I need to tell you all about pumpkin oatmeal…

I’ve read about adding pumpkin to oatmeal often, it’s an old Weight Watchers favorite thing to do, but never tried it until this week.  Oh my, have I been missing out!!!

Cook a 1/2 cup serving of Old Fashioned Oats, I put mine in the microwave for about three minutes, then stir in 1/4 cup canned pumpkin, a heaping teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, I added more cinnamon and a pinch of cloves, and a splash of fat-free half and half.

It’s warm, filling, tastes like you’re eating pumpkin pie, well kinda…  This stuff is amazing, and the increased fiber from the pumpkin really fills you up.  Give this a try, girlfriends, it’s a keeper recipe…

~ jan

Monday Morning, tales from the scale -

It’s the end of August now, the scale is barely moving, but it is moving downward.  I’ve lost a total of 22 lbs. now since I started this lifestyle of eating healthy on April 1st.  When I get frustrated that I’m not losing as fast as I would like, I try to reflect back to where I was when this started, how I looked, how I felt, and I’m definitely in a much better place now.

I continue to consume too many carbs, even though they are healthy, whole grain ones.  I adore bread, always have, always will, it satisfies the soul, and even though I always eat whole grain bread now, usually Nature’s Own 100% Whole Wheat (2 slices for 1 point) I don’t limit myself to two slices per day.  I don’t actually limit myself to anything.  But I am aware of when I’m eating too much and reign it in.  I’m definitely not eating enough vegetables, but I did make vegetable soup yesterday, so that will help this week.  I continue to grab from the fridge and eat instead of cooking meals for myself, I need to concentrate more on actually “cooking” food.  I’m sure I will when the weather is cooler, I find amazing recipes on SparkRecipes.com.  If you aren’t visiting this site, you definitely need to, it’s hands down, the best healthy lifestyle site I’ve ever found.

I’m in a good place though, still highly motivated, still focused, no pity parties here about what I can’t eat, but I am apprehensive about fall, that’s when I store fat for the winter!  Seriously, I am always starved in the fall…

I need to work with this blog, I haven’t added content in awhile.  I’ll update this week, so check back…

Monday morning, tales from the scale…

It’s been two weeks since I’ve posted, last week followed a weekend in Nashville and Alabama, I took a couple of days off, didn’t even get on the scale, and didn’t update last week. 

So where am I this morning?

Exactly the same weight I was the last time I posted.  That’s okay, I managed to reign it in after the trip, but ate high end of points most of the week. It’s been a struggle for me this month, don’t know why, but it happens sometimes.  Am I still motivitated?  You bet, I am.  Those size 12 jeans are fitting really well, that’s motivation enough!  And, when I bought clothes for Lindsay’s shower at Coldwater Creek, I bought size 12 side zip, no stretch, black pants.  They went right up, zipped, fit perfectly, oh yeah, yours truly was doin’ the happy dance in the dressing room!

One more size to go, and then I maintain.  It will probably take me until next spring, as my body tends to not turn loose of the weight  after I get to this point.  But that’s okay, it’s not a race, I’m actually enjoying browsing the racks in the stores, wearing size L tops now, and  I’ve found that great bra I told you all about on the Daily Dish. I have no complaints about my healthy eating journey, zero, none, nada…

Hang in there with me, girlfriends, it’s a daily struggle sometimes, but so worth it…

 

It’s Monday again, more tales from the scale…

I lost just a bit this week, I’m now down twenty one and a half pounds.  After the big loss last week, I’m happy to have gone down even a little bit.  It was a good week, I’m refocused, revitalized, happy with what I’m eating.  I have no complaints.  We went to Deerhead Saturday night, I had catfish, yep, fried catfish and a couple of bites of double stuffed pizza, and felt not a shred of guilt. 

I will continue this journey that I’ve embarked on, I really intend fort this to be a lifestyle change, not a diet.  I made Auntie Em’s Oatmeal Cookies for Ryan and a peanut butter sheet cake, and wasn’t tempted by them at all.  I focused on fresh peaches and cantaloupe instead, and it was delicious.

The guys grilled burgers last night, my burger was pretty pathetic looking, it was so small compared to everybody else, but I ate it, and it tasted delicious, filled me up and I was satisfied.  I ignored the baked beans, and only had a couple of bites of the potatoes.  I’ve found I really don’t need as much food as I thought I did to feel satisfied.  And I’ve also learned that just because calorie laden food is on the table, it doesn’t mean I have to eat it.  I’ve had more meat this week than I normally eat, and that’s okay, too.  I’m adjusting, adapting, and enjoying the entire process.

We’ll see what next week brings, Lindsay’s baby shower is this weekend, and I’m going to just take a day off and eat all the yummy stuff.  If I gain a pound next week, that’s fine, I know I will get back on track when I get home.

I’m a little over five  pounds away from my original goal now, but I can tell you already that I’m going to revise it.  I still want  to lose more, I’ll reset it for an additional ten pounds, then see where I’m at.

I hope that some of you reading this can make a lifestyle change that works  for you, also.  It’s such an empowerment to be in control of what I eat, and it’s amazing how much better my body feels.  But I’ll be honest with you, the best part, is looking in the mirror,  and the face that is smiling back at me isn’t bloated, and the pants that I put on glide over my hips and zip easily with minimum muffin top.  I’m fueling my food with healthy food, so I’m not having heartburn.  I’m eating lots of fiber which is awesome for my digestive system, I’m taking vitamins, drinking a lot of liquids, and my next goal is to do a bit of mediation.

It’s a good day, today, I’m doing this, I really am, one day at a time, and it feels wonderful…

Monday Morning Tales from the Scale….

Happy days are here again
The skies above are clear again
So, Let's sing a song of cheer again

Happy times
Happy nights
Happy days
Are here again!

Remember, last week, I pinky swore I would do better.  Well, let me tell you girlfriends, no other way to say this, I totally kicked ass!!!  Totally.  I’m a rock star….

I ate low, low, low, yes, I took my vitamins, ate salad out the wazoo, and the scale went down, down, down.

I could have kissed the contraption when I weighed this morning, the plateau is over, I’ve now lost are you ready for this.  Drum roll, please…………..

21.2 lbs.  that’s over three pounds this week.

Jan here, doin’ the happy dance, big time!!!!!!

Faux Fried Rice

Another cauliflower recipe, got good reviews on WW boards…

Faux Fried Rice
1 head of raw cauliflower, grated (had about 3.5 cups of grated, loosely packed cauliflower)
1-2 bunches green onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 - 3 Tbsp. of soy sauce
1/2 to 1 tsp. of garlic salt (don’t use too much - it’s salty from the soy sauce)
3 eggs, beaten
Oil
Pork (bacon), chicken, or shrimp, cooked (optional)
In a wok or large pan, heat enough oil to cover bottom of pan. Fry minced garlic and white part of onions for approx. 1 min. Add grated cauliflower and fry for approximately 5 min, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce, garlic salt, green onion tops, and meat (optional) and stir until mixed. Push mixture to side of pan. Add more oil if necessary, and scramble eggs in empty side of pan until done but still moist. Stir eggs into "rice" and remove from heat.
Serves 4 as a side dish.

Cauliflower Rice, what will they think of next….

BASIC RECIPE: Ingredients:
1 head cauliflower (or however much you want)
Preparation:
To make this dish the most easily and to have it come out the best, three pieces of equipment are very helpful:
- A food processor
- A microwave
- A covered (or fairly tightly coverable) microwave-safe dish

Wash cauliflower. Cut into small size florets. Process fresh cauliflower until it is the size of rice, either using the plain steel blade or the shredder blade. Alternatively, you can shred it with a hand-held grater, or even use a knife, if you have the dexterity to chop it up VERY finely.

Microwave it in a covered dish for 4-5 minutes. DO NOT ADD WATER. Cauliflower absorbs water like crazy, and the "granules" will become gummy. To keep it fluffy, just let the moisture in the cauliflower do its work.

Here’s a link to a video showing how to make it… and here is a link to the orange, almond cauliflower rice  pictured above