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

Optimism….

When you clean out your closet, and put all of your size 14 jeans on the high shelf where you can’t reach them. and put all your size 12 jeans front row center.

That’s optimistic, or is it realistic???  What would it be called if you threw the damned things away.  Stupid?  Yeah, probably. 

Toot, toot….

Had to share….

I’ve really kicked ass this week, eating, low, 12-15 a day.  Refocused, determined to get back on track.  It’s working, weight is down a pound and a half since Monday, total lost now is 19.5.  Going for 20.  I stalled for weeks, it’s good to see the scale move!

Jan here, doin’ the happy dance, happy dance, happy dance…

Splenda Nutritional Information

Thank you for visiting the SPLENDA(R) Brand Sweetener website. We hope you became more familiar with SPLENDA(R) Brand Sweetener during your visit to the site.

We manufacture four forms of SPLENDA (R) Brand Sweetener: SPLENDA(R) No Calorie Sweetener Granular, SPLENDA(R) No Calorie Sweetener Packets, SPLENDA(R) Sugar Blend for Baking, and SPLENDA (R) Brown Sugar Blend for Baking.

The caloric and carbohydrate content for SPLENDA (R) No Calorie Sweetener Brand is as follows:

SPLENDA (R) Granular 1 tsp = 0.5 gm carb = 2 calories one half cup = 12 gm carb = 48 calories 1 cup = 24 gm carb = 96 calories

*1 tsp. = 1 serving

Packet of SPLENDA (R) 1 packet = .9 gm of carb = 4 calories

*1 packet has the sweetness of 2 tsp of sugar

Note: Per U.S. labeling laws, anything with less than 5 calories per serving, is properly labeled as "zero" or no-calorie.

Note: The calories and carbohydrates in SPLENDA (R) No Calorie Sweetener comes from dextrose and/or maltodextrin, which are added for bulk. Sucralose the sweetening ingredient in SPLENDA (R) Brand Sweetener, has no calories and is not a carbohydrate.

Granular - sucralose, maltodextrin (0.5 gram per serving) Packets - sucralose, maltodextrin and dextrose (less than 1 gram per packet)

Since you need to use only half the volume of sugar called for in your recipe, SPLENDA(R) Sugar Blend for Baking provides half the calories and carbohydrate that sugar would ordinarily provide.

SPLENDA(R) Sugar Blend for Baking (use ½ as much as sugar) Sugar

For recipe sweetening: 1/2 cup 1 cup Calories 384 768 Carbohydrate 96 grams 192 grams Per serving: 1/2 tsp. 1 tsp. Calories 10 16 Carbohydrate 2 grams 4 grams

1/2 cup of SPLENDA(R) Brown Sugar Blend contains 1/2 the calories and 1/2 the sugar of 1 cup of regular brown sugar, but has the same sweetness as a full cup of regular brown sugar. Half a packed cup of Splenda Brown Sugar Blend provides approximately 95-105 grams of carbohydrate.

The exact calorie count of 1 cup of regular brown sugar is a function of how firmly/densely the measuring cup is packed, yielding 500-850 calories. So, consumers can save ~250 calories or more by using 1/2 cup SPLENDA(R) Brown Sugar Blend in place of 1 cup regular brown sugar.

The measurement for 1 cup of regular brown sugar that is on the back panel of SPLENDA(R) Brown Sugar Blend packaging does not exactly match the USDA listing for 1 cup of regular brown sugar. Our back panel listing falls between the USDA listings for unpacked and packed brown sugar.

We value hearing from our consumers. Please feel free to call us with any additional comments or questions on our toll-free number 1-800-7-SPLENDA (1-800-777-5363), Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Eastern Time. You may also access our website at {www.splenda.com for answers to frequently asked questions, recipes, cooking and baking tips.

Monday Morning, tales from the scale…

I came to the proverbial fork in the road last week, the same old fork that I’ve come to many times in my life, my control was slipping, the focus wasn’t there, I was at the place where I could start increasing my eating easily.  I ate too much Friday and Saturday, the weight wasn’t coming off, duh, wonder why???

But instead of continuing the path I was on, as I have so many times in the past, I took the other fork in the road, reigned it in Sunday, ate minimal points, nine to be exact, got my groove back, and I’m off to the races again….  I’m proud of myself, it’s so hard to not fall back into the old habits.  Not gonna do it this time, nope, not gonna happen.  Oh, my weight?  Exactly the same, haven’t gained or lost all month.

Next week I’ll have a better report… Pinky swear…

Monday morning tales from the scale….

I have to admit, when I know the scale isn’t going down, it’s not too exciting to step on them first thing Monday morning.

It’s samo-samo here.  The scales haven’t budged since July 8th, haven’t gone up, haven’t gone down.  I’m stuck!  Am I surprised?  No, not at all.  Hooterville was here this week, and while I didn’t go over points, I hovered in the high range, 18-20, ate too many sandwiches, no salad, not many veggies.  I should be thrilled that I’m at least treading water.

So it’s back to it this morning, I took a break from tweeting what I ate this past weekend, time to regroup, move forward and concentrate on losing another five pounds.  Mini goals seem to work the best for me now, it will be slow going, getting through these next 5-10 lbs., but I keep reminding myself, it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle.

One thing that I am pleased with, is that lately when I eat, I reign myself in, regardless of how good it tastes, I just eat a few bites, push away and quit.  It’s getting easier, too, I hate to go out on a limb and say that I’m forming a “habit” doing this, but hey, I’m trying, and that’s all I can do, is try, day, after day, after day, after day…..

Weight Watchers Health Salad

This recipe got great reviews, keeps for days in the fridge, too…

Health Salad
Servings: 16
Preparation Time: 14 min
Cooking Time: 0 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Like slaw, but better. This recipe is wonderful with burgers, chicken kabobs and grilled fish. A fantastic side dish for a summer crowd.
Ingredients
4 cup(s) shredded red cabbage, or green cabbage
1/2 medium English cucumber, thinly sliced
1/2 medium red onion(s), thinly sliced
1 large garlic clove(s), thinly sliced
1 medium green pepper(s), thinly sliced
1 medium carrot(s), thickly shredded
1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 1/2 tbsp Splenda
2 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp water
1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped (optional)
Instructions
In a large bowl, combine cabbage, cucumber, onion, garlic, green pepper and carrot; set aside.
In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients; pour over vegetables and toss to mix and coat. Chill in refrigerator, tossing once or twice, for about 1 hour. Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.

Its Monday morning, tales from the scale…

Nothing new to report here, weight hasn’t changed.   It’s to be expected, though, I can’t lose every week.  I struggled last week, ate too many carbs over the weekend, yeah, they were complex carbs, but still….  Stella will get her groove back this week…

I did make yummy pinto beans in my electric pressure cooker.  A bag of pinto’s, six cups of water, a slice of bacon, lots of garlic and onion, salt and pepper, and I pressured them for an hour and fifteen minutes.  They were much better the next day with lots of chopped jalapenos.  Good stuff….

Monday weigh-in, tales from the scale…

Yeah, yeah, I know it’s Wednesday… Okay, I admit it, Monday was not good, nor was Tuesday.  Even though I didn’t go above points on the 4th, I ate a lot of carbs, I was retaining water, but, after two days of eating healthy, I’m FINALLY into those new digits.  Yep, I AM!!!!!

Weight loss is sitting at 18 lbs. now!  The slowdown is happening, which is to be expected, it always slows drastically as I get closer to my target weight.

John said last weekend, “Mom, I think another ten pounds will do it for you.” “You will always be thick thru the middle, you never did have a little waist.”  He’s right on, of course, I never did. 

Will I stop at another ten pounds?  I’m barely into twelves now, and another ten pounds will have me wearing them really comfortably, and that’s where I’ve always said I would stop now that I’m older.  Of course, there is a huge part of me that wants to be a size ten again.  I know, it’s vain, but “Vanity thy name is Woman,” even when you’re fast approaching the big 6-0!  It just depends on how gaunt I look in the face.  I’ll have to just see how it plays out.  But first I have to lose those ten pounds!!!

Am I still motivated?  Is a horse a horse?  You damn betcha I am!!!  This old energizer bunny just keeps on going…  I’m looking forward to passing the twenty pound loss, that will be huge for me.

My newest mini goal is 4.5 pounds more by Labor Day.  Maybe I’ll make it, maybe not, but I’m not racing, I’m just eating healthy….

Snaps for me….

I weighed on the garage scale this morning, the old fashioned penny scale that never waivers in it’s accuracy.  I’ve cursed that scale more times than I care to think about, but it gives me a true reading, and from now on, that’s the scale I’m going to use for my weekly weigh-ins.

Sooooooooo, according to the garage scale, I have now lost 17 lbs.  Yep, I’m only half a pound from breaking into the new digits.  Life is good again, sez Jan, tooting her own horn. 

Hey, I deserve a toot today…..  I’ve worked hard for this!

How much more do I want to lose???  10 more lbs. and then I reevaluate, see where I’m at, how comfortable the size 12’s are, decide if I’m going to go for the 10’s. or if I’m looking too haggard to lose more.  I can diet until I’m a twig and I’ll still have a thick middle.  Such is life when you’re my age…