Food Review

During this weight loss journey of mine Lean Cuisine is a big part of it.  That is what I usually have for lunch.  Its easy, usually filling, and a quick no brainer when I have to think of what to eat. 

This week I tried something new.  Lean Cuisine's Stuffed Cabbage with mashed potatoes. 

I don't know what made me pick it up other than to try something new.  Well, it was actually good.  The cabbage was light, tender and not at all "cabbagy" tasting.  The sauce was hard to pin down, kindof like a mixture between a marinara and a ketchup.  It was nice though,  a little sweet.  The entire thing was stuffed with a tender beef/pork/rice mixture.  It was really good.  It had a good texture and flavor, but not strong.  Also, the potatoes were good.  Anything that allows me to eat mashed potatoes is a win in my book.

Total points was 5, so that also makes it a win for lunch. 

Awesome Soup

In my attempt to get "back on the wagon" I was watching Hungry Girl the other day. She shared a soup recipe that was so easy I had to try it. I've made it twice and it is really yummy. So I'll share it with you. (You can find her recipe on her website here)

1 1/2 lbs. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breasts, halved
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1 small onion, finely diced
2 carrots, chopped
2 cups dry coleslaw mix
Two 14.5-oz. cans (about 3 1/2 cups) fat-free chicken broth (or one carton)
One 15-oz. can cannellini (white kidney) beans, drained and rinsed
One 14.5-oz. can stewed tomatoes (not drained)
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 tsp. fresh thyme
1 bay leaf

Okay, you seriously just dump all this stuff in a crock pot and cook it on high from 4 to 6 hours. She has a fancy crock-pot that works in 4 hours, mine, on the other hand, took 6. Once it's done you take the chicken breasts out, shred them and put them back in the pot. Remove the bay leaf or be sure you don't put it into someone's bowl.

I didn't have stewed tomatoes the last time I made the recipe so I used canned tomatos seasoned with basil and oregano (Italian kind) and it was still good. I couldn't tell a difference. Each serving is around one cup and is 3 points. I would say for me I'd eat two cups but still 6 points for a main meal is great.

My whole family enjoyed this, too! Served with a crunchy baguette (not for me) and a little Parmesan (again not for me) sprinkled on top and it's a great meal for a cold day! Enjoy!

I'm Back.

This blogging thing didn't turn out as I had thought it would.  Neither has the weight loss.

I was doing pretty good for a while and was up to 16 pounds lost; however, since then some things got in the way.

First, my youngest daughter (the last one still at home) began her marching band schedule.  This meant she was not getting home at night until 7 or 7:30, combined with the fact that now she was the only child living at home and adjusting to that, I made the decision to stop going to my Weight Watchers meetings.  Though, for her it was a good choice, for me and my weight loss..not-so-much.  I am totally to blame, though, because I could have gone to a meeting during the day, any day, any time (because they are everywhere!) but I chose not to.  Simple as that.

But, now I am back.  I gained approximately six of those pounds back over the past six months.  (btw..my mom reached her goal during that time *sigh* but yay for her).

I am more motivated, though still not more disciplined in my tracking points, but I know I will make it this time.

As the title of this little journal of mine has to do with clothes, I'll share some of my favorites with you.  (found on polyvore via pinterest..my new time wasters).

Red and grey by kristen-344 featuring rubber shoes

Pink & Pearls by alttra featuring diesel jeans

Mish-mash by becca-lynn-div featuring heart rings

Yeah, I'm a jeans girl.

One size smaller!

Don't tell my daughter, but I snuck a pair of her jeans out of the laundry (the clean laundry) and tried them on!  She wears a 14, I WAS a 16, but not anymore!  Woohoo!

For those of you who are keeping track, no I didn't weigh in on Tuesday.  I missed my meeting again.  I didn't skip like I did on my birthday.  My daughter had a band concert so I chose her instead of my meeting. 

I am excited, though, to get into smaller jeans.

Sunday is "Senior Sunday" at our church.  I have a senior and I am going to have to stand up in front of everyone with my husband and daughter.  This is my VERY LEAST favorite thing to do.  I am happy to work behind the scenes but I hate, hate, hate standing up in front of everyone.

So, I'll shop today and tomorrow to find something that isn't jeans (my usual church wardrobe - I work in children's church).  Maybe a dress?  I hate to spend the money because I am committed to still losing about 40 lbs.  (Isn't that exciting to say 40 instead of 50? )

Wish me luck.  You know I hate shopping.  Maybe I'll find some cute shoes to make it all easier. 

(click on the picture to see my favorite jeans of all time.  Gap, perfect boot cut.  I luuuv their curvy, too)

Dinner for only 5 points. Yum

This is dinner tonight.

4 oz grilled chicken - 3 points
1 tbs yogurt dressing - 1 point
lettuce - 0 points
tomatos - 0 points
fruit salad - 0 points

Yum.

Weigh in and Dresses, lots of dresses

Well, friends, I didn't do so good the past couple of weeks. If you recall, last week, instead of attending my meeting and getting weighed I went out for my birthday.  I splurged because it was my birthday.  Since then, however, I have really fallen off watching what I eat.  I have been "eyeballing" portions, eating out frequently and, while trying to order healthy, really not making wise choices.  So, last night the weigh in, for two weeks, was only 1.6 lbs lost.  FOR TWO WEEKS!  I believe that part of that was gaining back what I'd lost the week before my birthday.  In fact I know it was because according to my bathroom scale I'm up two to three pounds from what I was on my birthday.  Wow!  It's really easy for it to come back.

So I'm back on regular schedule.  My total weight loss to date is 9.8 lbs.  I am pleased with that.  I'd never thought it possible only one month ago.  I am, however, disappointed in myself for my lack of control the last week.

Now for dresses.  I love dresses! I adore dresses!  but at my size I feel like a giant balloon in them.  I see other "women of size" wearing dresses and they look so cute, but when I pick one out, well, it just doesn't suit me.  I feel my lack of desire to shop (see here) added to my complete lack of skill in picking clothes keeps me in tshirts and capri pants most of my days.

Here are some dreamy dresses I hope to get into one day.  I realize I won't be one of the size 0-2 models, but when I reach my goal I'll be able to wear these with confidence.  (Click on the pictures and it'll take you to their respective websites.)

I know they are simple, not bold colors (except for the yellow one) but baby steps people!  I'm not used to being seen.  I like to fade into the background.  Another problem I hope to conquer one day.

Interject Real Life

This isn't about my weight loss at all but I feel the need this morning to interject some real life.

"What is it about love that makes us so stupid".  This is a line from one of my favorite movies, Under the Tuscan Sun.  It's not something that I've thought about much but, because of yesterday, it keeps running through my mind.

I spent a total of over three hours on the phone yesterday with my highly intelligent, mature and well put together daughter listening to her cry and cry and cry over a breakup.  A breakup over someone she has been dating three months. 

A couple of years ago she broke up with a boyfriend that she had dated for two years.  It was a very unhealthy relationship and I was glad it was over.  She, on the other hand, was devastated.  She cried and cried and cried.  I understood because, after all, they had dated a long time and she was young.

This current breakup, however, has me stumped.  HOW could she be SO heartbroken over this boy.  Honestly, I've met the boy and he didn't have a whole lot to offer.  HOW can my mature, highly intelligent, balanced daughter have fallen so hard for someone who from all I could see wasn't that interested in her in the first place? 

My daughter is an analytical thinker.  She has this insatiable need to understand things.  When it comes to calculated things such as math, statistics, etc.  she is brilliant.  When it comes to human behavior she is stumped.  (She aces her college math and yet has trouble with management)  This characteristic leads her to engage in what some see (especially the ex boyfriends) in clingy and sometimes stalker type behavior.  She can't let them go until she understands why they broke up with her. 

In this particular case she saw he removed their relationship from "facebook".  A highly immature thing to put there in the first place (his idea) but none the less, when she saw he removed it she called him.  Why?  What would it accomplish?  Not a thing, and yet, her insatiable need to understand his behavior forced her to call him. 

During our conversations yesterday statements were made such as "driving by his house", texting him, talking to him, etc.  These I highly discouraged. I asked her to stop and think what any of these actions would accomplish.  Whether in the long run good or harm would be done.  Would she feel better or worse.  Would she be exhibiting dignity or desperation.  I just don't know, though.   In the throws of emotional chaos anything can happen.  

As with all breakups she has experienced, the boy wants to remain friends.  This, of course, is to try to make himself feel better.  This also results in mixed signals of texting, talking to in public (only if he initiates though.  If she initiates she's clingy) and, a casual invite to eat with other friends. 

Truth be told, this is unfair to her.  She is trying to get a clear idea of where they stand and while it is only unclear to her, it is still unclear in her mind and she wants to understand...bring in the stalker behavior. 

This is why the statement "what is it about love that makes us so stupid" has rung true in my world this week.

The good part is that once she is over the emotional period her intellect will kick in and she'll start to see and understand better what happened and realize he was not good for her.  She'll learn the lessons she's learned and try really hard not to repeat them.  And, hopefully, be more cautious about giving her heart away so quickly next time.