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!

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.

I skipped my meeting and ate cake instead.

I didn't go to my Weight Watcher meeting tonight.  Instead I went out, ate marvelous seafood with my family and afterwards ate cake.  Why?  Because it's my birthday! yay! 

I led my mother along on my rebellious path as she is my weight watchers guru and she ate marvelous seafood and cake with me.  She said "worry about it tomorrow". 

But you know what?  I WON'T worry about it tomorrow.  I won't worry about it...ever!  I'll just enjoy today for what it was and then tomorrow, pick up where I left off. 

I'm not in any competition except with myself.  I am on a long journey and, sometimes on long journeys you need a pit stop or two.  And for goodness sake, if you can't take a pit stop on your birthday then what's the use in taking the journey in the first place?

I hope ya'll had just as great a day as I had. 

Weekends are hard.

In this weight loss journey weekends are hard.  My family is all home, we are going fast forward all weekend and fast food is what naturally goes along with all of the activity.

My husband loves to eat out so we ate out twice this weekend at two different yet awesome mexican food restaurants.  I tried to make wise choices but it's not easy with the amount of food they serve, tortillias with everything and the chips....oh those chips!  I would find myself munching on a chip and not even remembering picking it up.  Habits are really hard to break.

I do know though, that this is a long journey so I'm not too hard on myself.  I know I'll learn better menu choices to make as I go along as well as breaking nasty habits such as instinctively grabbing up the chips.

Oh yeah, also it was my daughter's birthday so, yes, a cupcake did pass my lips.  But I walked twice so it should be okay.

I'm glad to get back to a routine this week.  It's much easier.

The beginning.

I hate shopping.  I really do.  Not because I don't like shops, not because I don't like crowds, not because it's too expensive.  Truth be told.  I can't fit into anything.  I hate finding a shirt that I love and trying it on only to see it wont fit.  Wow!   and I picked up a large?  Deflating, defeating, disgusting.  That is what I feel when I shop.  But I am going to change all that. 

This will be a chronology of my losing weight.  You see, I've joined Weight Watchers.  I've finally done it.  Admitted I'm overweight.  I've known I'm overweight and have let myself go, I just thought if I didn't admit it, then no one else would see. 

I've tried on my own but, after getting to the dreaded 200 mark (yes, I did just admit what I weighed), well, I realized I just didn't know how or have the tools.  So, I joined with my mom. 

My mom has done weight watchers for as long as I can remember.  She has lost weight on it so I know it works. 

I've begun this blog for two reasons.  First, and foremost, so I'll have a place to talk about the stuff that I experience so I don't bug my family with constantly talking about food and "points".  Second, so I might, after a time, have a little accountability.  I don't want to ever be this big again.

I've been on weight watchers for one and a half weeks.  I had my first weigh-in last Tuesday and I lost 4.8 lbs.  I was really surprised.  I didn't feel hungry and just stopped eating all the stuff I used to eat.  Well, I pretty much ate the same stuff but I only ate about one half to one third of what I used to eat.

Wow!  I used to cram it in my gob!  and there were so many little things ....like the creamer I used to liberally add to my coffee.  I've cut that back and haven't even noticed.  I went out to eat several times during that first week and just chose menu items more carefully.

I have to admit though, this second week is a little harder than the first.  I've found myself hungrier and having more cravings.  Of course it didn't help that this was the week I had my period.  That is never a good time to try to eat an apple instead of a donut.  But I stuck to it.  I did go over my "points" yesterday but I haven't tapped into my extra points nor my activity points since I started so I figured 2 points over wasn't too bad.

So, there you go.  That's the start.  I'm hoping to share more with you about my experiences and how things are going.  I hope that maybe you'll be inspired or I can answer your questions or you can get a little courage. 

It's not that bad and afterall, we girls always are looking for cuter clothes.