congratulations Beth

You are doing great. Keep it up and good luck with the next 6 lbs. I enjly reading your posts and I am saving them for when I start doing this seriously.
Barb

So proud of Beth!

Beth, I am so proud of you.  You have done great with your weight loss.  Now you've started working out and are feeling better.  You are the only one of us that has stuck with it and continued to post about it and encourage the rest of us.  Thank you for that.  Congrats on your success thus far and good luck for the next 6 lbs!!  Love you!
Dawn

A gain of +.4 pounds for me...

I gained this week.  This is the first gain for me.  I started my period late Sunday night.  I know that did not help.  I worked out 4 times last week and feel so much better so I am not going to be depressed about it.
My new goal is 6 pounds by December 18th (the night of Wicked downtown Indy).  That would be 1.5 pounds / week.  Wish me luck.

Great salad recipe and points:
chicken sausage (warmed in skillet and chunked, I had a spinach and provolone)    3 pts.
spinach and romaine  0 pts.
red pepper  0 pts.
2 tbsp. reduced fat feta cheese   1 pt.

Dressing:
2 tsp olive oil     2 pts
4 tsp red wine vinegar  0 pts
1 packet splenda  0 pts

This was 6 points and was GREAT!  It would have been good with mandarin oranges or some fresh strawberries....neither of which I had!

I am focusing on eating all food in the healthy guidelines daily.  It is really difficult. Now 2 tsp of oil are recommended.  Using a dressing from a bottle does not count.  They say you must mix it yourself.  I am also putting flax seed oil in my smoothies if I don't think I will get my oil in that day.  The 5 healthy oils are flax seed, canola, olive, safflower and sunflower (the last 2 are a little nutty tasting). Well that is the latest I have learned at my meetings.  Also, my leader said she will put flax seed oil in her oatmeal....not sure about that one....I will try it to see though.
Oh, also she said that a study showed that on an average Americans gain 5-9 pounds OVER THE HOLIDAY'S!!!!  eeeeks. 

herschy

Officially 13.6 pounds

Well...13.6 pounds 'officially' at weigh-in this morning.  I was shocked, because...
Friday I ate 10-12 pieces of bacon.  Yeap "oink-oink".  I was like a ravenous pig.  It made me sick later.
Saturday:  We went to Red lobster (unfortunately).  But hey, I live 25 minutes from Kokomo...and it wasn't my birthday so I did not have a say so.  I ate parmesan shrimp, and ALOT of grilled shrimp and some fried shrimp.  (In case you are wondering...it was terrible.)  I still have not pooped well!  Then Sunday, while helping my dad move for 7 hours we ordered Pizza King...oh yeah! It was so yummy (and I still cannot get my wedding ring on....thank goodness for windex (to get it off last night)).
What I am saying is the weight watchers is a way to live and eat and be healthy.  It is all a big circle.  All we have to do is find the balance. 
I AM TRYING TO WORKOUT. :(   I can finally burn 200 calories on the elliptical without stopping.  I am so out of shape.  2 weeks ago I could only do 100 calories.  Each time I would add 10 more calories (to burn).   We all can hoola hoop, right?  I was terrible at first.  But now, I put in a video and go for 10-15 minutes, resting in between.  Nothing yoga goin' on here, or anything fancy.  Some (terrible looking) push-ups, too. Most done during commercials, and not every day.  Just here and there. 
My hormones are screwed up too.  Hey ladies....that is life.  I was taking herbs from the health food store and ran out last week.  Then, yeap I went crazy on the bacon!!!!!  I was out of control!  (I bought some more herbs today though!)
I only have 3 weeks to lose 6.4 pounds to reach my goal.  

Herschy

13 pounds.....

Well, it is a little over 7 weeks with a loss of over 13 pounds.  But, I don't feel like I am on a diet.  It is a life style we can all live with (my husband and kids, too!)  Elvin dropped 15 pounds really quickly.  He will not eat white bread and has even been staying away from white rice!

My children's new favorite muffin recipe:
1 box chocolate cake mix
1 (15 oz.) pumpkin
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp. allspice
Pour into cupcake pans and bake as directed! 
These are healthier than with oil and eggs.  Only 2 points a cupcake.  As a mini-muffin is only 1 point.
Instead of chili with beef, I have been making it with venison.  It is leaner and better for us.  Sometimes I make a vegetarian chili, too.  It is so great I don't even miss the meat.  The points are @ 4 pts for chili with meat (per cup) to 1 point vegetarian (per cup).  hmmm...let's see, that is a 3 point difference (a glass of wine instead of beef!)
Paula.....I am still drinking a glass (or two) of red wine a couple of evenings a week :) 
We went out to dinner and I had a long island iced tea instead of an appetizer.  It is an easy trade or give and take for me to make now.

I have more EASY dessert recipe's.  Let me know if you want some more.
I wish you all well.  Dawn should have a tupperware party or something to get us all together!!  (hint...hint)

Herschy

Keep posting your comments, Beth

Iam enjoying reading your posts. Keep them coming. They are an inspiration for me and also give me the information I need. Congratulations to you.

Today was 6 weeks on Weight Watchers....

I have lost 11 pounds.  I am happy with that, but more important I don't feel like I am on a diet.  We will continue to live like this.  It is so simple that it really is genius. 
My goal is still 9 more pounds by Thanksgiving.

Herschy

Went camping....

   We took the children camping this weekend....the weather was great.  It only rained for a short while.  We had a great time. Hot dogs are FULL of FAT!  A regular dog is 4 points (that is not counting the bun!)  I took turkey dogs, too.  Never had one until yesterday.  They were not bad at all.  Actually I ate 2 :)  I cut a flat out bread in half (they are 1 point for a full one, and have 9 grams of fiber in them.)  The turkey dogs are only 1 point each and have 0 fat.  I was really full with 2 turkey dogs (with hot mustard and a little of my Grams mean beans on top, too) with a points value of no more than 4!  This was great for me because I only get 24/day.
   I am worried I will not make my goal of 20 pounds by Thanksgiving.  I weigh in at Weight Watchers in the morning and will send out an update.   My 64 year old aunt is coming on Thanksgiving.  She is in the BEST shape ever.  She walks no less than 5 miles a day and goes to the Y for water activities 3 times a week.  She could out walk most of us put together and do it with a smile on her face.  I saw her this summer and felt ashamed of the way I looked.  I have to lose at least another 10 pounds...  (Though she loves me just the same!!)

Wish me luck!

Herschy

Beth's Plan

I am now focusing on my 2-3 servings of milk (I get it through yogurt and cheese)

    * 5 fruits and veggies

    * 3 lean meats (a little harder for me)

    * 2 tsp oil (VERY important for our skin, hair and heart)

        (I just bought flax seed oil, going to try it in my smoothies)

    * 5-6 servings of water (NO prob for me)

With my initial weight, age, and female  my daily points are 24.  With

35 flex points weekly (or break up into 5 extra a day).

(ELVIN HAS LOST 12 POUNDS IN 2 WEEKS....he is no longer tracking points, but watching what he eats.  He said he can live like this and is happy with the food)

Now, I am making chicken breast (3 pnts, mushrooms sauteed 0 pts, provolone low fat slice 2 pts) with frozen chinese veggies, or green giant steamers (pretty good) especially the snow peas.

Or a medium potato (no butter, but with A-1 steak sauce 0 pts). and veggies.

Also, my fav. is a pizza on honey wheat pita bread.  Pizza sauce is 0 pts.  I put any veggie, mushrooms and 1/4 cup low fat mozz cheese (2

pts.) bake it in my little counter top convection oven and it is good. 

Chloe likes them too.  I LOVE PIZZA.  Oh, I also will put turkey pepperoni on it.  4-5 slices is 1/4 of a point.  THE REAL PEPPERONI is HIGH in points.  Really all meat is.  Chicken, deer and turkey are just lower in points. (and better for us)

Rosalynn (Elvin's sister) told me to be prepared.  Get snacks and keep them in my truck and at home, and in my back pack (I take to the cafe). 

She was right.  I always have:

90 cal fiber one 1pt

veggies 0 pt

10 cal. jello (in cold section at store) 0 pt ww yogurt 1 pt.

ww ice cream bars (the boxes are marked with the pts) YUMMY (regular size) fiber one 2 pts (elvin likes these...he gets more pts than me though)

Monday diary:

coffee with amaretto cream  3 pts

fiber one  1 pt

banana 2 pt

        = 5 pts - 24 = 19 pts left

fiber one 1 pt  (I was on the go and had appts, so I was glad to have a

snack)

cauliflower 0 pt

whole wheat toast 2

2 tblsp. peanut butter 4

honey 1

= 8 pts - 19 = 11 pts left (it was probably 2 pm right here) I have plenty of points left for the evening.  I try to only eat 4-5 pts at a time.  The peanut butter and wheat and honey was a treat for me!

Dinner was 2 turkey soft shell taco's.

2 shells 2 pts

1/4 c. turkey/taco meat 1.5 pts

1/4 c cheese 1

1/4 c refried beans .5

1/4 c guacamole  2 (it was homemade and worth every point!) = 7 pts - 11 left = 4 more points available.

They stress to use all your points!  I did at first.  But now I don't have to.  My tummy is use to smaller portions.  Actually, I felt sick for 2-3 hours after this because I ate to much.

Also, we love the flat out wraps.  Light Italian and the wheat.  1 pt. 

With 6 slices of  fat free turkey (from the pre-sliced area by the

cheeses) 1 pt.  I put low fat jal. cheese slice 2 pts. lettuce, red or orange peppers, and mustard are all free points.  This is a huge wrap. 

Elvin loves them.  I also will put turkey pepp on it too.

I am still getting new ideas.  I made deer chili.  I did not want the cracker points anyway 18 goldfish are 1 point.  So I put them in it and it was great.

Starting Over

By Dawn

Ok.  I had kind of fallen off the wagon for a bit.  It all started when I broke my hand...  I quit working out b/c of it and feeling sorry for my self, I would "treat" myself to (insert fattening food of your choice here).

But tomorrow I'm getting back on track!  Eating healthy, staying active and positive attitude-that's my goal!


      

21 days and 8.2 pounds!!

I weighed in yesterday morning with a total loss of 8.2 pounds (in 3 weeks).  But really the best part is that now I am feeding my family with healthier food.  I have not used any beef or pork for over a month.  I am sneaking deer meat or ground turkey in for "Taco Monday's" and the kids have not even noticed! We ate mexican out on Saturday night and I had 3 drinks.  Sunday, I ate some popcorn and a little bit of a dip.  It doesn't seem like a 'diet' to me because I am not depriving myself :)
Now, I have to excercise!  Can't seem to find the time....what an excuse, huh?  I AM taking the time to read lables at the grocery store though, and WOW.
Taste of Home has a new 'diet' cook book out.  I highly recommend it.  There are multiple recipe's that I want to try.  Lots of chicken and fish recipes, and some pasta ones too.

Herschy

Japanese Chicken-Scallion Rice Bowl

Here's the quintessence of Japanese home cooking: an aromatic, protein-rich broth served over rice. Admittedly, Japanese cooking leans heavily on sugar - for a less traditional taste, you could reduce or even omit the sugar.

---

READER'S COMMENT:

"Love this dish. I didn't let the eggs sit long enough so they fell apart and it wasn't pretty. Remember low-sodium! I used reduced broth but not soy sauce and it was too much salt for me. I put a touch more wine in because I love the...
INGREDIENTS 

• 1 1/2 cups instant brown rice
• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon mirin, (see Ingredient note)
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 large egg
• 8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 6 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced

Preparation

1. Prepare instant brown rice according to package directions.
2. Pour broth into a heavy medium saucepan, along with sugar, soy sauce and mirin. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low.
3. Stir egg whites and whole egg in a small bowl until just mixed. Add chicken to the simmering broth. Gently pour in the egg mixture, without stirring. Sprinkle scallions on top. When the egg starts to firm up, after about 3 minutes, stir it with chopsticks or a knife. (The chicken will be cooked by now.) Divide the rice among 4 deep soup bowls and top with the chicken mixture.

Tips & Notes

• Ingredient Note: Mirin is a low-alcohol rice wine essential to Japanese cooking. Look for it in your supermarket with the Asian or gourmet ingredients. An equal portion of sherry or white wine with a pinch of sugar may be substituted for mirin.

Nutrition

Per serving:262 calories; 3 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 87 mg cholesterol; 47 g carbohydrates; 22 g protein; 3 g fiber; 387 mg sodium; 370 mg potassium.

3 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 2 1/2 starch, 1/2 vegetable, 2 1/2 very lean meat

recipe

Did you ever post that Japanese or Chinese rice recipe? I was looking forward to trying that. I love that kind of stuff.
Barb

fitness seekers

We are starting back in Fitness Seekers at church. We always have something to motivate us. This year we have to donate a quarter for every pound we gain and then the pot goes to the church to pay on  the debt. What happens if we pray for God to help us lose weight but He wants us to wipe out our debt, is that a conflict of interest? Oh well I guess the Lord will work it out. The main thing is to get fit.  Pray for me.
Barb

I've lost 6 pounds (in 2 weeks!)

Weight Watchers is really working for me.  I was such a skeptic at first.  It is so simple it is almost genius....it is all about fiber.  The higher the fiber the lower 'points value' will be.
Paula, you can have 1 glass of wine a day (or even 2 sometimes).
Tracking what I eat makes me SEE it on paper and makes the fat/calories  more real to me.  I know what is 'healthy' (I've been around Dawn enough :-), but I think this is making me be accountable for everything I put in my mouth.  I am cooking healthier, too. 
Tracking everything you eat, like Dawn mentioned a few weeks ago is very important.  REMEMBER: white bread and white flour are not our friends.
My pedometer is generic too!  I am going to upgrade also.

Beth

The glass IS half full!

by dawn

You know I think it's all about the way you look at it...
Paula you ask about fulfillment.  To be fulfilled you just have to seek out what fulfills you.  Whatever you're passionate about, have that in your life -everyday.  Paula, you love nature and it inspires you yet you spend a great deal of time in front of your computer or tv.  Get outside.  Walk on a nature trail.  Figure out what gives you joy and go after it!  Is it helping others, excersise, grandkids, travel?  Make your passions your priority!

Celebrate today but also spend time thinking about your vision of the future. What is the legacy you want to create in the world? Start planning that now. How much time would you spend planning a dream vacation - researching travel options, accommodation, shops, and sight seeing? Imagine if you spent just as much time planning your fulfilled life.

Focus on appreciating the blessings we have in life.  Be genuinly thankful for what you have.  Be a positive influence on yourself and everyone you meet each day.  You don't feel it?  Fake it until it  becomes your reality!

And food...Don't look at it as giving up everything that tastes good.  There tons of wonderfully delicious, healthy meals you can make AND ENJOY that are also good for you!  (Remember the seaweed salad you love so much?) 
Since I have have gotten away from sugars and refined carbohydrates, I feel so much better.  I'm more energetic, more positive, and I don't crave those foods anymore.  The pleasure from eating those types of foods pales in comparison to the 'side effects' that come with it.  Oh - Check out this article http://www.amenclinics.com/cybcyb/foods-recipes/the-foodmood-connection/

I think you will find the fulfillment you are looking for in life once you stop looking at what you are "giving up" and start looking at what you will be gaining!

Paula, you've got my sympathy - Barb Stephens

Although I don't drink wine, I do eat and it is one of my biggest pleasures left in life, so we can be miserable together or cheer each other on. I'm for cheering each other on. Too bad we don't live closer together but we can keep in touch with this blog , email , visits , or phone calls. I think you and I are the oldest ones in this so we have to stick together. There is a place here called the Wellness Center, I think I am going to join so I can work out. I'm definitely more active at this new job and have noticed that I am having less back and knee pain since I am walking more and less sitting. So hang in there. You dont need that wine. Just take Xanex!!!!! :)

Wine is the Enemy - Paula Jarvis

Hi y'all,

Much to my dismay, I've discovered that in order to lose any weight or inches I will have to COMPLETELY stop drinking any wine.....woe is me! Oh well, it's not the end of the world. I'm also giving up red meat, sugar, processed foods and anything that tastes good.

NOW, Does anyone have any suggestions about how to find any pleasure in this life? At my age there is no sex, no food and no wine, no purpose.....maybe I should take up smoking.

Just kidding, although any suggestions would be helpful. Hard to find any fulfillment.

Success Stories

 By dawn

Well, if you all won't publish your success stories, then I will do it for you...

Beth joined weight watchers and bought a pedometer.  She has already lost over 4 pounds!!

Jen R. is training for the Indy mini!  (Well technically I am supposed to be training along with her - but haven't started a formal training program yet)  Jen is running/walking 1-3 miles a day!

Jen A. is sticking to her 2-3 days a week at the gym + doing active things with the kids to help burn calories and stay fit.  She doesn't weigh herself but is loosing inches!!

I am down 3.5 pounds!  I do great through the week but the weekends kill me.  I can't seem to keep on track over the weekends.  Especially when traveling or out of town - which seems to be most weekends.

I want us to start getting together for walks or something similar a couple times a month.  Lets start with this Saturday morning.  We'll meet for a walk in geist area.  I will let you know more details tomorrow.  I'm thinking meeting with you guys on a Saturday will help keep me motivated over the weekend.

Well - kickboxing kicked my butt tonight so I am headed to bed!

Here is an exercise for you... try to go the next 24 hours without dwelling on any negative thoughts.  What you focus on you get more of.... so focus on the positive!  Lets all really give it a try and report back how it goes.  Good luck all!

What a week!

By Dawn

I hope your week is going a little better than mine.  Due to the timing of the month it has been a rough week.  I am hungrier than normal, more tired than normal and grouchier than normal :-)

Thank God for the gym - Atleast I have been enjoying my workouts lately!!

Here is a good recipe - we had for dinner last night... along with salad, homemade salsa and guacamole!!

Black Bean Quesadillas

From EatingWell:

In a hurry? These satisfying quesadillas take just 15 minutes to make. We like them with black beans, but pinto beans work well too. If you like a little heat, be sure to use pepper Jack cheese in the filling. Serve with: A little sour cream and a mixed green salad.

---

Ingredients

• 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed
• 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, preferably pepper Jack
• 1/2 cup prepared fresh salsa (see Tip), divided
• 4 8-inch whole-wheat tortillas
• 2 teaspoons canola oil, divided
• 1 ripe avocado, diced

Preparation

1. Combine beans, cheese and 1/4 cup salsa in a medium bowl. Place tortillas on a work surface. Spread 1/2 cup filling on half of each tortilla. Fold tortillas in half, pressing gently to flatten.
2. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 2 quesadillas and cook, turning once, until golden on both sides, 2 to 4 minutes total. Transfer to a cutting board and tent with foil to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and quesadillas. Serve the quesadillas with avocado and the remaining salsa.

Nutrition

Per serving: 377 calories; 16 g fat (5 g sat, 8 g mono); 13 mg cholesterol; 46 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 13 g protein; 10 g fiber; 679 mg sodium; 581 mg potassium.Nutrition Bonus: Calcium (25% daily value), Folate (23% dv), Iron (19% dv), Potassium (17% dv).
2 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 2 1/2 starch, 1 1/2 lean meat, 2 fat

I love that http://www.eatingwell.com/ website Jen R. reccomended!

More soon - gotta take the kiddos to a birthday party!