I like this!

“Eat a little less each day… move a little more each day and trust God.” Bob Harper from Biggest Loser

43.2 Pounds GONE!

Starting weight 323.8 pounds


Today 280.6 Pounds

I went to Weight Watchers tonight. My leader weighed me in at 280.6 pounds and wrote that I had a 2 pound loss. After sitting down and thinking, I realized she had made a mistake. So, I took it back up to her and she refigured it and I had lost 3 pounds. Now how I lost three pounds I really do not know. I have been doing the same things I always have been doing. But I am really proud of myself! I have now lost a total of 43.2 pounds since January 7th and 16.8 pounds of that since going to Weight Watchers. I have to lose 29 pounds to get to my 10%, so I have 12.2 pounds to lose to get there! I still got a long way to go, but I know I can do it!

New Weight Chart

My Weight Chart:

FlyLady

Well, I read an article in the new Weight Watchers Magazine about clutter and how it affects your weight loss journey. (I need to do an AR on it) Anyways, I used to do FlyLady cleaning system and I loved it. So, in an effort to get rid of some of my clutter, body clutter included, I am going to start doing it again. You can visit her website for more details, but here are the basics, which by the way a lot apply to weight watchers!

These apply to us as Weight Watchers:
Drink 6-8oz glasses of water
Plan ahead for dinner
15 minutes of Activity
Take your vitamin


These 7 make a huge difference in feeling like your house is under your control. Start with a small routine and go on from there. Beginning w/your prayer time is a great way to start. It's amazing how the rest of your day can fall into place.

1.Get Dressed from Head to Toe.
2.One load of laundry a day (This has to be at least two in my family of 6!)
3.Quick clean up in the bathroom (This makes a HUGE difference!)
4. Clean your sink (I think this refers to your kitchen sink and having your dishes done.)
5. Make your bed (This makes a HUGE difference in my bedroom and takes very little time to do.)
6. 15 minutes a day in the zone (Fly Lady has zones for your house.)
7. Bless your family weekly

Number 7 talks about doing a weekly home blessing. You are suppose to spend 10 minutes on the following task one time a week.

7 weekly home blessings tasks:
Vacuum
Dust
Mop
Polish
Mirrors and Doors
Purge magazines
Change Sheets
Empty all trash

This week we are in the living room until Wednesday and then we move to another zone since it is a new month. You are suppose to work on decluttering your zone for at least 15 minutes. The key is baby steps will help you get it done. We can do anything for 15 minutes. If you think you have all of your decluttering done then Kelly, Fly Lady's friend, gives you a mission to work on in your zone so you are at least spending 15 minutes in that zone.

I definitely have not mastered a whole lot of the list above but with baby steps I know I will be able to! I think that it works the same way with weight loss, baby steps are going to get me there!

Menu plan Monday

Time to plan another week. At my last Weight Watcher weigh in, I lost another 2 pounds which means that I have now lost over 40 pounds. Planning my meals really helps me stay on points. I usually plan 7 meal and then decide throughout the week when I want to fix them. This is my plan until I go back to the grocery so it is a little longer than a week.

1. Beef Stroganoff Casserole(see recipe below)

2. Salisbury Steak(see recipe below), mashed potatoes, green beans

3. Deep Dish Pizza Casserole, 6 points; salad w/lite dressing, 2 points

4. Swiss Chicken Casserole- 6 points, green beans, mashed potatoes

5. Fat Free Hot Dogs on wheat buns-3 points; Baked Doritos-2 points, corn

6. Chili Dog Casserole(see recipe below)

7. Ranch Chicken- 8 points, salad

8. Spaghetti Casserole Bake (7 points), salad

9.Doritos casserole-7 points; corn

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Beef Stroganoff Casserole

1 can 98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 can 98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup

8 oz. reduced fat sour cream

12 oz. uncooked egg noodles

1 pound lean ground beef

1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated

Brown ground beef and drain. Combine soups and sour cream. Add beef and noodles, mix well. Cover with foil and bake in a 10 X 13 dish at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly.

Serves 8. 7 WW points (Please check your ingredients and your points, this one can have different points for egg noodles, etc.)

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Salisbury Steak

1 pound lean beef

1 pack onion soup mix

1 can Healthy Request cream of mushroom soup

3/4 cup water

1 cup FF beef broth

2 tablespoons quick oats

small can mushrooms, drained

Mix water, meat, quick oats, and onion soup mix. Make into 4 large patties. Cook on med/high heat and brown both sides. Combine other ingredients, pour over patties. Reduce heat to med/low. cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes.

4 servings, 5 WW points

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Chili Dog Casserole

5 Low fat Hot Dog Bun

8 Fat Free Hot dogs

1/4 cup diced onions(optional)

2 tablespoons mustard

1 (15 ounce) can Turkey Chili

2 cups Fat Free Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the bottom of the casserole pan with butter-flavored Pam. Break buns into bite size pieces, and place in bottom of pan with outside of buns on bottom. Slice hot dogs into bite size pieces and place on top. Mix mustard, onion, and chili and pour on top. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Serves 8, WW points per serving 4

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Go here to see more plans.

Twinkie Cake

I made this last night and everyone really like it. I found the reduced sugar cake mix at Walmart for $1.00. I have been trying to buy some for awhile, but they must sell out fast because they have been gone everytime I looked, but yesterday I found some. I thought it would have an aftertaste since it does have Splenda in it but it was really good! I think it really does taste like a twinkie!
Twinkie Cake
1 box Pillsbury Reduced Sugar Classic Yellow Cake
10 ounces diet lemon lime flavored cola
1-2 egg whites (optional) (I did not use them and it stayed together fine.)
8 oz. fat free cool whip
Mix the cake mix and the diet soda until well blended. Pour into a 9 X 13 sprayed pan. Cook according to the directions on the cake mix box. Let cool and then place the cool whip on top.
Makes 12 pieces at 4 WW points each or you can make 24 cupcakes at 2 WW points each.

What's for Breakfast on the Flex Plan?

Here are my top 10 favorite breakfast ideas since being on Weight Watchers:

1. Special K Red Berry Waffles- These are 3 points for 2 and I just love them with a piece of fruit and sugar free syrup. I finally found a sugar free syrup that I like!
2. Nutrigrain Waffles- I like the blueberry ones and they are also two for 3 points.
3. Quaker Oatmeal Weight Control Banana Bread Oatmeal- This yummy three point breakfast is so good. I add a chopped banana it adds two points but also gives me a fruit and veggie serving and really makes you full. I feel stuffed after one bowl! Check your points because different flavors can be different points.
4. Kashi Go Lean Cereal- I like this 3 point bowl of cereal! It really feels me up until lunch time.
5. Breakfast Sandwich:
Breakfast Sandwich (4.5 points)
1 Light English Muffin (1 point)
1 Morningstar "Sausage" Patty (2 points)
1/4 cup Southwestern Style Eggbeaters (.5 point) (Sometimes I do not add this)
1 Weight Watcher Single Cheese (1 point)
Toast the English muffin. While it's toasting, microwave the sausage patty for 1 minute in the microwave, and then microwave the Eggbeaters for 1 minute in a small bowl in the microwave. Once your English muffin is ready, assemble your sandwich and let the cheese melt for a few minutes.
Note: If you're home and have access to an oven, you can certainly scramble the Eggbeaters in a frying pan. The microwave is so fast and easy though!
6. Tropicana Lite Orange Juice- This has the weight watcher symbol and is 1 point per 1 cup serving. I really like it. this is not 100% juice so you can't count it as a fruit and vegetable serving, but I still like it.
7. Breakfast Pizzas:(Usually on weekends!)
Breakfast Pizzas
1 tube reduced-fat Pillsbury crescent rolls
1 cup fat-free cheddar cheese
1 cup Eggbeaters
1 cup frozen hash browns
salt and pepper to taste
Optional: Veggies of your choice (peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, etc.)
Bacon (adds extra points!)
Preheat oven to 400º. Unroll the crescent rolls on a large baking sheet (no need to grease). Roll or press flat. Separate the dough (8 triangles) into 4 rectangles. Pinch each set of 2 triangles together to form a rectangle. Pinch edges up to form crust. You will end up with four little rectangular crusts. Cover each pizza with 1/4 cup hash browns. (At this stage you would also add any additional ingredients, such as veggies or bacon.) Next, pour 1/4 cup Eggbeaters carefully over each pizza. Then, cover each pizza with 1/4 cup cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.Bake at 400 degrees for 13-15 minutes.
Yields: 4 breakfast pizzas (6.5 points each)
Another option is to make 8 smaller pizzas (3 points each) and serve as a side-dish with pancakes or waffles. You can either separate the dough into 8 small rectangles, or else press the dough into 1 large circle, prepare like a normal pizza, and then cut into 8 slices.
Nutritional Info: 297.5 calories, 9 g. fat, .75 g. fiber (6.5 points each)
8. Weight Watcher Yogurt- I love the Boston Cream Pie and Amaretto Cheesecake and for only 1 point! I also always eat this with a fruit.
9. Apple Pie Oatmeal-Taste just like Apple Pie!!!
Apple Pie Oatmeal
1 package of light cinnamon flavored oatmeal like Quaker Oatmeal Weight Control Cinnamon
Dash of extra cinnamon to taste
1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce or a single serve container
Pour the package contents in a small bowl with a dash of extra cinnamon and add about 1/2 cup of boiling water. Stir and let sit a minute. Stir in the applesauce and sprinkle with a bit more cinnamon.
Makes 1 serving
200 calories, 3g fat, 9g fiber (3 WW points)
10. Breakfast Lean Pockets- I always eat this with a fruit and they have sausage, ham, and bacon ones. They taste good and are 3 points. I really have to eat something else with this because it is small and not real filling, but it is yummy!

What is your favorite breakfast?

10 Things I Have Learned...

April 25 Thought For The Day

"It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey, that matters in the end."
U. LeGuin

10 Things I Have Learned About Me on This Weight Loss Journey
1. I have knees! I can feel my knees popping out now.
2. My cheeks feel so different, thinner
3. My rings don't fit real well, they seem to feel like they are falling off.
4. I can run after the kids so much easier.
5. I can do a brisk walk for over 30 minutes. I used to not be able to make it 5 minutes.
6. I am not out of breath when I take the steps.
7. I love grocery shopping and trying to find low point items.
8. I am HAPPIER! and feel better.
9. I can do well changing my diet habits.
10. I love to exercise especially outside with the nice weather we have been having.
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What have you learned about yourself on your weight loss journey?

Dinner tonight yummy!

We had this tonight and it is yummy and very easy to put together. I have a 1 year old, 3 year old twins and an 8 year old. My 8 year old eats nothing and he loved this. Dh says it is a keeper! Yummy! You can use lighter spaghetti sauce and wheat noodles to lighten it up more if you want. Sorry I do not have the NI and I am not giving the points, because you really need to figure out points on your own depending on what kind of pasta, cheese and spaghetti sauce you use. I also used a lighter cheese than this recipe called for. I ended up making mine into 10 servings and they were still big! I served it with garlic toast and a big salad. Hope you enjoy.
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Spaghetti Casserole Bake(from TheWWChic)
12 oz box Reduced Carb Rotini
2 (26 oz) cans traditional Spaghetti Sauce
1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup pizza blend regular fat cheese
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pre-cook pasta 6-8 minutes in boiling water. Brown beef in a skillet. Combine pasta beef and sauce together. Place in a casserole dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, and top with cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.Makes 6 HUGE servings

Why do you want to lose weight?

Daily Thought......

Complete this sentence: "I am working to lose weight so I will......."
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I guess I have 4 main reasons for losing weight:
1. Health reasons, my blood pressure is really high.
2. To be able to fit in my clothes. When I started I wore about the biggest you could find in the store and they really did not even fit. I would love to be able to wear panty hoes again (believe it or not) and wear a cute swim suit that does not have a skirt around it.
3. To be able to more easily play with my children. I already see a difference in this one!
4. To learn how to eat healthier. I need to learn to resist certain foods! I need to learn to eat what my body needs and not what I want that is not so great for me!
Why do you want to lose weigh?

My Day

And oh what a day it was! I got all the kids ready and then we went to the library in the next county and then I took the kids to BK to play. I got me a 4 point chili at the Wendy's next door. I brought juice for the kids but got them a cheese burger. Then we went to dh's mom's house for awhile. Then we had to come back home because my older son was coming home from school. I then cooked dinner and cleaned and mopped the kitchen floor. We had Cheeseburger Rollup and it was excellent! I served it with a salad and green beans. So anyways we ate dinner and then dh and my older son mowed and weed eated the yard, while the younger kids and I went to the park. I can walk while they play since the track is so little and the playground is in the middle. This time I still got my 30 minute walk in but it was a little bit harder. Seems they are taking down some huge playground equipment and they left the bulldozer there and a big hole in the ground. Why would they leave something like that and not close the park with so many kids there? I just do not get it. Well, we can home and got baths done and I cleaned up from dinner and now I am just very tired! I still have to take a shower and read some of my book that just came in at the library (I had it on reserve), The Forbidden by Beverly Lewis. It's a sequel so I am really excited to get it started. I also want to watch American Idol results show at 9 pm. So, I still have several things to do tonight, but overall it was a very fun day! I stayed on point and I still have my popcorn that I eat during American Idol already figured in, so I am doing good!
Oh and about American Idol there are several I really like. I like Brooke but she stopped and restarted last night? Nobody ever wins that I think will win but so I am going for an the underdogs. I like both David's and Brooke those are my faves! Well I better go I got lots to do!

I have now lost over 40 pounds!

My Weight Watcher Meeting last night was a pleasant surprise! I lost another 2 pounds. I weighed in at 283.6! So, that means I have now lost over 40 pounds! I am so excited!!!!
Our meeting was really interesting. our leader talked about passing the fruit. She told a story about Fergie who had her mother leave at a very young age due to divorce, so she ate to take care of that problem and then she ate after her bad marriage and she gained a lot of weight. Whenever she felt tempted by friends, she would would always have some fruit laying around and she would say pass the fruit instead of eating what everybody else was eating. Our leader encouraged us to go out on a limb because that was where the fruit was located. We also talked about when you tell your friends you are a weight watcher and when you don't. I always tell people, but sometimes there are benefits to not telling people. Like if you took something to a potluck, if you don't tell them your food is weight watcher friendly people will be more likely to eat it and never know it is "diet" food. Whereas if you did tell them, they might never try it. So, overall good meeting!

AR: Letting Go of Perfect

Note:AR=Article Review. Some of you know me and I love to read so when I read different health and weight loss articles, I plan to review them here. These may not interest you, but if I write about it I learned something, so I am going to put it here.
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Letting Go of Perfect
Weight Watchers Magazine pages 134-136
May-June 2008 Issue

Well when I first read the title of this article, I thought to myself I have never thought of myself as perfect in regards to weight and I really do not know if I will ever get there either. That is really what this whole article was about. How do you know what your goal weight will be? How do you decide that? When we go to Weight Watchers, they have you set a 10% goal to get you started. they also tell you what your healthy goal is. Mine was 160. I really do not think I will ever be 160. I do not really ever remember being 160 in my life. So, is that really what I want to set my weight loss goal as? I decided that losing 100 pounds would be great! I felt like I could get there but I will only be at 223 pounds. That will be quit a change from what my body is used to. The article talks a lot about finding your comfortable goal. I will definitely be a lot more comfortable at 223 than I was at 323! But will that be my comfortable weight? In weight watchers, you have to set a goal close to your healthy weight, from what I understand or have a doctor's not about what your healthy weight should be. I really want to work for Weight Watchers someday. I have never said that on here before, but I would love to help people experience what I have experienced in my weight loss journey! I know though that if I do not set my healthy weight as a goal, I can never be a WW leader because they will not hire you unless you are at a healthy weight. The article also says you should look at age ,height and weight, your lifestyle, and your doctor's advise when trying to come up with a goal weight number. Having to maintain the weight later is what makes the goal weight comfortable. Can you maintain the weight you want to get at, that's the question. Basically for me, I got that you need to set a goal that is going to be comfortable to you. I know I have 17 more pounds to lose before I set that goal with weight watchers, so I have awhile longer to look at it. This article definitely gave me some things to think about as I get ready to decide on a weight loss goal. I really enjoyed this article. It's all about comfort not perfection.

What helped you make the decision as to what your weight loss goal would be? Are you going with a healthy weight or a comfortable weight you can maintain?

Happy Earth Day

Happy Birthday To ME!

Today is my birthday. I have a Weight Watchers meeting tonight. I was thinking about not going, but decided I would. I stepped on the scale this morning and like what I saw. The bad thing is that I have to wait to weigh in until tonight. I eat during the day, but it makes it harder on me. I have to make myself eat. The kids got me a cute purse and wallet for my birthday. I loved it. The best thing I got for my birthday this year is a gift I have given myself! A 38 pound weight loss! I have made myself healthier by making little changes in my life and hopefully I will be around longer than I would have if I had not started this weight loss experience. I know I have a long way to go, but just knowing I am on the right track makes me feel so good. My scale this morning was out of the 280's, just barely but I am sure by tonight that it will not be out of the 80's, but like I said I am getting closer! Thanks to each of you for being here for me. Every comment you leave me encourages me to do better. So, bring on the comments! My big goal right now is 17 more pounds so I can reach my Weight Watchers 10% goal!

Menu Plan Monday April 21-27

Here's my plan for the week:
Monday- Spaghetti Casserole Bake(see recipe below) (7 points), salad
Tuesday- Fat Free Hot Dogs on Wheat buns (6 points), 1/2 cup corn (1 point), Baked Doritos(2 points)
Wednesday-Cheeseburger Rollups- 7 pts (see recipe below), mixed veggies
Thursday-Ranch Chicken- 8 points, broccoli
Friday-Mom's Pizza (for kids)- 4 points, White Pizza for dh and me- 4 points, salad
Saturday- Lasagna Margherite (8 points), salad
Sunday- Chicken Doritos Casserole(see recipe below, corn
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Chicken Doritos Casserole (8 servings)
2 large skinless boneless chicken breasts- cooked (approx. 12 oz)
1 can 98% Fat free cream of mushroom soup
1 can 98% Fat free cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups skim milk
12 oz baked Doritos- nacho cheese flavor
1 cup fat free grated cheddar cheese
nonstick cooking spray
Spray a large metal cake pan with the nonstick cooking spray. Put the Doritos in the bottom of the pan, do not crush. Cut up the chicken in bite size pieces and spread out over the Doritos Mix together the soups and milk and pour over the Doritos and chicken. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Take out and cover with the grated cheese, cook until the cheese melts.

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Cheeseburger Rollup

1 lb lean ground beef

6oz Kraft Velveeta light

2 tbsp onion powder

8oz RF crescent roll dough

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook beef and onion powder until down. Drain. Return to skillet. Add cheese and stir until melted. Remove from heat. Unroll dough and press into 15x8 inch rectangle. Top evenly with meat mixture. Roll up starting at one of the long sides. Rearrange if needed so roll is seam side down. Bake 20 min or until golden brown. (make sure to let mixture cool some or it will be harder to roll dough)

6 servings, 7 WW pts each

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Spaghetti Casserole Bake

12 oz box Reduced Carb Rotini

2 (26 oz) cans traditional Spaghetti Sauce

1 pound lean ground beef

1 cup pizza blend regular fat cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pre-cook pasta 6-8 minutes in boiling water. Brown beef in a skillet. Combine pasta beef and sauce together. Place in a casserole dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, and top with cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.

Makes 6 HUGE servings, 7 WW points per serving.

Go here to see more plans.

Holy Cow Cake! aka My Birthday Cake

We used to make this cake at the office I used to work at, the full fat version! I have never had fat free sweetened condensed milk and guess what? It still taste really good! Holy Cow really describes this cake, it is so good! I have also heard it called the Better than Sex Cake. Hope you enjoy!
Holy Cow Cake
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1 box Devil's Food Cake mix
10-oz Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi
1 egg white
6-oz fat-free caramel ice cream topping
7-oz fat-free sweetened condensed milk
1 cup Skor Bar or Heath Bar bits
1 (8-oz) container fat-free cool whip
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Mix cake mix, egg white and diet soda. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes or until toothpick comes out smooth in a greased 9x13 pan. During the last few minutes of baking, put caramel and condensed milk in a sauce pan and stir on medium low heat until smooth. Take cake out of oven, and poke holes all over the top. Pour caramel mixture over warm cake, filling in the holes. Sprinkle Heath bits over the top, reserving some for the top. Cool completely. Cover with container of fat-free cool whip and sprinkle with remaining heath bits. Put in fridge until ready to serve.
Yields: 24 servings(they are small servings)
Nutritional Info: (per serving) 193 Calories, 5.25 g. fat, 1 g. fiber (4 pts per serving) (If you want to make the cake 3.5 pts per serving, only use 1/2 of the Skor bits)

Yesterday :( It's over! time to move on!

Well, my dh and I always do a birthday dinner with the kids for our birthdays. Since I am going to a Weight Watchers meeting on Tuesday, he decided to do it last night. He made me pick a cake I would eat that was 4 points and it was good! I also had a sirloin steak that was at least 10 points and a baked potato and a cauliflower/broccoli mix. I fell a little guilty this morning eating all that I ate, but it was my birthday and it was good!!!! And guess what that cake is still in my fridge, the leftovers and I want some. It is sitting in there telling me I need it but I will not give in. Guess I am going to have to get the kids to finish it off for me. Ha Ha! Anyways, I'll share the recipe in the next post, it is soo good! I really have changed the way I feel about eating and weigh ins. I might not have a great weigh in but I got to enjoy some good food and time with my family. So, I was living and I had the points to use. When I did into my flex points though, I just seem not to lose as much. I did get to go out by myself and take a 53 minute brisk walk. So, that also gave me some nice activity points. Now though I have to move on and make healthier choices!

Diet Coke Sloppy Joes

I made this recipe tonight. I served it with corn and a salad. Everyone really enjoyed it. It is definitely on of my favs! YUMMY! I forgot to take a picture, next time I make it I will have to get one! Enjoy!
Diet Coke Sloppy Joes
1 lb. 96% lean ground beef
1 med onion, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoon flour
1 cup diet coke
2/3 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons dry mustard
6 whole wheat hamburger buns
Brown beef and onion, drain well. Stir in remaining ingredients. Mix well. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve on a hamburger bun.
Serves 6 , 3 WW points for meat sauce, you will have to figure out the points on the buns because that will depend on what kind you buy. I used Sara Lee Heart Healthy Whole Wheat Buns which are 2 points each, but there are some 1 point buns out there.
Note: To reduce the points to 2 you can substitute Morning Star crumbles for lean ground beef.

Going out for my birthday!

Next Tuesday is my birthday so dh is taking me out to dinner tonight to Applebee's. I am really excited! We even have a babysitter coming to our house. I like that so much better than taking the kids to Granny's house because we only have to take one car. Then we go to my favorite place The Dollar Tree to see if they have any new dollar magazines. they have old magazines one month or newer for $1 buck and I love to go see what they got! Can you tell how poor I am, little things like this make me excited!

The Dollar Jar

I thought this was interesting too and I don't drink coffee!
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The Dollar Jar
By Linda Spangle, RN, MA
Would you like to have $100 to spend any way you want? Here's what you do: First, plan you will budget one dollar a day toward this project. Then take out a jar or similar container and set it on your kitchen counter. At the end of each day, place a dollar in the jar. Over the weeks ahead, if you protect your budget and deposit a dollar into the jar every day, you'll easily reach the total of $100. But suppose one day you feel really tired, so you decide to spend your dollar on a cup of coffee. Although you didn't harm your little savings account, you also didn't make any progress toward the goal. Maybe the next day, you spend your dollar on a cup of coffee again. Later that day, you can barely keep your eyes open so you decide to have a second cup of coffee. Since you've already spent today's budget, you have to reach into the jar for the coffee money. That day, your total savings went down by one dollar.If you have a lot of days with two cups of coffee, you'll soon be back where you started-with an empty jar, and nothing saved toward your goal of $100.
Dieting works the same way
Just like saving money, each day you stay on your diet, you make progress toward reaching your goal weight. But eating a few extra cookies or skipping your exercise can make the scale stay the same. And on days when you totally exceed your calorie budget, you risk sending the scale in the opposite direction.You can't stay on a diet half the time and expect to see results. Instead, your progress depends on the number of days you actually stick with your designated plan. That means if you follow your diet during the week, but eat whatever you want on the weekends, you'll probably gain weight instead of losing or even maintaining.Do the jar plan for 100 days!Every day you stay solidly on your diet plan, put a dollar in a jar. On days you slip a little but are likely to maintain your weight, give the dollar to someone else. And on any day you overeat enough that you're in the gain mode, give away two dollars-the one in your hand plus another one that you pull from the jar. Instead of overspending on your diet, focus on staying on track and reaching the total of $100!
Linda Spangle, RN, MA, is a weight-loss coach specializing in emotional eating, and the author of 100 Days of Weight Loss, a book of daily lessons that helps people stay committed to their diet and exercise plans.

5 Phases of Weight Loss

I thought this was interesting!
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Phase #1: Honeymoon. When you're in the Honeymoon stage, you feel eager to do whatever it takes to lose weight. You can't wait to get to your goal, and you feel completely committed to your efforts. You probably always stay within your points Target and, control your portion sizes. And it's likely that you track everything you eat in your Tracker, plan your meals and exercise. Keep it up!
Phase #2: The Thrill Is Gone. This is the most frustrating stage. This is where alot of people quit the program. You may be saying: Why do I have to be so careful? It doesn't seem like it's working. Why can other people eat what they want and still stay thin? Why can't it happen faster? I can't get motivated anymore. If you're at this stage, stick with it. Do what it takes to get the support you need, and see if you can reconnect with the reasons you decided to lose weight in the first place. Review your materials you'll learn something new you didn't know before. Try new foods in your day or a new recipe or try a new exercise.
Phase #3: Renewed Resolve. This is the time when you have a clearer set of expectations, with the added benefit of understanding how the process works. When you're at this stage, you know that weight-loss doesn't come easily, and you're prepared to work hard. You're ready to be more consistent about exercising, tracking your point values, controlling your portion sizes and everything else that goes along with building healthy new habits.
Phase #4: Lifestyle Change. At this stage, you keep up your new habits even when you've had a bad day or week. You cope with stress and emotions in a healthy way. And you're always on the lookout for healthy things to eat, and for ways to get in extra exercise. This is a great place to be!
Phase # 5 Divorce Stage. This is the stage you don't want to be in. You have divorced yourself from the program. You have gotten relaxed, old habits came back in, some of the weight has came back, you say you will start again tomorrow or the frist of the month. At this stage you need to stop everything and think about what you are doing. Get the materials back out.

Weigh in

Last night I lost .4 pound. Yes, that is all. I have decided not to worry about my weigh ins. I can't do anything about it except do the best I can on selecting my food, so that is what I am going to do. So now I have lost 38.2 pounds. That's good. only 17 more to reach my 10 percent!!!

Last week. I had a Weight Watcher Smoothie every morning with ff milk for 3 points each and you get your two dairy in. So, I did not do as well last week so I have been reading and lots of people say when they do get all of there dairy in that they seem to lose more on those weeks. so, I am going to try it this week. I know there is lots of research to prove this theory, so now I am going to see if it helps me? I love the new orange WW smoothies! Taste like a dreamsicle!

Menu Plan Monday- April 14-20

Here's my menu for this week:
Monday-Hungry Girl's Whoppers-4 points; Baked Doritos-2 points ; corn
Tuesday-Diet Coke Sloppy Joe's with Wheat bun- 5 WW points (See recipe below), corn
Wednesday-Fat Free Hot Dogs on wheat buns-3 points; Baked Doritos-2 points
Thursday-Doritos casserole-7 points; corn
Friday-Mom's Pizza (for kids and babysitter) We are going to Applebees for my birthday
Saturday-Stovetop Meatloaf Muffins- 2 points each, green beans, mashed potatoes
Sunday- Ranch Chicken- 8 points, broccoli and cauliflower mix, green beans (for kids)
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Dessert- Chips Ahoy Dessert (see recipe below)
Chips Ahoy Dessert
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1/2 cup fat free milk
18 reduced fat Chips Ahoy Cookies
2 cups fat free milk
1 8 oz. fat free Cool Whip
1 small box chocolate fat free, sugar free pudding mix
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Pour 1/2 cup of the milk in a shallow bowl. Dip cookies in the milk very briefly and line 8 X 8 dish with them. Take 1/2 the Cool Whip and spread over cookies. Mix the chocolate pudding with 2 cups milk. Layer over top of Cool Whip. Dip next 9 cookies in the milk and lay on top of pudding. Top with remaining Cool Whip. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
Makes 9 servings, 2 WW points.
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Diet Coke Sloppy Joe's
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1 lb 96% lean ground beef
1 med onion, diced
1 1/2 tablespoon flour
1 can Diet Coke
2/3 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons dry mustard
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Brown beef and onion, drain well. Stir in remaining ingredients. Mix well. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve on wheat bun (add points for bun).
Makes 6 servings
3 WW points per serving
Note: If you make this with Morning Star crumbles this recipe becomes 2 WW points per serving.
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Go here to see more plans.

Another Tasty Dinner

Everyone seemed to enjoy this recipe too! I had made the more fattening version before and everyone liked it, nobody seemed to notice it was healthier. They loved it!

Swiss Chicken Casserole

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1 pkg. Stove Top stuffing mix

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breast

4 slices non fat Swiss cheese

1 can 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup

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Place Stovetop stuffing mix(dry ingredients) in a sprayed crockpot (with fat free PAM). Add chicken breast over stuffing mix. Add the 4 slices of non fat Swiss cheese over chicken pieces.Spread cream of mushroom soup over the top of the chicken and cheese. Drizzle 1/2 cup warm water around the edges. Cook on LOW in crockpot for 6 hours. If you prefer you can cook in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour.Makes 6 servings (1 breast and 1/2 cup stuffing) at 6 points each.

Another Great Dinner

Another super meal that we enjoyed. I used whole wheat linguine. YUMMY!
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Laughing Cow Alfredo

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3 wedge The Laughing Cow Light Creamy Garlic and Herb

1/2 cup 1 % low-fat milk

1 Tbsp. reduced fat Parmesan cheese

1/2 Tbsp. Molly McButter Natural Butter

1/2 tsp garlic powder

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In a medium-sized saucepan, combine sauce ingredients over low heat until everything is melted and the sauce is velvety smooth, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately over the hot cooked fettuccine. Serves 2; 2 WW points per serving. Add points for your pasta.

Also I added Shrimp and broccoli to mine, but you could also add chicken. Don't forget to add points for these extras.

BTW- I find the Laughing Cow cheeses at Walmart in the deli area where you find the gourmet cheeses.

Dinner Last Night! Yummy!

This was so yummy! I think next time I might leave off the Ricotta Cheese. It really seemed to have no flavor anyways. BTW, I used fresh garlic! It is also a great way to get in some of your 2 teaspoons of healthy oil! Oh and mine does not look white because I used a mixed low fat pizza cheese.

White Pizza

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1 (13.8-oz) tube of refrigerated Pillsbury classic pizza crust (found by crescent rolls/premade cookie dough) *
1 Tb olive oil
garlic powder or minced fresh garlic (to taste)
1/2 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (Or you can use a five-cheese blend like the one from Kraft which includes low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella, provolone, Romano, asiaso, and Parmesan cheese)

* Alternately, you can use 1 box Pillsbury Hot Roll Mix, 1 package of refrigerated pizza dough, or any other ready-made pizza crust. These are all roughly the same points value, but please note that my Nutritional Info below is based on the refrigerated 13.8-oz tube Pillsbury pizza crust.
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Preheat oven to 400º. Spray or grease cookie sheet or pizza pan. (I use a 13-inch "thin crust" pizza pan)Unroll dough on greased cookie sheet or pizza pan. Press to desired size, shape and thickness. Brush dough with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic. Top with mozzarella cheese and dollops of ricotta cheese.Bake 10-15 minutes.

Yields: 8 slices
Nutritional Info: (1/8 of pizza) 191 calories, 6.25 g. fat, 0.6 g. fiber (4 points per slice)(1/6 of pizza) 255 calories, 8.3 g. fat, 0 g. fiber (6 points per slice) (1/4 of pizza) 382.5 calories, 12.5 g. fat, 0 g. fiber (8.5 points per slice)
Source: (Jaime from shadesofjaim.com)

DH is losing!

Guess what? My dh says he weighed in this morning he never weighs. He said he can't believe he is losing weight. He said he does not remember how long it has been since he has been that weight. Must be all of my healthy meals, lol!

Lighter BLT Pasta Salad

Lighter BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
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3 2/3 cups cooked large macaroni shells
4 cups tomatoes, cut up
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
3 cups of thin sliced lettuce
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1/2 cup fat-free mayonnaise
1/3 cup light sour cream
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
salt and pepper
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In a large bowl mix together shell, bacon, tomatoes, and lettuce. In a small bowl mix the sugar, vinegar, mayo, sour cream and mustard, salt and pepper to taste. Pour over shell mixture, stir and chill.
Serves 6, 1 cup servings at 3 Weight Watcher Points Each
Trista over at The Pumkin Patch is the host of Tasty Thursday, head on over to her blog to see more tasty recipes.

Monthly Pictures and Progess since Jan 7

My Weight Chart:


Here is another chart that I finally got ALL of my weights enterd since I started. Wow! This one really shows my progress! The green line is my new goal of the since I started with WW 10% of 268.4. I am getting closer!
I am going to try to get my monthly picture taken later today. I want to be able to show you all the pictures from when I started so you will be able to compare, so stay tunned!
Also, I went in and put all of my weigh ins from the start and made a new ticker to show how long I have to go to get to my 10%. You can see it in my header, I think it is more for motivation for me than anything!

Weight Watchers Meeting #5

Well my meeting was not as bad as I thought it would be. I knew I had done GREAT this week. Stayed on points, exercised everyday, so why was I worried? I got on the scales and I had lost another 2.4 pounds! I was so excited! This puts me at 286 pounds. Since going to Weight Watchers I have lost 11.4 pounds! I have lost a total of 37.8 pounds since I started! 32 pounds would have been my 10% if I had started going to meetings when I started, but now I have to lose 29 pounds while going to meetings to get my 10% key chain. I only have 17.6 pounds to go to reach my 10% and get my key chain. I will get a 25 pound charm before I get my key chain to put it on. I am feeling so much better. I went to the grocery and got some different foods that I think will help me with this rut I am in. I thought it was kind of funny that after the lady had rung up my groceries, she said man you sure do eat healthy. I never thought someone would say that about me! lol!
Last night we talked about Eating Triggers and Trigger feelings. When we have those feelings like stress, loneliness, boredom, tiredness, we need to find something else to do instead of eat. Like exercise!, clean house, etc! Using food to handle our feelings is a vicious cycle. We feel bad then eat then feel guilty then eat! We need to try to break that vicious cycle. Also our leader said that lack of sleep is one of the causes of obesity in America. I found that interesting. Exercise is suppose to make you sleep better and people who exercise before a meal make better food choices. I have been exercising, but you know I really do not think I use food anymore to help with feelings. I have done really well just sticking on the plan and I like the foods I am eating so that makes it so much easier for me.
Well off to start another good week, I HOPE!
Oh and the red star is my first 5 pounds, the pink star is an additional 5 pounds and the line is where I need to get to reach my 10%.

Dinner Last Night

Well, I thought it was great, but none of my kids but Neil would eat it. Right now though he will eat anything we let him eat though! The other ones just picked at it. My dh did not really care for it either. I thought the texture of the Riccota chesse was different, but after I got over that I really loved it and the portion sizes are big. People on the weight watcher message boards rave about this recipe so you might like it. Here's the recipe if you want to give it a try. Sorry, I did not get a picture of it. I really liked it.
Slow Cooker Lasagna
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1 pound lean ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 medium garlic clove, minced
28 oz. canned crushed tomatoes
15 oz. canned tomato sauce
1 tsp salt
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cup part skim mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
6 no cook lasagna noodles
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Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add beef, onion, and garlic, and cook, stirring frequently and breaking up meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, oregano, basil, and crushed red pepper; simmer 5 minutes to allow flavors to blend.Meanwhile in a medium bowl, stir together ricotta cheese and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.Spoon 1/3 of beef mixture into 5 quart slow cooker. Break 3 lasagna sheets in half and arrange over beef mixture; top with half of the ricotta mixture. Repeat with another layer and finish with remaining 1/3 of beef mixture.Cover slow cooker and cook on low setting at least 6 hours.Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese over top of mixture. Cover and continue cooking until cheese melts and lasagna firms up, about 10 minutes.
Makes 6 generous servings.
8 WW Points Make sure you check the points based on the ingredients you use.

Getting Ready For My Meeting

Well, I am getting ready to go to my meeting in about 2 hours. It does not look too good for a weight loss this week. I could be wrong, I hope I am but my scales are reading the same as last week. Sometimes, the WW scale is lower last week it was the same though. Oh well, maybe I can get something out of my meeting and just change my attitude on losing weight. It just is going to take time. I would like to lose at least 2 pounds a month. We shall see. I am trying some new foods and maybe that was it, my body was just used to what I have been eating. We shall see. Right now I just want to go have a good time and not worry about it.

Boca Burger Dinner

My WW leader was telling us about Boca Burgers that she ate that were so good. Well, I thought I need to give that one a try! It is basically a soybean burger. They are 70 calories, 0.5 g fat, and 4g fiber. That makes them 1 point burgers. I basically used the Hungry Girl Whopper recipe and my burger came out to 4 points. I used the Sara Lee Healthy Request Whole Wheat 2 point buns, a Weight Watcher Cheese Single for 1 point, some ketchup and light Miracle Whip and some veggies. It was a super great burger. All of my kids loved them, so we will be having this meal again! I used the original vegan burger, but they have some flavored ones that I would love to try. So a 4 point burger, I even had Baked Dorites for 2 more points, so a 6 point meal. The Whopper burger alone at Burger King is 19 points. So, the Boca burger meal fits into my plan a lot better!

Today's Lunch

I had this wonderful lunch today, the kids did not even know it was less fat!

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Ballpark Fat Free Hot Dogs(made from beef, turkey, and pork- 1 point each and they taste really good!

Sarah Lee Whole Wheat Buns(I think Wonder also makes one)- 2 points each

15 Baked Doritos- 2 points

1 apple- 1 point

water- no point

Total- 9 points (I ate 2 hot dogs) I have a lot more points than some of you. I pretty much try to use 8-10 points a meal and the rest for snacks. I have 36 points right now. 1 hot dog with the rest of the stuff would probably have been enough, but I ate 2.

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I know some people don't like hot dogs, but I used to enjoy them and while I will not eat this a lot it is a great alternative! The taste is great. The texture is a little softer and does not crunch when you bite into it, but heck for 1 point, YUMMY!

Menu Plan Monday April 7-13

I have really gotten tired of my meals, so I am trying a lot of new things this week! Here is my plan. My Walmart is finally carrying Weight Watcher Cheeses so I will be glad to use a 1 point single on my Whopper!

1. Hungry Girl's Whoppers-4 points; fries for kids and hubby; corn


2. Chicken and Broccoli Laughing Cow Fetticuine Alfredo -8 points each, salad


3. Slow Cooker Lasagna- 8 points, salad


4. Mom's Pizza (for kids)- 4 points, White Pizza for dh and me- 4 points, salad


5. Dorito casserole-7 points


6. Ranch Chicken- 8 points, broccoli and caulflower mix, green beans (for kids)


7. Swiss Chicken Casserole- 6 points, green beans

Desserts:

Cheesecake Dessert-2 points

Soda Cake- points depends on cake mix, I am trying a reduced sugar one, devil's food and Coke Zero Cherry Soda

Go here to see more plans.

Fitness on Friday

It's time again for Fitness on Friday hosted by Natalie at Byebye Fat Mom. This has been a hard week for me because I tried so hard to do everything I was suppose to on WW. I thought I did so well and I exercised for 50 minutes a day walking. Then on Tuesday when I went to my meeting I lost .8 of a pound. I was really upset! I like my new lifestyle changes and I am not going to change them I can resist stuff a whole lot better than when I started too. I am kind of feeling discouraged about it for the first time since I started this whole thing. I wrote a whole post on how I feel. I am going to see it through though! I have a HUGE goal, which I break into chunks, but I want to get 100 pounds off and sometimes it feels hopeless, but if I am doing all I can then that is all I can do, right? I will leave you with a recipe that I just posted. Enjoy!

Favorite Ingredients Friday-Desserts Edition

Well desserts are not something that I get to enjoy a lot these days since starting my new healthier lifestyle, but every now and then you just want something and these kind of recipes take the guilt out of it! I usually post on my other blog, but thought it would be nice to send some people over here to my weight loss blog. I have lost 35 pounds since January doing Weight Watchers! So, for now my desserts are going to be WW friendly.

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German Chocolate Cake

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One box German Chocolate cake mix

12 oz. diet coke or diet Dr. pepper

1 small box sf/ff butterscotch pudding

1 3/4 c. skim milk

1/4 c. flaked coconut

1/4 c. chocolate chips and/or chopped pecans (optional)

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Mix cake mix and diet soda thoroughly, pour into a pam-sprayed 9x13 pan, bake as directed on package. While still some what warm remove from pan and put on serving plate. Poke holes in top of cake. Prepare pudding with the milk and before fully set pour gently over top of cake. While still wet sprinkle coconut and, if desired, chocolate chips and pecans. Refrigerate and allow to set for a few hours before serving.Special Notes:The pudding is a decent substitute for the usually decadent coconut/pecan icing. Since you are just sprinkling them on top you don't need too much.Makes

18 Servings: about 3 Points per Serving, please check this with the ingredients you use, as some cake mixes NI are different!

For more great recipes go to Overwhelmed With Joy!

Feeling a little discouraged!

I have got this lump in my stomach that I get when I am frustrated. I have been doing so good. I guess too good! I know I had a loss last week, but just when I feel like I am doing things right I get a number like .8 loss, still a loss, but. At that rate, it is going to take forever for me to reach my 10 percent even longer my ultimate goal of 100 pounds lost! I am not giving up! This is the longest I have ever stayed on a diet! I am so excited about my 35 pounds that I have lost so far. I am just frustrated. I read this article about how walking 50 minutes a day, even in different session will help you lose weight. I have been trying to get 50 minutes of activity in a day and doing really well. I have taken the kids to the park and walked around the park, there is a track and the playground is in the middle, you can watch your kids while you walk. I have walked 50 minutes to 1 hour each time. I can't believe I can really walk that much and not feel like I am going to die, but I have been doing really well. I am even pushing a stroller most of the time. I just do not know what else to do to get out of this slump, I feel like I am in. Just watch me, I feel this way right now and I will probably lose a bunch this week. (That would be nice!) I think if I had lost just 1 pound I would not be feeling this way. I am trying hard to make this a good week, but I have to admit I am discouraged! I like my new lifestyle change! I would not go back to the old way, I just want some results. I know, I know it took me a long time to put it on it is going to take a long time to get it off. I know, I know I have lost 35 pounds I should be so happy. But I still hate how I look! I still have to take blood pressure meds. I still want to be thinner. My mom told me the other day that I should not expect to loss a lot because we are just bigger people. She told me after I told her that my healthy weight was 160 pounds. Did that mean she really thinks I can't do it? I am just so discouraged right now. I think that I have lost a lot of my cheerleaders in this thing and now is when I need them most. I go to my WW meetings. I love the lessons, getting new ideas, and even the recipes. But, really I have not made one friend there. When you try to talk to some of them they act like, who are you? Can you tell I am down right now? What can I do to get over these feelings and get happy again like I was? I really need to know because I hate feeling this way!

Week 4 Weight Watchers Meeting

Well I went to my Weight Watchers meeting and I had a loss of .8. This kindof makes me upset because I really feel like I made an effort this week. I got in my daily guidelines and exercised almost every day this week and all I get is .8? Last week, I lost 3.6 pounds and I did not even exercise on day? I guess I am just lost as to what my body is wanting. I do know that most weeks I get really good numbers so I guess I can't complain. .8 of a pound is still a lost so it goes in as a loss and it is going to take awhile to loss what I put on. Just kind of frustrating, when you try so hard you get not as good of numbers when you try so hard. Anyways, I have lost 9 pounds in 4 weeks of Weight Watchers! I think that is pretty good when you look at the 4 week number! This week we talked about red light, green light, and yellow light foods. I did a post about this here, as it was on the daily calendar that I do for daily motivation. Well, onto a better week!

Thought For The Day

I have told you that I am using a Weight Watchers calendar that we get each month for my thoughts for the day. Sometimes they apply to me and sometimes they do not? Here is today's.

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April 2- Climb the stairs today. Go up and down, up and down, many times and get a good aerobic workout.

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I really do not have any stairs to climb today so this might be hard for me. I have heard in the news recently that fitness people are looking at this exercise more as a really good workout. Football players have been doing it forever.