Some recipes from the past week

Pin It I forgot that I made several new recipes this week and had not blogged about any of them!

Here we go, starting with Saturday:

Breakfast - I made my usual PB and Banana Oatmeal, but added a package of Swiss Miss diet cocoa (25 calories) to it...so yummy and it only increased the points by 1, bringing this breakfast to 6 points+ - a real bargain!

For supper I made Mandarin Chicken (used quinoa instead of brown rice).







For Easter dinner I was in charge of dessert. I made GI Black Bean Brownies (sorry, no photo) and Hungry Girl's Gooey-Good Fuji Apple Pie.

Today I made Low-Calorie Microwave Protein Fudge Muffins.  This was very good, although not as sweet as I would have liked.  I topped it with a bit of low fat whip cream and then added some sugar free syrup.  Next time I will add a bit more splenda and some vanilla.  I think it would be really good topped with some frozen yogurt or something along those lines.  You'll be surprised at how big this is - and all for 3 points+!  I made it (single serving) in my Corel cereal bowl.

New do

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I'm not really a waitress

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Some of you are confused by this title... "huh?  What does she mean she's not a waitress?  We never thought she was!"  Others of you are thinking "Ooooh, I LOVE that colour!!!" 

You see, I'm not Really a Waitress is my favorite OPI nail colour and today I "did my toes" for the first time this year...a sure sign that Spring is here! I love it when it's time for my toes to come out and play...they so hate winter hibernation ;-)

I know I've been somewhat absent in the blogosphere this week.  It's been a rough week - not going to go into details here, but it'll all work out.  I stayed on track food-wise and exercised semi regularly, although not as much as the week before (6 in a row, ending with a 12 K walk).  I was disappointed with my loss this week of 0.9 pounds - especially given my zero pound loss last week (and the fact that I had about 10 pounds of hair cut off last night!!  photo to come later maybe).  This morning at WW, our leader suggested mixing things up a bit meal-wise.  I tend to eat the same thing for breakfast every day, rain or shine (mostly rain this week) - peanut butter and banana (or if I'm feeling wild and crazy, apple) oatmeal.  I love it, it's easy and it's healthy...not to mention, it's only 5 points+!  She did make a good point though - I've always used minimal points for breakfast and maximum points for supper.  I'm going to try switching this around a bit and see what happens.  She said that if you leave a lot of points for the end of the day, you WILL be hungry at the end of the day...I guess I never thought of it like this before.  I am also considering another week (work-week only) of no sugary snacks.  I always manage to fit sugary snacks into my points, but I think sometimes I overdo it...Today will be a planning day for me for the week - plan new breakfast ideas (maybe a make-ahead recipe to cover a few days), plan non-sugary snacks, mix up my breakfast/supper point allotment.  I also need to do some coupon-searching for my US shopping trip the weekend after next - anyone have any suggestions of good coupon sites?  Printable coupons are not as big here in Canada as they are in the US, so I'm somewhat of a newbie at this couponing thing.  My friend that I'm going with is also looking for coupons for us.  We found free Arby's sandwich coupons...I suggested we try to find coupons to cover our meals for the entire trip (we're only in the US for 2 nights). 

Before I do any of this, I think I must clean my apartment and get some laundry done.

Happy Saturday everyone!

12 km walk

Pin It This is the route we took - it took us 2 hours, 15 minutes to complete this:

http://www.mapmywalk.com/workout/43727718/

Where there's a deal to be had...

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I will find it!  I got two great deals today!  I went to Crappy Tire Canadian Tire today to get their two-pack of Cuisinart insulated travel mugs (regular $19.99 on for $7.99) never actually dreaming I'd get one...  Sure enough, none on the shelf and the sales person I talked to was no help.  I ran into an elderly gentlemen in that aisle who was also looking for them and he told me "you wait here, I'm gonna go shake someone up" and sure enough they had boxes of them out back!  Yay!  Living with only one travel mug is tough ;-)  While waiting for the guy to come back with our mugs, I perused the stuff in that aisle and saw the Rubbermaid Produce Save large container on sale for $6.93 regular $9.99 - I've been considering getting the Tupperware version of this but haven't been able to justify the cost...but for $6.93, I'll take it!  Got the last one.  Got up to the cash and it rang up as $9.99 (reg price)..."Price check, cash 5!"  Sure enough, the tag on the shelf matched my item so yay, I'm getting the sale price...but WAIT!!  Canadian Tire subscribes to the Scanning Code of Practice - if their computers ring up the wrong price you get your item FREE up to a $10 value!!  The girl told me "Oh, I don't think so, you'll just get the sale price"...to which I asked her to explain to me how the actual Scanning Code of Practice worked then...."Manager on duty to cash 5!"...and I walked out with my free Rubbermaid Produce Saver! :-) 

So I'm off to get ready for my long hike/walk with my little brother (he's not so little...turning 30-ish in a couple weeks).  If we do the entire trail we're headed to, it'll be a 10k walk (round trip).  I hope I can keep up with his long legs!

Salt hangover?

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Anyone ever experienced this?  You've been cutting back on sodium and then all of a sudden you decide to splurge...on movie theatre-type popcorn!!  That was me last night.  I did drink lots of water to counteract the sodium, but man-oh-man, I have a hangover-type headache today!  Lots of water for me today I guess :-)

It's been a good week.  I tried my first ever real yoga class on Wednesday night (yay me!).  This was only my second ever group exercise class...in my whole life!  I was a bit concerned when we got there as the instructor from the first class we'd gone to at this gym was standing by the door...and we'd HATED that class.  Thankfully she was not instructing that night!  I absolutely loved the class.  My shoulder, on the other hand....not so much.  I can see me getting into yoga classes once my shoulder is fully recovered though.  Yesterday morning I decided to get up early, early, early and go to the gym...at 5:30am!  Anyone who knows me even a little bit knows I am NOT a morning person!  BUT I was going out last night and would not make it to the gym or for a walk (it rained all day) and the gym is closed today and tomorrow is weigh in day...so off I went.  It is SO dark at that time of the morning!!!  I got there before the doors were even open - there was a line up outside the door.  So in I went, worked out and came home to get ready for work...by the time I got home last night around 10:30 I was ZONKED.

To try and relieve my hangover headache this morning I decided to try something new in my oatmeal...Diet Swiss Miss (25 calorie) hot chocolate!!!  So my usual PB and banana concoction, plus this new yummy addition made an amazing breakfast!  Unfortunately I still have my headache, but hopefully my Advil will kick in soon.

Happy Easter everyone!

Bucket list

Pin It "Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans" -John Lennon

So I got to thinking about fears and things I've not done over the years, mainly due to my weight/self-consciousness and decided to write a bucket list of sorts.  This is not a deep, philosophical bucket list - just "stuff" I'd like to see and do one day.  Other than the first two, the rest of this list is in no particular order.

1. Reach goal weight - and be happy with it
2. Maintain goal weight
3. Zipline
4. Hang glide
5. Run a 5K
6. Run/walk a half marathon
7. Run/walk a FULL marathon (A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step!)
8. Travel to Paris
9. Eat a picnic outside in Paris and watch the world go by
10. Travel to Italy (Cinque Terre is on my radar)
11. Get married
12. Have a family
13. Re-learn to ride a bike (is there one with a seat out there that won't kill my tailbone??)
14. Go back to New York City
15. Walk up the stairs at work (I work on the 13th floor...I've gone down, but never up!)
16. Write "my story" for the Weight Watchers magazine
17. Hmm...maybe write a book about my story...dunno about this one - a blog is one thing, but I have my doubts anyone would pay money to read this stuff!!
18. Ride the London Eye
19. Visit Las Vegas
20. AUSTRALIA (Ok, this should have been higher up...believe me, it's a lifelong dream)

That's all I've come up with for now.  What's on your bucket list?  Have you ever felt held back because of your weight?  Something else holding you back?  Don't think too hard - just go with it...what's the first thing that comes to your mind?  This is about YOU...at WW this week, that was the topic - it's all about me.  Isn't it always?? Haha, just kidding :-)  It was more about making time for yourself.  Don't always put yourself last - make ME time.  That doesn't mean alone time, but time to do stuff for you (writing, reading, hanging out with friends, going to the spa, etc.)

What are you afraid of?

Pin It First of all, I'd like to share with my faithful readers that I am now just "overweight".  Sad to be excited about this, but hey, I'll take what I can get!  Next stop..."normal".  Will I ever be normal I wonder?  Loaded question, I know! 

This week on the Biggest Loser seemed to have a theme of facing your fears.  Two people on the show (a trainer and a contestant) had desperate fears of heights, yet they faced their fears and jumped off of the tallest building in the southern hemisphere (in New Zealand)!!  Amazing.  I was so happy for them that I cried!  Throughout the show some of the contestants talked about fears they had (fear of exercising being one) and it got me thinking...what am I afraid of?  I guess when I think about it, I have lots of little fears.  Part of me is afraid to get to my goal weight...what if I can't maintain it?  What if I gain weight and let everyone down?  The logical part of me knows that people will not (I hope!) feel any differently about me if I did gain weight, but a big part of me doesn't want to look like a failure.  I hate to disappoint people and I know if I can't maintain my loss, people will be disappointed (nobody more than me!)  I am afraid of roller coasters too.  I'm not sure if I'm afraid of them because I fear I might break the ride (yes, even now I feel like I may break things by sitting on/in them) or if it's a fear of heights (I had no problem going up in the Empire State Building and looking down) or if it's a fear of not being in control.  I think that the control issue has a lot to do with it. 

So there you have it.  Some of my fears.  I know I have more that are tied to my weight and I am going to be doing some deep thinking to see if I can figure them out and conquer them one at a time.  I would love to do something really risky once I lose my weight that I would never have done before...I'd love to try hang gliding or zip lining...part of what has kept me from trying these in the past was that you had to tell them your weight...and if you lie...you may DIE!  So I chose not to go :-)  Maybe the next time the opportunity presents itself, I'll just go for it!

Oh, I signed up to do the 2011 CIBC Run for the Cure which is taking place on Sunday, October 2, 2011.  I am hoping to be able to run a good part of it this year (last year I walked it all, no running).  I realized today that that weekend will be my two year Weight Watchers anniversary, so it would be nice to be able to run by then...I hope and pray that I'm at my goal weight by then too!!!

Off to face the day...busy day ahead of me.  Happy Saturday everyone!

Mickey Mouse workout

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I thought that my second physio appointment would be more difficult...I keep expecting him to hurt me!  Tonight he had me do the pulley exercise that I did on Friday (basically holding either end of the pulley, one in each hand and slowly pulling down with my good arm and raising my bad arm up then reversing it...) and then we added the tubing exercise.  That was just tying the tubing up high (say on a door jam) and holding it on my bad side and pulling down slowly and letting my arm go back up.  Do this five times, rest for SIXTY seconds and repeat (4 sets of 5 in total).  This is just SO different from my usual gym workout!! ;-)  I told him it felt like a Mickey Mouse workout!  No gym workout tonight - walked yesterday and did massive house cleaning on Saturday, so I'm taking today off - mainly because of the weather (if I didn't know better, I'd think we were having a hurricane!!!)

Off to get into my jammies and maybe head to bed with a good book.

Spicy!!!

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Do you ever start making supper with one thing in mind and end up with something totally different?  Tonight's intention was chicken/veggie stir fry with quinoa, but I ended up with chicken pasta primavera (my own version).  Now anybody who knows me well, knows I like my food spicy. I kept taste-testing (teensy bites, I promise) and it tasted blah.  Something was missing.  So I kept adding stuff - some masala seasoning, some chipotle chili powder, some garlic, some red pepper flakes, etc.  Finally!  It had some flavour.  Now, I I know you're thinking "doesn't sound like primavera to me!"...as I said, it was my own version :-)  So I plated it up and sat down with a big glass of water (16 oz or so)...drank that really quickly and filled up my 32 oz water bottle...that's almost gone now too....Whoooooah Doggy!  It was HOT!  It was good though.  I made enough to have some for supper tomorrow night...although I haven't been able to finish my plate from tonight.  I haven't had pasta in what feels like forever.  I forgot how filling it could be.  Two ounces of whole wheat fettuccine didn't look like much when it cooked up, but my stomach feels differently :-)

Now THAT'S a BBQ!

Pin It I couldn't begin to tell you how long it's been since I had steak...tonight I decided to go for it.  Found a nice looking steak at the grocery store.  I also decided to have white *GASP* potatoes!  Another thing I haven't had in a while.  I made foil wrapped potatoes and red onions, mushrooms, broccoli and, of course, steak!  All I did to the steak was sprinkle it with Montreal Steak Spice...here's the result!

notice the charred potatoes at the top? 
yep, I like 'em that way!



cooked a teensy bit too long, but still yummy



It's a new day

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I finally had a loss this week.  I was down 2 pounds at my weigh in this morning, which made me very happy.  Part of me was disappointed I didn't re-lose all of the weight that I'd gained over the past two weeks, but I'm only off by 0.3 pounds, so I guess I'll have to be satisfied :-)  I will officially be overweight in 0.7 pounds!  I aim to reach this goal next Saturday.

I had my first physio appointment last night and was pleased to hear that my physiotherapist does not think that my rotator cuff muscle is torn - he thinks it's just impinged (tendinitis).  He's given me some exercises to do at home, but compared to what I'm used to doing at the gym, it feels very Mickey Mouse - swing a broom stick or golf club back and forth; lean on the counter with my good arm and let my bad arm dangle...that's it, dangle...move it in little circles maybe, but basically dangle like deadwood :-)  On top of my rigorous workout prescription, I have to ice it 10 minutes at a time, three to four times per day (at least an hour apart).  So far, that's it.  Stay tuned...I know the worst is yet to come!

The weather is improving greatly around here so I've been getting out for walks like crazy (two yesterday alone!).  I love the spring weather.  We've adjusted our walking route a bit to avoid one of the main roads around my area - we've had problems with young kids driving by shouting stuff out their car windows at us (not nice things) - the other night they were yelling "bang, bang, bang"...makes me a bit nervous...I feel safer on the pathways than on the main road!  This is sad since I live in a fairly safe neighbourhood :-(

Off to finish my housework (after Biggest Loser is over...DVRd it as usual).  Have a great weekend everyone!

I lost my shoe

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I saw a great movie tonight.  I hadn't been to a movie in forever - seriously, they'd renovated the theatre I don't know how long ago and I didn't even recognize the place!  They now have nice "rocking" chairs with high backs and lots of leg room to stretch out...just be careful your shoe doesn't fall off!!!  Mine did.  Picture it - stadium seating and my shoe falls off part way through the movie under the lady's chair in front of me!  At least I hoped that's where it went.  Three was no way for me to look for my shoe without making a scene.  I would have had to rock her chair forward, get down on my hands and knees and feel around down a big BIG step behind her chair to find my shoe...so I sat there in silence.  One cold foot.  Trying to keep that foot off the floor - not because the floor was cold...who KNOWS what's been on those floors!!  So for the rest of the movie I'm sitting there wondering if I will ever find my shoe again.  Will I have to go home with one shoe on, one shoe off?  Should I just toss the other shoe and go in my sock feet home?  After all, there's no point in going home with one shoe...and did I mention it was a heal?  Yeah, that would be cute - there's no WAY I could sneak out of the theatre with one heal on, one off and hope to not draw the attention of those around me!  Why was I obsessed with this shoe with my future husband is on the big screen right before my very eyes (stop snickering...it could happen)??  OK, eventually I relaxed and when the movie ended I tapped the lady in front of me on the shoulder and asked if I could look for my shoe behind/under her chair (after explaining what had happened)...how embarrassing.  BUT it would have been even more so if I hadn't found my missing shoe.  Shoe found folks, so I did not have to go home in bare feet in the middle of a wind/rain storm...phew.

Not the most exciting day, but I thought I would share my drama with you.  Oh, and the movie was a lot longer than I thought, so no gym for me today.  I am going to try to walk tomorrow at lunchtime though, and maybe hit the gym after work.  Gym for sure on Thursday and then Friday again after my physio...as long as he doesn't hurt me too much.

I did Biggest Loser Yoga...

Pin It and lived to tell the tale!  It wasn't so bad.  I think my shoulder might yell at me later, but that's OK.  I did it.  The DVD is a library loaner, but I am considering buying it.  I think I might try to find a good deal on it when  I shopping in the US next month.

Tonight I made pork "fried rice" for supper.  The rice was quinoa (surprise, surprise!) and it was "fried" in my 2 tsp of olive oil :-)  It was SOOOO good.  I think I will use more of my leftover pork and make it again Wednesday night for supper (hoping to go out for supper tomorrow with a friend).

Here are some pics from tonight's supper (prep and post cooking):

some veggies

into the pan with some EVOO and spices
(chipotle chili powder, of course)

Leftover pork tenderloin



Finished product with quinoa added



But it needed something more...so I popped some
corn into the microwave and voila!  Delish!!



Cover me...

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I'm going to do the Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga DVD...if I'm not back in an hour, send the paramedics!  Here's hoping my shoulder holds up!!  There will be no standing on my head or handstand moves for me...  Doing this DVD is the lesser of two evils - it's this or venture back outside to go to the gym (brrrr, it's cold out there!!)...here I go.

April showers bring May flowers

Pin It This title really has nothing to do with today's blog post - I just could not think of anything clever for a title.

So April has begun.  I'm not sure what goals I will set for this month.  Last month I missed my fitness goal for by about 80 minutes.  I think for April my aim will be 900 minutes.  I think I will also make a goal to cook a REAL meal at least twice each week.  This week I have already made a pork tenderloin, which will give me leftovers for a few days.  I think I will make a batch of chipotle-oatmeal hamburgers too.  Next week maybe chili and soup.  I really need to do better at bringing my lunch to work.  I was so good for so long and then the past week or so I've fallen off the lunch wagon and have started buying my lunch at work - a truly expensive venture.

Pics from supper tonight (pork tenderloin cooked with sweet potatoes, red onions and red peppers with sauteed garlic mushrooms on the side):

No clever title

Pin It I gained again this week.  I don't know why.  I ate right.  I exercised.  I gained.  It's not fair.  I have to admit I'm bummed (in case you couldn't tell).  I'm mad.  I also realized today that while I have a wonderful support system, there are a couple people in my life that I feel should be happy for me, but are not.  This makes me sad.  Perfect strangers in my life have encouraged me and been such an influence in my journey and for that I am grateful.  I just wish....well, never mind.

So today I am going to wallow.  No, I'm not going to drown my sorrows in food.  I'm not at the giving up point (not saying where I'll be next week if I gain again), I'm just going to feel sorry for myself today.  I may reflect on my week today - see if I had too many carbs or processed foods maybe.  I might do another sugar free treat week.  Who knows?