Weekly Weigh-in

I  did it!!!!  Ten years ago I dieted like crazy and lost weight but without any sort of plan to keep it off.  I got down to 189 but it was hard and I gave up.  I only stayed that weight a VERY short time.  In no time I was up to 264 lbs and miserable.  I never felt like I could get back to 189 lbs. Today, I hit 187.8!!!  I am feeling great.  I am continuing on and aiming for 100 lbs lost.  And when I get to the end, I will continue to work to maintain.  I am getting Healthy and there is no stopping me now!!  Here's to new record lows for me!!

Weekly Weigh-in

I lost 1.2 lbs this week.  That puts me 1.2 lbs away from my lowest weight as an adult (which was 10 years ago!) I am thrilled from with my progress!  I really think I will be able to get to 100 lbs gone!  A little at a time I will get there.

This Girl!

Once upon a time I was a self-conscious person who wore size 24 jeans.  I hated trying on clothes, I would just buy really big and hope it fit.

Well today that same person went to the store and tried on several pairs of size 14 jeans and they FIT!!!  That person is sitting down, curled up with a nice cup of tea wearing a pair of size 14 jeans that I had in the back of my closet for TEN years!!  There is no stopping me now!

Weekly Weigh-in

I had an amazing week this week!!  I lost 5.8 pounds and that means I surpassed my second goal and lost 10% of my body weight!!  I only had one goal left and after that I am just going to see how far I can take this healthy ride!!

Weekly Weigh-in

I lost one pound this week.  I am so happy with that! I ate well, I drank lots of water, and I was active.  After having lost 67.8 pounds, I don't expect to lose lots every week, but continual progress in the right direction makes me happy.

The girls and I were outside working again and it was fun.  They mostly play at this point, but it is fun to be out there with them.

Princess Magpie was singing a fun little song that made easy giggle

Ouch!!

I am apparently older than I feel sometimes and all that yard work yesterday made me VERY sore today.   I decided to avoid the yard work for today.  

I did get the little girls to help clean up the playroom again.  It was funny how often I found them playing instead of cleaning.  But it did get done.

So while I did take it easy today, I did notice today how far I have come.  My face at my heaviest weight and my weight now is so different.

Weekly Weigh-in

I was worried about my Weigh-in this week because earlier in the week I thought I had been drinking 0 Smart Points drinks and it turned out I had just finished drinking 56 Smart Points in drinks!!!!  I had my panic and then I got back know track.  And this week I hit ONEDERLAND!!!  That makes 65.2 lbs since I started losing weight and 16 lbs since I started Weight Watchers to get past my year long plateau!  I am so happy!!!  I am never deprived, I love my food and I am finally taking care of me again!!

Fingers Crossed!

Tomorrow is my Weigh-in day as well as Little Prince's birthday and was my birthday!  Let's hope my efforts to stay on track with my Weight Watchers points pay off!!

Weekly Weigh-in

I weighed in today and I lost 3.4 lbs!  That is a total of 10.6 lbs since I started Weight Watchers!  After being stuck for so long, I am so glad to see the scales moving!!  I haven't even used all of my extra weekly points either week!  I am doing this right!  I am eating healthy foods and lots of them! I am rarely hungry, I am just creative in my choices. YAY!!  I met my first goal since starting Weight Watchers.   Now on to my next one which is 4.3 lbs away!

Weigh In

I weighed in today and I have lost 7.2 lbs since I started Weight Watchers!!!  What a lovely beginning to my day.

On another good note, Prince Charming had a job interview today and also some information on how to get his certification here so that was lovely too!!

I Actually Did It!

For the first time in all my weight loss journey, I actually paid and joined a weight loss program!!!  I am surprised at how excited I am!  I like the accountability of Wight Watchers!  I am completely motivated and ready.  I have been stalled on my weight loss for months and even gained a little bit over Christmas and I am confident that this is just what I  need!

Here are some pictures of how I looked when I started

And here I am now, part way through:

And who knows how I will end up, but I am excited to find out!

Good Changes

There are some fun changes happening here.

First, I got the new books for the little girls homeschooling.  I am excited to be schooling them together again and to be returning to the way we schooled Princess Belle when she was younger.

Secondly, I have decided to return to eating the foods I react to (in an effort to get a proper diagnosis from the doctor).  I know that in order for some of these tests to work, I need to have had them in my system.

Thirdly, I am starting weight watchers.  I am finding it eye-opening to realize how many calories  (points) I wasted on food that didn't fill me up.  I was eating more than my daily allotment in PEANUT BUTTER alone!!!! I am happy to have a way to get my diet more balanced.

On a totally different note, my silly boy took his fuzzy pillow, his teddy bear, and his blanket and curled up on the floor to sleep . . . right next to his bed!  So silly.

Clean Eating Flourless Brownies!

Amazing Flour-less Brownies

Ingredients:

• 1 (14 oz) canned low-sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon oil
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk (or skim)
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of fresh coffee grounds or instant coffee
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, divided

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. 
2. Grease a nonstick 9 x 9-inch square baking pan with baking spray and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides.
3. Blend the black beans, eggs, cocoa powder, sugar, oil, almond milk, balsamic, baking soda, baking powder and coffee grinds in the blender until smooth and pour into a bowl. 
4. Fold in 1/2 cup chocolate chips until combined. 
5. Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan. 
6. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips evenly over the top of the brownies.
7. Bake the brownies until a toothpick comes out clean, about 30 to 32 minutes. 
8. Allow the brownies to cool completely before slicing them into squares.

For the record these make 16 servings of 144 Calories, 26 g of Carbs, 3 g of fiber, 150 mg sodium!  They are only 4 Points+!

5 Spice Pork Tenderloin with apples and onion (low fat)

•     2 12-14 oz pork tenderloins, silver skin and excess fat removed
•     2 tsp 5-spice powder, divided
•     olive oil cooking spray (recipe calculated with 1 T oil)
•     2 apples
•     1 large red onion

For a change in flavor you could try the following instead of the 5 spice powder:

• 2 Tbsp Honey
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp allspice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Line baking pan with nonstick foil. Lightly spray foil with cooking spray. Sprinkle 1 tsp 5-spice powder on pork tenderloins and place in pan. Roast pork for 20-30 minutes, or until internal temperature measures 160 degrees.

1. Meanwhile, saute onion in non-stick pan sprayed with cooking spray until tender. Add 1 tsp 5-spice powder and mix. Add apple slices and saute until mixture is softened and onions are fully cooked. Be careful not to burn the onions.
2. To serve, slice the pork tenderloins into 1/2 inch slices and top with apple-onion mixture.

Number of Servings: 6

This recipe was created this recipe to fit Weight Watchers Core plan

Low Fat 2 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins! (or loaf)

Ingredients

•     1 box spice cake mix (carrot cake mix works really well here too!)
•     1 (15-ounce) can pure pumpkin puree

Tips:  Mix in 1/2 cup raisins or chopped nuts if desired.

Directions

1. Simply mix the pumpkin and the spice cake mix powder together and drop by heaping tablespoons into greased muffin cups.
2. Bake at 350 18-22 minutes or until a knife comes out clean

Note:  Today, I made mine into two yummy pumpkin loaves with the carrot cake version and it turned out amazingly yummy!

Healthier Cherry Cheesecake

Ingredients

2 chocolate grahams, crushed (about 1/3 cup)
2 cups 2% cottage cheese
1 (8 oz) bar Neufchatel cheese, softened
1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt
3 tbsp sugar divided
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
2 egg whites
2 tsp Minute, (brand name), Tapioca
1 cup canned , pitted tart pie cherries, drained
& juice reserved *( NOT PIE FILLING)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325º F.

2. Sprinkle the graham crumbs onto the bottom of a (9-inch) springform pan.

3. In a food processor; process the cottage cheese until smooth. Add in the Neufchatel, yogurt,
2 Tbsp sugar, flour and vanilla; process until well blended. Add the egg, and egg whites 1 at a time, pulsing after each just until blended. Pour over the crumbs.

4. bake 40 to 45 minutes or until center is almost set. Run a knife around the rim of the pan to loosen cake; cool 1 hour before removing rim. Refrigerate 4 hours.

5. Meanwhile, bring 1/3 cup of the reserved cherry liquid, tapioca and remaining sugar to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Simmer over medium-low heat 2 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly. Gently stir in the cherries. Refrigerate until ready to use. Cut into 12 equal sized servings.

Yield: 12 equal size servings
Serving size = 1 slice
Weight Watchers PointsPlus+ 4 per portions - Cake should be cut into 12 portions

Weekly Weigh-In

I am down 10 lbs this week!!!  Woohoo just like in the real biggest loser, I lost double digits in my first week!!!

Yummy Salads

Here are two salads I am planning on making today.

Tomato Basil Salad

Ingredients

•     4 hot house tomatoes, cut in wedges
•     10 small basil leaves
•     1 tbsp olive oil
•     1 tbsp white wine vinegar
•     1 tsp palm sugar
•     1/4 tsp sea salt
•     freshly ground pepper

Instructions

1. Combine tomato wedges and basil leaves in a large bowl. Set aside.
2. Combine oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Pour over top tomato mixture and stir to coat.
3. Chill until ready to serve.
4. Add hemp seeds or chickpeas for extra protein!

 Easy Raw Cucumber Salad

You can customize this however you'd like and it is pretty hard to mess it up. If you like more cucumber, add it! Don't like peppers, replace them with some other crunchy cool raw veggie.

Ingredients:

• 2 large cucumbers chopped
• 1 red pepper chopped
• 1/2 onion chopped
• 1/3 c sushi vinegar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp garlic finely chopped/crushed

Additional ingredient suggestions:

• chopped zuchinni
• chopped squash
• crushed nuts (peanuts, almonds, cashews, etc.)
• chopped/slivered carrots 

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and chill for 2-3 hours.

Diet update.

I am feeling confident in my diet right now.  There is nothing like a little contest with possible winnings to be the motivation you need to stick to your plan.  I am going to work hard to do as good as I can at this with my eating plan. 

I am not doing as well with my exercising because with Little Prince and Princess Snifflefritz tag-teaming me at night so that I get VERY LITTLE sleep, I just don't have a lot of energy.  I will try to do what I can though. 

I will let you know next week how my progress is going.  The official Biggest Loser contest started yesterday.  So it is a fun way to start my diet plan. 

Better

Prince Charming was nice enough to let me sleep in while he got up this morning (after I had been up several times with our little Prince).  It was nice to catch a few extra minutes of sleep and it gave me energy enough to get some housework done. 

I am going out to the vegetable market tomorrow and I am so excited to be getting some nice fresh fruits and veggies.  I am really considering counting points as a part of my weight loss plan.  I am just worried about how obsessed I can become.  I NEED to lose weight, I just don't want to teach my girls an unhealthy attitude about food either.