chopped small and cooked them down in about 1 tsp Brummel and Brown. Added 2 eggs mixed together:

then added one slice bacon and sprinkle of cheddar cheese:

and had that with a cutie for a 7 points plus breakfast.

Got hungry for a snack and had this mid morning for 1 point:

When I first opened that WW treat I just stood there looking at it thinking, "where the hell is the rest of it?" The WW cinnamon crumb packs more punch if you want to use 3 points.

Lunch rolled around and I had 2 slices of 100% whole wheat bread, 1 tsp Miracle Whip, 3 oz. lean ham, 2% cheese slice loaded with green lettuce leaves and plenty of veggies to go with it, for 10 points. You can adjust your sammie down in points anyway you want.

I am beginning to get some support on this blog and I didn't realized when I started how much I would appreciate it! Thanks Girls!!! After reading many blogs it seems one thing is for certain, we may all be doing different diets, different exercise programs but the main thing that will work is to be consistent in whatever we are doing. I usually go into diets thinking I should drop 10 lbs the first week and 5 every week thereafter. As we all know, So. Not. So. This time, as I have stated before, one day at a time for me...some haven't been too hard, some have been a struggle and I do mean HARD STRUGGLE, but I just keep picking up my feet one in front of the other. Stay with me Girls...

Day 44 Rolls in with Another Sigh...

Today was my weigh in day and after being OP for the week and only using 7 of my weekly points I am down a whole 4 oz. I was pretty sad this morning but whatever, I put the big girl panties back on and will just keep on. I have fixed one problem, I found the cord to my camera this morning so I will soon be posting what I am eating.
Ordered this last week and it came in yesterday:

Product Description

Cuisinart® is leading the way in eco-friendly branded cookware with our new GreenGourmet™ line. Exclusive Cuisinart Ceramica™ nonstick technology is ceramic based instead of petroleum based, helping to conserve existing oil supplies and the coating is applied at a temperature one half that of conventional nonsticks. And it’s completely free of PTFE and PFOA. The cookware’s hard anodized construction provides high heat conductivity, which requires less energy to reach desired cooking temperatures. Riveted stainless handles stay cool on the stovetop and are made from 70% recycled stainless steel. Today, more and more home cooks are going green… and so is Cuisinart® cookware!

I had been researching pans and what to get to fix our eggs, omelets, etc. and this is what I found to be to my liking. I used it this morning for my wheat bagel thin breakfast sammie and loved it!

Hope everyone is doing good and hanging in there with me! I will be checking on blog posts I have missed over the last several days later today so maybe I can catch up with everyone. Take care!

Later...

Found this t-shirt today on priorfatgirl.com site and ordered me one! Maybe it will motivate me!!

Day 39 and Counting...

I added up my days so far on this journey and was shocked to find myself at day 39. I pondered this for awhile, 39 days and a 9 lb weight loss it just seemed well, bleak. But I'm not giving up nor giving in. I will just have to keep in mind it's daily thing and I am taking it one day at a time as they say. But still...geez...oh well.

I am working on pictures for my blog of what I am eating. It helps me when I see what others are eating so I want to do it too in case someone can get a little help from me. Here in lies the problem, I got a new camera this past Christmas and have LOST the pluggy-thingy that goes from the camera to the computer. So far all pics on here have came from my cell phone and they just aren't clear. I may have to borrow my son's camera until I solve the mystery of the missing cord. Maybe next week I will putting out some clear pics but it won't be until Wednesday, we are off Monday and Tuesday I have to take son to the doctor so I will be out of pocket until then.

Tried my first green smoothie last night and have to admit it was ok. I will make it again but at direction of a follow blogger I will be adding ice this time to:  1 cup spinach, 1 orange, frozen peaches and strawberries and 1/3 cup low fat vanilla yogurt. It really isn't a bad way to get in some fruit and veggies. Today so far it's been a toasted bagel thin with 1 fried egg, sprinkle of cheese, 1slice bacon and little brummel and brown with 1 cup 1% milk and a glorious banana for snack.  I leave you with this picture of Gerard Butler, a hunk of burning love, so you can have a good rest of the day, I know it sure makes me smile...see you next week!

I Still Feel Rotten...

With that said I am hoping to be feeling much better soon! I don't have the time to be sick and trying to diet and exercise I don't WANT to be sick. Moving on to some thoughts on exercise: my brother is a personal trainer on his days off from the Real Job (I have never been a good poster child for him!) but he has been helping me along and giving me tips, etc. I have alot of trouble with my the joint in my left knee hurting and popping like crazy. I have been diagnosed with osteroarthristis in my hands so I am wondering about knees now. But he has been doing alot of research on elliptical machines and has narrowed it down to a couple. The price about made me puke but he has it's worth it to get a good one and it will take the stress from my knees. Here is one I know he's looked at:

Livestrong and it's promoted by Lance Armstrong (which I could care less about that) and he's looking at another one too. I have absolutely no idea what I need, I am leaving that up to him. He (my litter brother) has always been slim and works out to GAIN weight which is just blows my mind. Another thing that blows my mind is my son. I have a 10-yr-old boy that was born premature at 26 weeks weighing in at 1 1b and 1 oz and now has cp. The way his muscles burn calories he is always in what they call "metabolic burn" and has to take medicine to make him eat. This metabolic burn makes him feel like he is on a diet pill at all times. I have to make him high protein and caloric shakes and beg him to eat. I just can't fathom this as I have fought my weight since I was a little girl and always, always loved to eat. But we are all different aren't we? My mom and brother are slim people that can eat anything and everything and never gain weight. Me and my dad, well, we gain it.

Been reading on different blogs trying to find new things to eat. If anyone has any good places to look or ideas I am interested. Things are starting to get a little old and I want to pep it up. Over at  I Need to Get me Back blog she is trying smoothies every morning with spinach and fruit and I think I am going to try one and see how it goes. Seems like everyone likes them but I just don't know how to think about spinach in a drink. Love it in a salad, not so sure about anything else so I guess I will found out! Here is a recipe she has been having lately: cup of spinach, a banana, an orange and about 1/3 cup vanilla yogurt. We shall see!

Find of the week: Blue Aguava Nectar-bought at Kroger organic selection aisle

Product Description

A low glycemic organic sweetener, Wholesome Sweeteners Premium Organic Agave is a natural nectar made from of the Blue Agave plant. Agave has a Low Glycemic Index (GI), so it is slowly absorbed into the body, preventing spikes in blood sugar. Raw Blue Agave nectar is produced at a low temperature (less than 118 degrees F) and has a full sweet flavor with subtle molasses tones. It is 1-1/4 times sweeter than sugar, use wherever you would table sugar. USDA Organic and kosher certified. Suitable for vegan, vegetarian, Halal and plant-based diets. Product of Mexico

Feeling Rough

Just got back from doctor, I have a bad sinus infection and strep throat. Wonderful, I have been feeling really bad last couple of days and now I know why. I weighed in this morning and was down 1.2 for the week. I am glad about that at least. My throat is really hurting and I can't taste anything so I stopped and got me some of this again this morning with 1% milk.

I am probably going to head home early today. I haven't slept in a couple of nights being so sick and I just feel rotten. More later...

Valentine's Treat

Treated myself to one of these today for 3 plus points:

Hope today everyone is with the people they love and doing things they love. I plan on spending the evening with my son, he is my date tonight. I am letting him pick where we are going out to eat. I will try and make the best food choices that I can based on where he wants to go.

Hard Weekend...

Just lived through a very hard weekend and although I didn't lose any I didn't gain and I stayed OP throughout the whole harried thing. Here is a break-down of yesterday's eating, started morning with low-fat quiche with 2 eggs, low-fat monsterella cheese, little bit bacon and canadian bacon, some veggies then had big salad for lunch:

with just a little bit of Ranch dressing and a few seeds as a topping. This held me until supper where I made Homemade Chicken Noodle Vegetable Soup and had about a cup and half of it:

This picture doesn't do it justice! It is very hearty and filling and my whole family will eat it when I serve them warm buttered french bread to go with it (I didn't get any of that!) Here is recipe:

4 chicken breasts boiled and cut, save broth and add to broth:
1 large can fat free chicken broth
cut up chicken
2  Large cans Veg-all
1 mediun onion, chopped
1 large can crushed tomatoes
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 cup whole wheat egg noodles
salt and pepper to taste

Today I Feel...

Bloated and yucky and like this:

Maybe tomorrow will be better! Started day out with a bagel thin with 1 fried egg, slice Canadian bacon, little cheese and 8 oz. 1 % milk and already have had a 20 minute walk and going to have more exercise later this evening. Hoping that will lift the blahs...

More Food Finds

Checking in on this Friday, happy to report I have been keeping my points at 29 and not going over into the flex fund very much. This past week was a hard one being all horrormonal, but it's the weekend and hopefully I will be in better humor soon. God love us 45-year-old perimenstral women. Had one of these after lunch today and I have to say it was well worth the 3 points only it was so good I wanted more:

and I also had half a serving of this with my baked chicken breast for lunch:

It was meh...ok I guess when you are in a hurry and needing some veggies. It was 2 points for 2/3 cup due to the butter sauce the veggies had. Here is what the final plate looked like:

Went to grocery store today and loaded up for the weekend. Going to make homemade chicken (wheat) noodle soup, and chicken stir fry. Chicken, chicken, chicken, I sware I think I am starting to grow feathers. Guess I need to go on-line to different blogs and forums and see what others are eating. I am needing to refresh the menu a little.

Wednesday's Whine

Naw, I'm not going to whine, did my official weigh in for the week this week and had a loss of 3.1 lbs so I am not whining. I am really glad I am watching portion sizes, although I still feel hungry at night. I know that is what the flex points are for but I am trying to use those sparingly until I get this portion thing under control.

Found this quote by Willa Cather, "One cannot divine nore forecast the conditions that will make happiness. One only stumbles upon it by chance, in a lucky hour." I have always lived thinking "if I could just lose more weight I know I would be happy." I don't know about happy, but I know I feel much better knowing I am following a plan and working on feeling better at least about myself. Maybe that is what I am striving for, to feel good about myself, free from the burden of this big stomach and double chin, to become the smaller woman I know is hiding inside.

Hee Hee, I don't think I am a horrible monster, but I do need to work on myself and quit being so hard on myself.

I recently discovered "Shape" magazine, I really like the articles and it gives great advice on diet tips and exercise. Check one out sometime:

Snow and the Struggle

Had white out conditions here is West TN yesterday so I ended up having to leave work early and get my son from school. My brother brought his daughter over and we took them outside to build a snowman with a good ole snowball fight too.

 Yesterday was a struggle in the food department and today is too. It is my week "before" and I crave food like crazy all week. I managed yesterday to have my 29 points with only 3 extra from my flex fund, although it was hard, and trying to get through today. Today for my lunch I am making myself a homemade pizza with whole wheat pita, pepperoni slices, 2 Tbsp hamburger, mushrooms and low fat mozzerella for 9 points and a large salad with little bit of full Ranch dressing. Pizza turned out good didn't it?

Food Find

I am happy to say the scale is beginning to budge a little. I took the advice off of the Friends for Weightloss and began to really pay attention to my portion sizes. Well, needless to say I have been eating way too much by just eye-balling it. I have started weighing and measuring and have had and since the beginng (first of January) I have lost a total of 6.2 lbs. I will take it.

I have been trying different foods lately, more salads, more fruit but I still have a salt craving once in awhile and I have tried two different foods to help with that. One I didn't care much for the other I LOVED! To start off I tried a bag of regular POP CHIPS, thoughts: meh....not so good.

While at Sam's I found a bag of Sensible Portion Veggie Straws and took a chance with the nutrients being
calories: 130, protein: 1,  fat 7g, carbs 15g, and fiber 1g for portion size of 38 straws a mere 3 delicious points value. Well worth every nibble.

Cherry Almond Chocolate Clusters

Here I am back on my own little diet blog, still hanging in there with the WW Points Plus Program. Today while searching I ran across a recipe by Ellie Krieger from Food Network called "Cherry Almond Chocolate Clusters" and here is a simple recipe for when the chocolate cravings tear through (every.single. month.)

1 cup toasted almonds, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup dried cherries, coarsely chopped
6 oz dark chocolate, finely chopped
In a medium bowl toss together in the almonds and the cherries. Line baking sheet with wax paper. Melt chocolate in microwave (she has  lengthy double boiler instructions if anyone is interested). Stir fruit-nut mixture into the chocolate. Spoon out heaping tablespoon sized clusters on the baking sheet. Put them in fridge for set for 15 minutes.

I don't have points value (not supposed to print that) but I will try and get the nutritional value figured out.

Not much news from my world, I took another hint from Danica's Daily this morning and fixed an egg sandwich: 8 points
1 egg fried in non stick skillet
2 slices whole wheat toast with little brummel and brown

Me Again

Found these two on Danica's blog so credit goes to her for the pics, but they are soooo me!

What Day??

I have no clue what day I am on now. I know I lost a whopping 2 lbs for January and I guess that is better than gaining 2. It makes me dishearted but not enough that I am going to quit. I am looking into buying a eliptical machine. The tread-mill is wrecking havoc on my left knee. This isn't a very interesting blog is it? Well, I come to it everyday and read how others are doing to keep getting inspired myself. I am hanging in there!

Oh yeah! I tried the Hungry Girl recipe for butternut squash fries and they were very good. Alot like sweet potato fries. Beware, the squash is very hard to cut but worth it.