Abs and Arms

I need to really work on my abs and arms. I still have the baby pooch...(my baby is six...and so is my pooch). I need to work out my abs.

AND...I saw a picture of me...oh, my arms. I really don't want to talk about it. :(

Anyone have any good, quick workouts that you've seen results from?

I already run 45 minutes a day...I can't do too much more. (Mom guilt, ya know)

Let me know!
J

Recipe Winner

I have a new recipe...that I think I created. I'm sure some of you have made this, too. But, please, let me bask in my glory! :)

It is my husband's newest favorite (and mine too) that I cook. It is simple and easy...and LOW in points. Winner!

Even my daughters will eat it.

Here are the pictures.

I call it...

Mediterranean Zucchini

(I don't know why I named it that...)

1. Start with fresh zucchini. Cut in up into bite size pieces. I use 3-4 zucchinis.

I cook them on medium in 2 tsp. of EVOO. The zucchini is 0 points. The EVOO is 2 points.

2. When those are cooked like I want them (still firm), I add in some cooked tomatoes.

These tomatoes are from my MIL's garden. She cooks them and then cans them.

I found some canned tomatoes (Delmonte) at the store that were 0 points.

3. I cook those until they are bubbly. Then I drain off the excess liquid.
Then, I sprinkle Parmesean Cheese in it and stir.
1/8 of a cup is 1 point. But I doubt I use that much.

4. Then, I sprinkle 1/4 cup of mozarella shredded cheese (2  points). I cover the pan and let it melt.

5. Yum! I know it looks like a lot of cheese, but it is only melted on the top.

The whole pan is 5 points. :)

I usually eat about 1/6 of pan or maybe a bit more.

**************

I have been using these measuring cups/bowls. I bought a scale to weigh my food, but these cups really help me to measure my food and keep track of my points. They stack up so cute!

I hope you make this dish and love it as much as me! :)

J

Water is Key

Let me start with a joke I heard that made me chuckle:

The average woman in the US wears a size 14.

Why would anyone want to be less than average!!! 

Well, even though the joke is cute, we all know I want to be smaller. I think everyone has to find "their comfortable size." Some people exude confidence at a 14, some a size 2. Me? I'm definitely somewhere in the middle...maybe an 8? We'll see. I'm tall--almost 5'8". So, I've got to find my size, the weight where I feel like me. When I weighed 125, I had to run 6 miles 6 days a week...and eat like a bird. That's NOT ME. First off, I just don't have that kind of time anymore. Second, I'm not a bird, and I need to model healthy eating for my girls!!! I want them to have a healthy relationship with food and exercise.

So, to the title of my post. My weight has been fluctuating. One day I'm down a pound or two, and the next day I'm up. I have made a discovery. If I drink tons and tons of water, my weight seems to stay consistent. No big *surprise* jumps UP the scale. I only want that scale moving down!!!!

I thought I was drinking enough water (at least 64 ounces) but when I wrote it down, I was surprised that I my intake was less that I imagined.  The flew days the scale went up for no reason...I didn't drink enough water those days. But, I did eat within my points. I am trying to figure out if I am eating too much sodium. I don't really add salt to my food. But, I know sodium can be sneaky. It is the only thing that can explain the gains, I have been exercising and eating really well. That is frustrating. I want to see the benefits of being so diligent.

Anyway, the past two days, I drank tons of water. My weight came back down. And, I bet it will be down again tomorrow. We'll see. :-)

Don't forget your H2O,

J

PS--I weighed 177.2 this morning. So, I have only lost .8 from last week. Not exactly what I wanted but I'll take the loss! :)

Swings

It is so weird to me how my mood can swing from one end of the spectrum to the other...in such a short span of time. One day, I am feeling on top of my game --like I am winning my battle against FAT.

Today...the opposite. I am struggling.

We are considering adding onto our home. We met with builders last night and an architect. We are talking major work.

Major money. Big bucks. Mucho dinero.

We've NEVER jumped into a cost like that...other than our home. We are VERY close to paying off our house so this is causing my darling husband some stress. AND that causes me stress.

I keep thinking things like...what if something happens --like one of us loses a job? Or you know, an unforseen expense...something we didn't plan on.

Well, you know what stress does to an emotional eater.

I WANT TO PIG OUT.

I have struggled all.day.long.

I almost did a driveby thru the drive-thru. Thank goodness I saved myself. I've almost made myself miserable with cravings.

I'm going to try to go for a run.

Wish me luck,
J

Feeling ALMOST Normal

I have gotten into size 12s comfortably the past week or so. I know I still have 30 pounds to lose, but I am more determined than ever. Weight Watchers was definitely a good choice for me. I am learning a lot about eating "normally"...as in, I don't have to eat everything today, because I can eat a little and have more tomorrow if I want it.

In the past, I would eat everything in sight (planning to start the diet ---tomorrow).  I enjoyed ONE chocolate truffle the other day (2 points) and stopped at that. It was an ah-ha moment for me. I only ate the one. I have been known to eat the entire package...in secret, of course. But, this time, I ate one and told myself I can have one everyday until the package is gone if I choose. So far, I've only eaten one more. This restraint is new for me. :)

I am starting to feel normal again. Like a normal person. I walked past a mirror the other day, and I could truly see the results of my hard work. Of course, I still see so many flaws, but I'm working on those. I'm also working on not being so tough on myself.

When, I was out at the restaurant with Cindy, I felt normal. I didn't feel self-conscious about my size. I like that feeling. Not feeling like I need to hide and blend into the walls. It was nice.

I did however find myself wishing two things:

1. I wish I hadn't waited so long to get my act together.
2. I wish I did not waste so much time losing weight only to regain it and having to lose it again! I get frustrated with myself. Wasted time.

But, I have *GOT* to let this go. I have caught myself thinking these thoughts too often nowadays. This is water under the bridge. That time is gone. It is time for me to focus on my future. A healthy future.

I love this quote I found in my Guidepost Magazine (March 2011):

"I try to incorporate faith every day, to not remind myself of past failures, to learn how to forgive and to trust the future." 

~Vanessa Williams 

Isn't that wonderful!

Forgiving Myself,

J

The REAL deal...

I'd rather eat real stuff than the skinny version of stuff.

For example, I hate fat free cheese. It just doesn't melt correctly.

I also don't like fat free sour cream on my Mexican food. Ugh.

And...fat free mayonnaise.

Some fat free salad dressings are just pitiful!











I'd rather not eat it, than eat the fat free version of some items. I just make sure I have enough points and only eat a little bit. All things in moderation, right? Or, find another healthy choice. I want my food to taste the way I like it. I'm learning to eat in moderation and enjoy smaller portions.


What about you? I'd love to hear from you...

J

(BTW, I just found those pictures...not picking on "certain brands"...)

Results

I had so much fun at the 5K!!!!! We are definitely going to do one about every 5-6 weeks. It is just too expensive to do them more frequently: race fees, hotel room, dinner, movie= $215. Of course, that was for both of us. But still, we are budget conscious people! :)

I finished the race in just under 39 minutes. That is a pretty good time for me--about 13 minute miles. It was very crowded (1000 people) so it was difficult to get up to speed at the beginning. Cindy had to stop to tie her shoe twice. AND, there were two major hills. UGH.

I learned that I am going to have to push myself more on my treadmill. I need to use the incline more and more. I can't wait until Daylight Savings Time. I will be able to run outside.

My injured leg...oh, my calf muscle! I definitely need to train for the hills!!! Ouch.

I also made great decisions while eating. Dinner was grilled fish and veggies and about 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes. YUM. I stayed within my points! I had peanut butter toast and yogurt for breakfast (while Cindy ate one of the biggest waffles I've ever seen...that syrup smelled so good, but I stayed on track).

You should have seen all the food at the race. Pizza, Mexican food galore, Dunkin Donuts (chocolate covered), cookies, bananas...it was wild. Those people put away the groceries...it was something to see. I was so glad that I didn't even want it. I had a banana :).

The male and female winner finished the race around 14 minutes. A-MA-ZING!!! That blows my mind.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support. It REALLY helps!

Don't forget to exercise,
J