Just Dance Wii!

I bought the Just Dance 2 for the Wii a couple of days ago.  The kids and I just love it!  We've been using it a lot.  Some of the song lyrics aren't exactly kid appropriate but they aren't bad.  I like how there are songs from many different eras.  New music, 80's hits and even some 60's songs.

The kids have played so much they have the dance moves practically memorized already!  Even though only 4 players can dance at a time, we get a bunch of the little daycare kids dancing so we'll have 8 or so kids all dancing.  It's a blast to watch them all dance to songs like Tik Tok or Walk Like an Egyptian.  I just wish there was more room in our den for them to spread out more! 

We liked it so much that I ordered Just Dance 1 and Just Dance Kids.  I'll let you know how I like those once they come!

I would recommend this game.  The only word of caution is some of the lyrics are questionable for kids. Some songs like Satisfaction or Sympathy for the Devil might not be the greatest to have your kids dance around to. 

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Tuesday Eat's
Strawberry Rhubarb Baked Oatmeal with splenda instead of sugar = 265
Salad w/turkey = 175
Yogurt = 100
Cheese and crackers = 150
More Baked Oatmeal = 265
White Bean Italian Pizza = 565
Total = 1520 calories

It certainly is a conflict of interest to be a food blogger and a dieter at the same time!  I had planned to make the baked oatmeal this week for dinner but it turns out it's going to be super hot and humid by the end of the week so no oven.  So I made it for breakfast.  Oh my, this stuff rocked! It was like eating dessert for breakfast.  Then I made an incredible white bean vegetarian pizza for dinner.  Higher calories than I thought it would be but insanely delicious. 

Wednesday Eat's
1 1/2 Rhubarb Strawberry Baked Oatmeal = 395
Watermelon = 50
White Bean Pizza = 565
Special K Protein Bar = 170
Steak = 180
Broccoli = 50
Salad w/fruit = 175
Total = 1585 calories

Second day in a row of going over calories. *sigh* Mostly just leftovers today, glad they are gone to keep them from tempations reach!  Not enough water today either.  It is usually second nature just to be drinking all the time but for some reason today I haven't felt like it.  Maybe that's why I ate so much!

I'm HUNGRY!

Anyone hungry?

It's funny, somedays you can go the whole day, eating well, not hungry and come in great on calories.  Then another day, you can more calories but just feel HUNGRY all day!  Been there, many times. 

But still, I stick to the 1200 - 1400 calories a day. Why? Because it works. I promise. I've done it, I know it works. 

Often what helps me, if I am a little hungry, especially at night, is the thought of how many times I went to be STUFFED beyond belief. I guarantee I’ve gone to bed overfull way more times than I’ve gone to bed a little hungry. So if your tummy is rumbling a bit as you close your eyes at night, remember, the sun will still get up, the earth will still move and you will be okay. Really, really.  A little hunger never killed anyone. 1200 - 1400 calories a day is no where near starvation.  We can do this!

Matthew 5: 38-41
Matthew 5: 44
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I'm a little behind in posting my foods but I AM keeping track!

Saturday Eat's
Carnation Instant Breakfast - 170
Banana = 100
Funeral food = 350 (turkey, cheese, carrots, fruit, bite of brownie, lemonade)
Special K Protein Bar = 170
Sweet & Salty Bar = 170
Vanilla lite n fit Yogurt & Blueberries = 140
Total = 1100

I did eat some at the funeral but ended up not eating at all at the graduation party. I was glad there was just cake and not too many other goodies, I'm not a huge cake fan but am more tempted by bars and stuff.  I ate my protein bar instead and then came home to another bar and some yogurt. Missing a lot of veggies though. 

Sunday's Eats
Egg Beaters, english muffin, ham = 230
Salad w/ fruit & dressing = 170
Chipotle bean burger & light sour cream = 230
Arnold Selects Sandwich thin = 100
6 oz. cooked chicken = 285
Potatoes = 170
Broccoli = 50
Special K Protein Bar = 180
Total = 1415 calories

Monday's Eat's
Egg beaters, english muffin = 175
2 turkey sausages = 80
Special K Protein Bar = 170
Salad w/chicken = 250
Watermelon = 100
2 turkey veggie wraps = 450
Total = 1225 calories

Slimmer This Summer Week 4

So how did this week go? 

Are we staying focused on our goals?  Wishful thinking isn't going to get those goals met. Oh how I know this!  I can't tell you how many times I wake up just pumped and ready to have an awesome day only to find by the end of the day saying, "What was I thinking?!"  We need to stay focused daily.  *I* need to stay focused daily.  I feel like I did "okay" for the week.  I don't like doing just "okay".  For ME, that is too close to "not good".  I need to stay on track, stay focused and keep my head in the game at all times. 

Game on people, game on!

Week 3 Challenge Progress

I started the day good again on Friday, then it just kinda went downhill as I started snacking. We had a bunch of people over for pizza tonight. The kids all had a blast. I had planned to make a white bean nummy adult pizza but just ran out of energy and time.  So I ate a taco salad before everyone came over so I wouldn't be hungry for pizza.  Which I wasn't.  My mistake was nibbling after everyone left.  I had a small breadstick, took some crumbs from the brownies, then let my hand pull out a few handfuls of chips.  And just like that, 350 calories later, I'm over on calories and still wanted popcorn that evening.  So I didn't finish as hoped. 

Friday's Eat's
Egg beaters, english muffin = 175
Yogurt & blueberries = 120
2 Turkey Wraps = 450
Special K Bar = 170
Taco Salad = 350
Brownie = 100
Breadstick = 100
Chips = 150
Popcorn = 100
Total calories = 1715 calories

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Progress Week 3

1. Track Calories = I've done this most days, slipped a bit on Thursday though.  I still say it is the best way for me to stay on track.  If I go too long without doing it, I totally lose control and it gets ugly.
2. Under 10,000 calories a week = Just over, if I was correct at estimating 1800 on my non tracking day, I'm at 10,270.  I really wanted 10,000 to be my maximum so I am disappointed in myself for going over. 
3. Water = Beginning of the week I drank a lot. By the end of the week I was having trouble getting it in. I need to step it up and drink more.  Notice the trend?  Beginning of the week I did better on calories, tracking AND water, then it went downhill. Something I need to think about next week.
4. Lose 18 lbs. = Uh, I pretty much just broke even.  What with vacation last week and what I did this week.  The scale was looking good mid week then spiked here at the end of the week, I'm hoping it has to do with the TOM.  1 lb. loss for challenge/ 17 to go.
5. Exercise = Better. I still don't really have a routine but I'm not sure that will actually happen.  I'm getting faster at walking, and I'm amping up the other workouts.  I did some newer exercises and got some muscles moving that hadn't moved in awhile so it's good. I'm still looking to for more consistency. 
6. Encouragement = I know that I was able to visit and see everyones progress for last week but I haven't been around much besides that.  There has really been a lot going on here. Everyone is busy though, I get that. In fact, I am totally falling asleep writing this.

Certainly room for improvement, I'm hoping the scale will be nicer next week. 

This is linked with Motivational Monday at A Hippo with a Headband. Link up your motivational posts there! 

Weekends

Ready for the weekend?  Have you planned your meals?

Ha! It's not so easy as the weekdays is it?  BBQ's, shopping, company coming over, parties, whatever.  Every weekend seems to be different doesn't it?

My weekend this week includes a pizza party at my house with 15 kids, a funeral and a graduation party.  Talk about 'not your normal weekend'.  I have plans for pizza tonight which DOESN'T include takeout and breadsticks.  I am eating lunch before the funeral as I have no idea what will be there.  I know there will be pulled pork and Subway sandwich at the graduation so I know how to eat there.  No chips, no pop.  No cookie. 

Have you made a plan for you weekend?  Don't leave eating and your healthy to chance! 

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Wednesday's Meals

 Egg beaters, english muffin = 175

Banana = 100

2 Sloppy Slaw Joes = 450

Special K Bar = 170

Blueberry Muffin = 220

1 cup Spaghetti & Bean chili = 170

Total calories = 1285 calories

Lots of water

I made blueberry muffins for the kids, I wasn't planning to have one but while photographing,they got the better of me.  The only change I made to the recipe was to use 1/2 whole wheat flour.  The spaghetti & bean chili was awesome! I doubled the recipe, added more beans and nixed the oil.  Each heaping cup only came to 170 calories.  Best, filling 170 calorie dinner I've had in awhile!!

Thursday Eat's

I started good,  I had:

Egg Beaters, English Muffin = 175

Blueberries/Yogurt = 120

2 Sloppy Slaw Joes = 450

Then it went downhill.  Not horrible but I just didn't track and I was just kinda snacky.  It got super duper busy, I was incredibly tired all day and then ended up the day at a parade with 4 kids.  I didn't really eat dinner, just a turkey sausage and a mini snickers bar from the parade.  The kids had french toast.  I snacked on dumb stuff in the afternoon and probably finished the day at around 1800 calories?  I'm hoping I'm estimating high.  That's the problem when you don't stick to the plan and don't portion out food, you're left with estimating which means YOU are no longer in control, the food is.  I ignored the plan and let life get in the way.  Big mistake. Busy weekend ahead, my plan is to STAY in control.

Salad Power

A lot of people lament that dieting means they can only eat salads.  Well, don't underestimate the power of a salad.  They don't have to be boring.  You can dress them tons of different ways.  They can be a side dish, main meal or a snack. 

I recently went to Wendy's and tried their new Berry Almond Chicken Salad.  It was awesome!  I came home and tried to recreate it.  I bought Ken's Raspberry Pecan dressing.  I LOVED it and it is 50 calories for 2 tablespoons.  The picture doesn't show strawberries as I didn't have any at the time but I've made this plenty of time with the strawberries. I choose not to add the almonds as they the fruit is so flavorful, I don't really taste the almonds.  Here is the recipe with 3 tablespoons of dressing which is a lot, you could easily get away with 2.

Berry Salad
BIG bowl of lettuce
10 raspberries
25 blueberries
1/2 cup strawberry halves
3 tbsp. Ken's Raspberry Pecan dressing (this is a lot)
Total calories = 160 calories

Add some protein to make it a meal.  For about 150 calories, you can add 1/2 cup chickpeas, 3 oz. cooked chicken breast, OR 5 oz. turkey lunch meat.   

If you prechop veggies and have them in the refrigerator, it's a snap to throw together a gorgeous salad for the family for dinner.  When I have company, I'll dress it pretty like this and then toss but most the time we just fix our own a la carte with whatever veggies are on hand.

I use a lot of light dressings.  Zesty Fat Free Italian is awesome as it is just 15 calories for 2 tablespoons.  Another favorite is Paula Deens Peach Salad Dressing which is also only 15 calories for 2 tablespoons.  I don't know about you, but I like to get as much bang for my buck when it comes to food. So if I can save a bunch of calories on dressing I will! 

We love taco night.  Everyone can build their own tacos just the way they want!  Here is my Naked Chicken Burrito Bowl.  The family usually puts theirs on tortillas but I prefer it as a salad. Use chicken or ground turkey for a fantastic meal.  This salad has cheese but usually I opt to skip the cheese and add a dollop of light sour cream instead.  This is a tasty, nutritious and highly filling meal.  Measure your portions and this can come in easily under 400 calories for a huge salad. 

Here's another night of taco salad. I will often make the Taco Meat ahead of time in a huge batch and freeze it.  Then it's ready to be pulled out for a quick and easy meal anytime.  3 oz. of ground turkey Taco Meat, 1/2 cup salsa, 2 tbsp. light sour cream, a whole bunch of lettuce and maybe some onions and tomatoes will come in easily under 400 calories.   

Then there is the simple side salad that can accompany any meal.  I love just a simple bed of greens and a couple of tablespoons of my favorite dressing, Ken's Sweet Vidalia Onion lite. It's a bit higher in calorie but oh-so nummy!  80 calories for 2 tablespoons plus a bit of lettuce for 100 - 110 calories.  Perfect. 

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Tuesday Eat's

Egg beaters, laughing cow cheese & english muffin = 175

Ritz crackers & jelly = 390

Turkey sandwich = 250

Banana = 100

Special K Protein bar = 170

2 Sloppy Joes w/homemade sauce = 450

Blueberries = 50

Total = 1585

So much for salads today, huh?  I woke up hungry and ate my egg sandwich early. I usually eat something else around 10 or 10:30 but forgot and then at about 11:30 I was all of a sudden SUPER hungry!  I gave the baby some ritz crackers, took the jelly out for the other kids' lunch and sadly, went to town and started eating crackers and jelly.  I've so done this before.  The weird thing is I did count and measure too, which I guess is good.  I just kept rationalizing, "Well, I guess this is what I'm having for lunch so it's okay to have more." Then an hour later felt stupid for eating it and proceeded to eat my already scheduled lunch.

I could have made up some difference by only having 1 of the sloppy joes but they were super tasty so I ate 2.  Grr.  I know how to do 1200 calories, I WANT to do 1200 calories but lazy me wins a lot of the time. It won today. 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Diet

I posted about this last summer and I want to post it again!  I might  have already, I can't remember. 


This is the "diet" that I have tried to live by for the last few years:


1 hundred calorie snacks
2 times a day
3 hundred calorie breakfast.
4 hundred calorie lunch
5 hundred calorie dinner


That equals about 1400 calories. This works for me. I lose weight when I do this. When spot on, I try to estimate high on calories and round up on things so in theory the 1400 is the max calories ingested, hopefully in reality it's more like 1300.  It's just a guideline, I don't follow it to the letter everyday. 


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Sunday's Eats
Grapefruit = 100
2 Turkey Broccoli Slaw Wraps = 500
Special K Bar = 180
Hamburger = 320
Corn on the cob = 100
Salad w/veggies = 150
Total calories = 1350
Lots of water


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Monday's Eats
Egg beaters, lite english muffin & ham = 155
Grapefruit = 100
Pretzels = 120
2 turkey broccoli slaw wraps = 500
1/2 banana = 50
Chicken 3 oz. = 150
Potato = 200
Broccoli = 50
Special K protein bar = 170
Total calories = 1495

I would have done great today but for the protein bar tonight.  I came home from a walk and just felt hungry.  I should have just drank more water but instead went for a bar.  I think the turkey wraps are more like 450 calories for 2 of them but I just round up. 

So obviously I don't stick to the 1,2,3,4,5 diet to a TEE. I use it more like a guideline.  It seems to work for me!

Slimmer This Summer Week 3

So how was your week?!  We're all waiting to hear how awesome you did. Okay, so maybe we didn't do THAT awesome. We still want to hear about it. If you didn't make your goals, how are you going to change next week so that you WILL meet your goals? 

Life keeps us busy, let's not let life get in the way with our health though.  It is too important to let it get pushed aside, WE are too important. 

Let's link up our progress posts. Please link to the progress post, not your homepage as it is easier for all of us to see how you did.  Email me if you have any questions!

I'm Back!

Howdy!  I'm back from vacation. Whew, what a week! Nice and relaxing but we did a lot of stuff. 

Horseback riding, kayak and canoeing, and go carts.

Then there was mini golf, waterparks and rides. 

We all got plenty of sun too. The weather was good.  Nice at first, then it got cooler and cloudier mid week but by the end of the week it was hot and sunny again so we all went home a bit pink. Yes, I know there are no pictures of me.  I was the one with the camera. The only picture of me was at a science museum and my baby took a picture of me in a machine with mirrors that just made me look like I only had a head, no body.  Not a flattering shot.  I so need to get more family pictures!

Food?  Oh yes. The food.  *sigh*  I started well. Then it sorta went downhill.  It wasn't horrible, it wasn't like major binging or anything but the longer I was away, the more distant I became from my goals. Yes, it was just a week but it was such a familiar place and there were so many familiar memories of what I USED to do that I gradually slipped back into not-so-good habits.  I ate breakfast good but then snacked too much. The snacks we had were healthier than normal but I ate too many.  I started each restaurant meal with a nice big salad with 90% veggies but then I ate more.  More than planned.  Not tons, but more than I should have.  And I didn't completely avoid the dessert bar when there was one.  Luckily there weren't too many.   

I was also stupid and didn't track anything.  DUH! Just because you're on vacation, doesn't mean it's a valid reason to not track your food.  Somehow I missed that.  Thump. Yes, that's me thumping my fist on my head.  All in all, I'd say I had a couple really good days, a couple bad days and a couple so-so days.  It could have been worse.  It has been worse. 

I didn't bother weighing myself this morning. I'm in major salt detox mode.  I ate really well yesterday and today has been on track with a TON of water.  I'll update weight at the end of next week. 

Exercise went pretty well.  We walked when we otherwise would have taken a shuttle.  I didn't scope out the nearest bench as soon as we got somewhere.  I took the stairs when we used to take the elevator. My little one even noticed that I would RUN up the stairs.  I even went up and down the stairs a couple of extra times when I was alone and had a few extra minutes.  So no weights or anything but plenty of walking, playing and swimming.

 
We got home late in the evening last night and after attending to my 500 emails (no joke), I stayed up way too late last night looking over all the link ups last week. I'm thrilled that so many have stuck with it and most are doing fantastic.  I really needed to get remotivated again and your blog posts were awesome! There were several who posted challenge updates on their blogs but didn't link up though. We'd love to hear from all of you so we can keep up!  I'll have the new linky tomorrow morning!

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Saturday's Eat's

Scrambled Egg Beaters w/veggies = 110
Special K Protein bar = 180
Salad w/chicken = 250
Turkey Wrap = 250
Turkey Wrap = 250
Total = 1040 calories
LOTS of water.

What I'm NOT Eating for DINNER on Vacation!!

I'm on vacation with no internet access so this is a scheduled post.  We're at Wisconsin Dells full of tasty restaurants and buffets.  We love the buffets. It's easy for everyone to get what they want and you get a nice variety of food.  Well, we ARE going to visit the same buffets this year but I plan to make better choices.  I plan to choose the restaurants that have the best salad bars.  Yes, I know that salad bars can be dangerous too but I have a better chance of choosing better if there is a salad bar rather than just all you can eat pizza. 

Pizza Pub, the favorite dinner buffet.  They have every kind of pizza imaginable.  The chicken alfredo pizza is my favorite followed by the bbq chicken pizza.  Then there is the hawaiian pizza, I just LOVE pineapple on pizza. That makes it healthier, doesn't it?  Just kidding.  :-)  Plus they have pasta, garlic bread, fried chicken and a large array of tasty desserts. 

Another favorite restaurant we go to is Ponderosa Steakhouse.  Sorry, but this is just an overeaters dream house. You go there and order a steak dinner with all the trimmings, loaded baked potato and maybe some fried shrimp on the side for only $3 more. Then, you have access to their all you can eat salad bar. Now, this is not just a salad bar.  This is a full meal buffet. Not only do you have fruit and salad but you have tons of pasta salads, chicken, pizza, tacos, pot roast, breads, pastas and whatever else they throw on there.  So you go there, you eat a whole plate of salad. You go back and get some of the hot food.  And when you are half way done with that; here comes your steak dinner that you just ordered.  By this time, you're not overly hungry for it but you ordered it and gosh, it sure does look good.  So you eat it. Or maybe most of it and take the rest back to the hotel. Then of course there is the dessert bar that isn't the greatest but you sample some; just because it's there.

So, here's the deal. We will be going to both of these restaurants and others too. The last couple of years, I have been making better choices.  Not perfect choices, but better.  This year, my goal is to make even better choices.  My plan is to attack the salad bar and avoid the pizza and steak dinner.  I might get some grilled shrimp at Ponderosa, we'll see.  I'm planning to avoid the breads, desserts and the pasta salads and sticking to salads and veggies and watching my toppings.  They usually have black or garbanzo beans which I love.  I won't be perfect.  I'm going to sneak a couple of the kids' fries, have a bite of the husbands steak and probably have something I shouldn't.   But I am really going to be aware of what I am eating and will walk away satisfied and not stuffed beyond belief.

I'll be back in a day or so and I can't wait to let you know how I did!! I'm hoping to get pictures of what I eat to keep me accountable.  We'll see if I actually remember to bring the camera everywhere I go.    

What I'm NOT Eating for SNACKS on Vacation!

I am a big snacker.  In the past, vacation has been like the excuse for ultimate hotel snacking.  It's like "I'm on vacation and I can eat whatever I want because I'M ON VACATION!".  Well, that attitude has gotten me in a lot of trouble.  My kids have developed that same attitude.  They know that we have certain "vacation treats" and they look forward to them.  Chips are not allowed at home, yet we frequently would buy many full bags of chips for vacation and eat them continually.  I shudder to think of it now.  

Another typical vacation treat are Nutty Bars. I can't be trusted with these things so we only bring them on vacations.  We usually bring like 2 big family size boxes.  This is a snack that often is accompanies by more chips.  What the heck was I thinking? Don't even get me started on the Bugles and Easy Cheese "tradition". Oh yea. 

Well, this year, there will be no big bag of chips, nor will there be nutty bars. Are we going to eat super healthy the whole time?  Probably not, but I am hoping that we can limit treats and not just go stir crazy and pile junk, upon junk in our bodies constantly.

Instead of chips, we plan to bring popcorn.  Now, if only we just don't BURN it like we do every year! 

 

We all like the Nature Valley Granola bars.  They might not be the healthiest of snacks but everyone likes them but not enough to want to eat 12 at a time. 

 
I am also bringing fruit.  This is easy to store in a hotel room plus they are easy to bring to the pool. All the kids like fruit. 

Another must have for me is yogurt. We'll of course buy this when we get up there.  Again, most of the family likes yogurt and it's a healthy, filling snack to enjoy. 

We have 12 weeks of this challenge.  Many will be going on vacations or long weekends.  What kind of snacks will you be bringing?

What I'm NOT Eating for BREAKFAST on Vacation

WooHoo!!!  I'm on vacation!  We have been going to Wisconsin Dells for vacation for many years. It's only about 4 hours away (with bathroom breaks) and the kids just love it. I don't have internet access so this is a scheduled post.

The Slimmer This Summer challenge continues even on vacation.  We usually bring breakfast with us.  It's much cheaper than eating out for breakfast. 

In the past I'd bring pastries of some sort.  One of the favorites are those powdered donuts?  You know, those mini ones that you can eat like 10 of them in one sitting?  Yea, well, this is what we WON'T be eating for breakfast. 

Another thing we'll be skipping this year are the poptarts.  Quick and easy for sure but way super high in sugar and they don't fill you up for a minute. 

Instead, I'm bringing a couple boxes of cereal for the kids, frosted shredded wheat and cheerios.  And I am bringing oatmeal packets.  The rooms always have a microwave and these are quick and nutritious.

We also have a room with a larger kitchen and refrigerator so we'll be getting a gallon of milk while there.  I am also bringing Carnation Instant Breakfast, no sugar added. If there was one thing I got out of previous challenges, it was to appreciate this.  I am NOT a milk drinker and this makes milk delicious! Plus it's loaded with vitamins and it's FILLING.  Seriously filling.  I use 1% milk which makes it only 170 calories and it keeps me full for hours. 

So what are you having for breakfast??

More about what I'm NOT eating on vacation tomorrow!

Slimmer This Summer Week 2

Week 1 is over and we're starting week 2 of the Slimmer This Summer challenge?  How is everyone doing?

I'm leaving soon on vacation so I'm putting up the linky post early.  Let us know how much weight you've lost and how the exercise is going.  Any new sore muscles this week? 

So go ahead and link up your progress report.  It will be up through Monday.  I don't care when you post your progress. If you weigh in on Wednesdays, go ahead and link up Wednesdays post.  If you don't post it until Monday morning, fine, just get it linked up.  It will all balance out in the end. Just post to your progress post, NOT just to your blog please. It will be easier for everyone to see how you're doing.  

I don't have internet access on vacation so if there is anything you need, email Mir aka Princess Dieter and she can help you. 

Vacation!!

Well, I am officially on vacation.  No more daycare kids for an entire week.  Whew!

We're off to Wisconsin Dells.  We pretty much go there every year after school gets out.  It's a nice way to celebrate the end of school and it's early enough to avoid the peak season prices. 

I don't have internet access next week so I have scheduled posts for what we are planning and NOT planning to eat while on vacation.  

I've noticed that several have different email addresses on their linky posts than what I have. I have sent out a few group emails, if you have NOT received one, let me know and I'll get you on there. 
If you have any questions, contact Mir, she knows how to eat well and she is awesome with the exercise.  She has helped me so much I can't thank her enough!  She'll have great suggestions if you need meal ideas or exercise questions.  I can't wait to catch up on all your blogs when I get back! 

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Progress - Week 1
It hasn't been a whole week yet so this is a couple days early but 4 days into the challenge, this morning I was about a pound down from Monday morning.  Exercise hasn't been as good as I would have liked.  I got 2 walks in this week, 2 DVD's and only one "bottom of the stairs exercises".  Just some random exercises I do including going up and down stairs a ton of times.  Today was kind of a snacky day.  Just finishing leftovers out of the frig and stuff.  I went a bit over but it should be okay.  

1. Track calories - Done every day.
2. Under 10,000 calories a week - I averaged 1290 for the week, including today's 1480 calories.
3. Water - Lots of water, no problems there!
4.  Lose 18 lbs. - 1 lb. in 4 days (I weighed this morning).  17 to go for goal.
5. Exercise -  So-so. I didn't blow it off entirely but I could have done more.
6. Encouragement - I've been trying to comment and read as many blogs as possible.  I think I'm following everyone, if you haven't received a comment from me, I might have forgotten to hit follow and I'll double check that when I get back from vacation.

Not going to lie. I'm scared about vacation.  A lot of restaurants in 8 days. Vacations have always been a huge eating fest.  Embarrassing but true.  We've gotten better the last few years but this year I plan to be outstanding.  How awesome would it be to come back having lost weight?  I'm shooting for it!  This vacation is about relaxing and enjoying my family, NOT about food!  See you all next Saturday!

Shoes Make Me Happy

I had a cavity. I hadn't had a cavity in almost 10 years. So I went to the dentist this morning. I walked. Yea! I walked. Granted, it's only like 2 - 3 blocks away but still, I walked.  There truly is nothing worse than the sound of that drill in your head.  I'm going to have nightmares tonight about it!

My daughter came with me and we passed a garage sale on the way back. The husband was back at home with 9 children here so clearly I wasn't in any hurry to get back home.  We took our time and browsed.  I scored a pair of jeans and jean capri's that fit perfect!  They looked brand new. Plus I got a shirt that fits nice too.  The daughter got a pretty shirt as well, it might be a bit low cut so she'll have to throw a tank top under it.  Then they had a nice pair of winter boots that will fit my oldest son and hopefully will be passed on to the younger one eventually. The best thing was the shoes I got.  They had a ton of nice shoes but many were in a size 7 and too small.  Some had some wicked heels and I don't do wicked heels.  Maybe when 50 more lbs. are off I'll try it.  So I got some sandals with a low heel.  They are a bit big but with a sandal, it's no biggie.  They are comfortable and I love them!  So 2 pairs of jeans, 2 shirts, boots and shoes for $9.75.  I left happy.

Anyways, I come home from the dentist all numbed up, crooked smiling like an idiot, while the kids are trying to make me laugh so I continue to smile like a doped up idiot.  I could feel the novocain all the way through my eye. Not pleasant.  Mental note: Brush more so I can avoid more cavities. 

Numbness didn't wear off until about lunchtime, at which point I was super hungry. Drinking was a unique experience with a numb mouth.  Still had to get the water in though!

We're getting ready for vacation so Hubs was nice enough to go to Costco. He fell prey to a bunch of samples that I never would have let encouraged him to buy. He tried to tell me about all the antioxidants in these. I ate one.  Ummmm, they are candy.  Period. 1/4 cup for 180 calories.  I'll stick with my blueberries.  

Then he tried hard to convince me how healthy these are.  "The lady giving the samples said they were healthy!!"  Well, they probably are healthier than regular chips but chips are my weakness. Big time.  I told asked him to take them to work.  I bought the veggie sticks at Costco quite awhile back because they were "healthy" and made from vegetable.  Yea, I ate the whole bag practically. Nothing healthy about that. 

One good move was the Special K Protein Bars.  They have pretty good stats, 10 g. of protein, 180 calories.  I had one for snack but it sorta turned into dinner.  I wasn't really hungry after it.  Score.

The rest of the day was pretty much the same as it has been all week for food. Same egg, cheese bagel.  Leftover enchilada for lunch with a salad with a bunch of fruit on it.  Yogurt for a snack. I made some leftover pasta for the kids with a bit of garlic bread, I did snag a bit of it.  I doubt it was as much as 100 calories though. 

Egg Bagel = 175
Enchilada = 250
Salad = 175
Yogurt = 100
Protein Bar = 180
Garlic bread & sauce = 100
Popcorn = 100
Total calories = 1080

Committment

There are a lot of online challenges out there.  There is a great online support system for those who willing to listen and take the counsel of the people who give it.  I started this challenge to help myself of course, but also to lend a hand to those who are also struggling.  There are naysayers out there who say that we can't do it.  We will fail. Again.  Failure is not an option here people. 

I am very busy.  We're all busy.  We all have jobs, family, housework, pets and a whole lot of other junk in our lives.  The busyness isn't going to go away, if anything, in this fast pace growing world, it will just get more busy.

I've spent way too much time being busy and taking care of other things in my life. It's time that I make weight loss a priority in my life.  I've spent too much time ignoring myself and my body has paid the price.  I know that life is busy, it always will be busy. But we all need to make the time to do this.  All I ask is for the next 12 weeks that all challengers take this seriously and make this happen. I am committed to this challenge and I hope that everyone else continues to be committed for the next 12 weeks. 

Is it unrealistic for me to think that 50 some people will persevere through this for the next 12 weeks, link up each week and meet their goals? Probably. But I'm not willing to concede to that. We all joined for a reason. To lose weight.  So let's make that happen. Every last one of us!


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Wednesday Eats:

Food started out the same today. Another light bagel, laughing cow cheese and egg beaters.  I have 2 bagels left in the frig and 2 days until vacation so guess what I'll be having for the next 2 days?  They are good, I've even eaten them for a snack before. 

Then for my morning snack, I had my yogurt with about 10 blueberries crammed in the top. I so love having fresh fruit around!

For lunch, I made a huge salad with broccoli, croutons, turkey and light Vidalia Onion dressing.  Yum!

With some more fresh fruit, this time raspberries. Everytime I eat raspberries, I think of when I was a young girl and my dad had raspberry bushes.  We picked them and probably ate more than we took home.  So as soon as I bite into one, it brings me right back there. 

I made chicken salad in the afternoon for the kids to eat for dinner.  They don't go for the enchiladas like I do so this was an easy alternative.  I love it and wanted something else to eat after my light lunch so I had a cup.  I used the picture from my blog and I didn't really have the apple next to the picture.  We're trying to use all the fruit before vacation and the apples are officially gone!

Then dinner was out of the freezer.  I made these Black Bean, Corn, Zucchini Enchiladas about a month ago. I didn't even eat one as I was doing the liquid diet during this time.  So I'm eager to try them. I ended up freezing 2 - 8 x 8 pans of them so you'll be seeing them again. I haven't even posted them on my blog yet.  They come in at about 250 calories per enchilada, that's rounding up actually.  I was pretty hungry and ended up eating 2 of them. Now I'm really full.  

Egg Bagel= 175
Yogurt/Blueberries = 110
Salad = 275
Raspberries = 10
1 cup Chicken Salad = 260
Black Bean & Zucchini Enchilada = 500
Total calories = 1330

Hot Tuesday!

We have had the coldest, most dreary spring that I can remember.  Barely any nice days at all.  Now, it's the beginning of June and it's 101 degrees.  2 days from now it's supposed to be a high of 66. Go figure.  Funky weather. Only in Minnesota. 

The kids had a blast playing with the hose and sprinkler.  Actually, one of the daycare kids sat on the sprinkler and broke it the first 5 minutes. So they just played with the hose. 

Then they played in the hobo pool. I can't have a pool as I do daycare so they make due with toys bins that they dump out, fill with ice cold water and take their turns plunging themselves in the water.  We're really classy here.

Breakfast started out about the same as yesterday. I added a few oranges that the kids were eating for breakfast.

Hubs was nice enough to go to the store for milk, lettuce and fruit for the week. He came home with this jar of pickle spears.  The jar lasted about 10 minutes as the kids at it like they had never seen food before.  I even had a spear myself. 

For lunch, I made an awesome salad with a ton of fruit; strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.  Plus some fat free Raspberry Pecan dressing.  Deliciousness.

Then I had leftover apple and onion quesadillas from last night.  Today I put a tablespoon of BBQ sauce over it. It was awesome!  So awesome in fact, that I had another one for dinner!

Then I got snacky.  I love to snack, I just need to choose wisely.  This is not the best of the bars.  It's more like a candy bar.  They are REALLY good.  Not the greatest stats, 3 g. of protein and 170 calories.

I knew I wasn't going to have anything special for dinner so the snackiness continued.  I work at home, I love to snack so somedays, this works for me. As long as I'm staying within calories, I'm good.  So next came my yogurt.  I love the thick and creamy ones!

For dinner I had the other apple, onion, BBQ quesadilla, along with some pineapple.  Then I had another portion of the filling without the tortilla. It was good just as a chicken salad.  Hubs was nice enough to buy 2 pineapples today.  There is a coupon for $1.25 off of 2 pineapples on Coupons.com if you're interested.  You can print the coupon twice.  This was a little tart but still delicious. 

I said it was hot, so for dessert, I had 2 of these bad boys.  Highly tasty!  I hadn't planned these but they were good on a hot night.

Tuesday's Eat's:

Egg Bagel = 175

Oranges = 35

Pickle = 5

Salad = 160

Apple Quesadilla = 230

Sweet n Salty Bar = 170

Yogurt = 100

Apple Quesadilla = 230

Apple Quesadilla filling = 120

6 oz. pineapple = 85

2 sugar free fudgsicles = 80

Total calories = 1390