Stuffed zucchini

I decided to get creative. I used 2 oz of cooked ground turkey, 1/2C tomato-basil pasta sauce, a little seasoned breadcrumbs, and mozzarella cheese; I mixed it together and filled two halves of a hollowed out zucchini. I baked it for about 40 minutes in 400 degrees. It was suprisingly good!

Angel Food cake with crushed pineapple

I heard about this recipe at my Weight Watcher meeting a few weeks ago. It is super easy to make and delicious! There are only 2 ingredients, a box of angel food cake mix (just the dry mix) and 1 can of crushed pineapple in it's own juice.
Mix thoroughly and grease a 9x13" pan (I used vegetable spray). Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Cut into 12pieces; each piece is 4 points.

Working out...

God did not intend for well endowed women to jog...so I'm walking for now. (I did buy a strong sports bra though! (Actually, I feel like Bruce Banner whose clothes rips off as he becomes the Incredible Hulk...it's a little snug, but that's the idea!! Still quite a funny sight to see..sorry for the visual!)

So every morning I walk on my treadmill...and for the last week I jog about 10 of those 30 minutes. I walked over 1.5 miles today and burned 150+ calories. The number on the left is my heart rate as it's coming down. The treadmill has a heart monitor that I wear as I walk...not that I have a problem, but it's interesting to wear.

Later in the day, weather permitting, my honey and I walk our dog, Penny, for 30 minutes, so I'm getting 1 hour of walking per day. As the weather warms up, I hope to add more outdoor activity like biking and hiking our favorite trail...which is uphill all the way and walking downhill isn't much easier because it uses different muscles...and it's very steep!! ...but that's another day!!

A delicious lunch

I've discovered these awesome wraps. They have 12...yes...12 grams of fiber and so they are only 1 point. These are made by LaTortilla Factory and I found them at Wal-mart. My local supermarket usually carries them, but they haven't had any lately so I was thrilled to find them at Wally World. I bought an extra bag and put them in the freezer. I hope they freeze well...I guess I'll find out.

Since I had just returned from running errands, I was hungry and didn't have any cooked chicken to put in it, so I loaded it with tomato slices and lettuce, and sprinkled a little part-skimmed mozzarella cheese on it.. I've tried to eat fat free salad dressing, but I just can't get used to the 'weird' flavors. I can eat anything sugar free, low fat or fat free...but I draw the line at salad dressings. I'd rather use 1 teaspoon of 'real' dressing then use fat free.


So I brushed on 1 tsp of Hidden Vallen Ranch dressing on my tomato-basil wrap, added a few honey wheat pretzels on the side, and a glass of diet cream soda (my fav!), oh, and I had a pear for dessert. It wasn't ripe enough...but I ate it anyway! This lunch has a point value of 3.5.

Another breakfast

Here is another example of what I enjoy for breakfast. I bought a box of Fiber One cereal and decided to make life easier for myself. I also bought a bunch of small 1 cup containers with lids and parcelled out the entire box into these containers. When I'm in a rush, I just grab a container and it's all portioned out for me. I don't like "mushy" cereal, so I only put 1/8 cup of milk. I realize that's not alot, but I won't eat it mushy...ewwww. I added a banana and 4 oz. of VFusion pomegranate/blueberry juice...which I enjoyed. The total points value was 6.5...a little more than I generally eat for breakfast considering it isn't my favorite. But I'm trying to make each day a little different so that boredom doesn't set in.

Rewards..

Well, just like a kid, I need rewards to keep me motivated....even if that means rewarding myself! So, I've decided that for every 5 lbs. I lose, I will buy myself a $20.00 gift card to a clothing store. I have always loved the styles at Coldwater Creek, so I decided that was a good choice because they do not carry larger sizes...so if I don't lose the weight, I'll have to buy things for other people - and frankly, that ain't happening!! When I get to my goal weight that will give me $300 worth of gift cards...enough for a few new outfits. I can add my 'reward' to the same giftcard, so I won't end up with numerous cards worth $20. each. I think I spent 20 minutes picking the 'perfect' design...I love the look of the dragonfly, so I went with that one.

Vegetables

Okay, I'm not sure french fries qualify as a vegetable, though a potato IS a vegetable. I do enjoy french fries from time to time, so I decided to try something new. I washed two medium potatoes, and cut them into 'french fry' strips. I put them in a bowl and added 1 tsp of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) and tossed the potatoes until they were coated. I layed some non-stick foil onto a cookie sheet and spread the potatoes in a single layer. After sprinkling them with seasoning salt, I baked them for about 50-60 minutes in a 350 degree oven. I did turn them over half-way through the cooking cycle. They were actually very good and each serving turned out to be 3 points. (Of course, I did add a little ketchup to them before eating them. Even my husband enjoyed them!)

Snacks

I look for foods that are high in fiber. The point value is less with foods that have a higher fiber content. Some people are bothered by high fiber diets, however, I seem to have an iron stomach. Nothing bothers me. (I got that from my Dad...even at 83 years of age, he can eat anything!! Thanks Dad...I forgive you for being responsible for the genes that gave me WIDE feet!)

After trying several different fiber bars, these rank as some of my favorites. They have a 2 point value...and taste super! I don't necessarily have one every day, but it's a nice treat when I crave something 'sweet'. I found them at Wal-Mart for $1.88 for a box of 5...not a bad deal! Plus, there is a coupon worth $1.00 off 2 boxes printed on the back of the box.

Let's talk yogurt

I finally found a brand of yogurt that I really like! Yoplait Light Yogurt has some totally awesome flavors. Besides the usual strawberry, raspberry, blueberry etc., they also have some wonderful, sinfully delicious flavors. They are 100-110 calories and FAT free!!

I have fallen in love with apple streusel, Boston cream pie, strawberry shortcake, raspberry cheesecake, pineapple upside down cake and lemon creme pie....a wonderful treat for only 2 points. Since my plan calls for 2 servings of milk each day, this satisfies one requirement. I like milk, but in my book milk is best with a handful of homemade chocolate chip cookies. So having found this yogurt is a real plus.

Lunch time!

I thought I'd share one of my favorite, low point, lunches. I lightly toast a Thomas' Light Whole Grain English muffin (1 pt), 1/4 Barilla Tomato-Basil Pasta sauce (1 pt) and 2 tbsp. Part-Skimmed Mozzerella cheese (.5 pt) and sometimes 1 oz of cubed, cooked chicken (1 pt) if I have some available. I put it into my toaster oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese. The total point value for this is 3.5! Sometimes I add a salad or some cucumber slices. A glass of diet cream soda finished off this lunch for me!

Here I go....

Okay...I need HELP! I have tried to shed weight for about the last 20+ years...I'm hoping that by laying it all out in the open, that it will help. So...I can't believe I'm doing this, but I'm going to post my weight (eeek...did I just say that?) and my weight loss progress as well as some things I've learned along the way.

I joined Weight Watchers in January and have every intention of staying with it until I have lost the weight I want. It's time to take control of my health and this is where I start!

I have vowed to walk at least 30-60 minutes a day. I will eventually start some weight training. We have all the necessary equipment at home, I just need to make the time to do it!

According to the Weight Watcher plan, I am allowed 26 points per day....and I use them wisely (most days!)

Snacks

I have always been a 'snacker', so I needed to find 0-1 pt snacks...other than vegetables, though I do eat those also!

I found it...94% fat free microwave popcorn, 5 cups is only 1 point! whooopeeee... I sometimes pop a bag in the morning and leave my 5 cups in a bowl and if I need to munch during the day, I'll grab a handful.

Breakfast

I have started eating breakfast daily. I usually wait until I've been up for about an hour, sometimes longer...so, usually about 8 AM. I try to vary what I eat each day to make sure it does not become boring. This morning I had my favorite breakfast: Egg white omelet (3 egg whites=1 pt), Thomas' Light whole grain english muffin (1 pt); 1 tbs of Smuckers Red Raspberry Jam (1 pt), 4 oz. low-fat milk (1 pt); 1 cup of honeydew mellon (1 pt). That comes to a total of 5 points...leaving me 21 for the day. I sometimes save my fruit for later in the morning.

Also, I've learned to look for foods that have a high fiber content...they prove to be lower in point value. Anyone following this program knows to use those points as 'frugally' as possible.

Steps I'm taking

First of all, I'm trying to drink as much liquid as possible (and no, that doesn't mean hard liquor...though at times it might help!) I have this huge container that holds 64 oz. I fill it in the morning with water with a sugar free drink mix. I water down the drink mix more than instructed(usually Crystal Light or a generic form). I add ice as it melts. I find that having it in one big container with a straw helps. I carry it from room to room with me. Some days I will fill it a second time. (Of course, that means numerous trips to the 'potty' too!)