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my chive talkin’ menu plan – Week of November 29, 2009

  • Posted on November 29, 2009 at 5:01 pm

Last night, the husband and I had one hot and crazy date night!!

The kid had a sleepover at mom mom’s house and we had the house to ourselves and we outdid Date night! We did not feel like going out and we really don’t have the extra funds for a night out on the town. So, we decided to go grocery shopping to get it out of the way. We still have a ton of chicken in the freezer so I did a quick inventory but really needed a menu plan. I planned my menu  and made a list for the store. I scoured the sales ad at the same time and we decided to rent a movie and make frozen pizzas after grocery shopping.  A plan for the perfect date night!!  At the grocery I found a huge bag of Kale and I have been on the lookout to try Kale since this summer when Jenna started talking about kale salads. I also found a nice small spaghetti squash – this is fantastic because usually they are humongous! My menu changed up a bit while grocery shopping but only a tiny little bit!

Please to enjoy what I have on the menu this week:

Sunday: An Italian-inspired Sunday night dinner.   Spinach stuffed shells with a meat sauce and a nice salad.

Monday: White Bean Chicken Chili Skinny Style ~ I love Skinny Scoopers and I love a good chicken recipe. I just looked at the weather and it looks like it is going to be on the chilly side (low 5os) and raining!! While I have had enough f%@#ing rain, it is the perfect weather for chili.

Tuesday: Turkey Noodle Mess.  If you remember sometime last week I came up against frozen Turkey but I was creative and it was a huge success….what?!?! you don’t remember all of my ramblings?!? ;-) That’s cool ~ check it out here. The kid loved this one and since it is a super easy and super quick dinner to whip up it makes the most sense (other than a crockpot meal ~ I need crock pot recipes using chicken breasts with the bone!!)

Wednesday: Homemade Italian Subs. Something about where I live screams for subs! I need cheesesteaks and italian hoagies (subs) every chance I get. But, I am on a budget and ordering out is not really economical or waist-friendly!! We have resorted to making our own cheese steaks and they are so good and WAY healthier so this week we will be trying out Italians!

Thursday: Pork Chops with sauteed kale and roasted potatoes. I bought the Kale and I can’t wait to try it out!!

Friday: Chicken legs made wing-style and Big Chef-lite salad! A perfect Friday night meal! Almost like ordering out!

Menu Planning, are you doing it?

I cannot believe how many benefits there are to menu planning?!?! It has helped my family stay on budget and it has helped to lose weight. I never realized how much we ordered out… I had no idea how often we were scrambling with the “what are we gonna make for dinner?” … I have since learned that the grocery store is not as evil when you really have a plan and a list!

Planning my menu has helped my family in many ways and I owe it all to Jenna (@chivetalker) and her Chive Talkin’ Menu Roll.

What?!?!

You haven’t joined Jenna’s menu roll?

What are you waiting for?

Check IT out and I am sure you will not regret it!!

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Saturday Scale Time

  • Posted on November 29, 2009 at 4:01 pm

Last week: 197.4

This week: 197.2

Change this week: -0.2

Change since 11/8/08: -45.4

Change since back @ WW (10/10/09): -2.2

Summary of week: A loss is a loss is a loss!! The week started off slow. I was not feeling great most of the week! I couldn’t put my finger on what exactly was wrong with me but I felt run down! A few mornings I woke up with an earache but nothing ever really came of that – thank goodness!! I didn’t workout Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday but Thursday I walked 3.25 miles using inclines with Johnny Walker.  Johnny and I are back in love!! We had a date Friday and Saturday as well! Johnny showed me how much fun inclines can be and I worked up a hella sweat using varying inclines! Thanksgiving did not defeat me! I ate well – and I did NOT eat any pie!! Does it make me horrible to be thankful that my mother in law is not the best or most creative cook? She served a kind-of dry turkey with frozen broccoli with cheese sauce, canned candied yams, and store bought pumpkin pie & coconut custard. The food was bountiful and I enjoyed spending time with family but the food made it easy to not gorge or eat too many calories. I only went 9 points over for the day! Friday was a yucky weather day – I did NOT go shopping!! I refuse to go anywhere near stores on Black Friday!! I worked Johnny Walker for 99 minutes instead! Then sometime after dinner I felt the tell-tale signs of TOM rearing its ugly head! Cramps!! The night before scale time!! SO, when I jumped on tthe scale at my WW meeting I was ecstatic to see that I was in fact down a little bit! And little bit it was!! I lost two tenths of a pound! WAHOO!!

Hot 100 Update: This is my favorite challenge to date!! It isn’t about losing a certain number of pounds or inches in a certain amount of time but it is ALL about setting goals! I have never been good at setting finite goals – but during this challenge I have learned so much about myself and my limitation and how far I can push myself! I am learning when something is not right for me that it is ok to find something else.  I have stopped being so hard on me when I am not perfect!! I stop when my body hurts more than it should – mainly this is about my knees because I do want to get sore muscles. We are almost into December and I am so looking forward to enjoying the last month of the year! I will enjoy the holidays and I will enjoy the time with my family but I willnot neglect myself or my body during the holidays this year!!

Goals for the week ahead:

  • back to 5 AMish workouts during school week
  • 10 miles of inclines with Johnny Walker (If you haven’t guessed Johnny is my treadmill’s name!)
  • 50 squats every day
  • stretch every day
  • track/journal all food and activity

Thoughts for the week ahead: This is going to be a good week! I am sorry  that I did not blog a lot last week but I was lilving it up with the family!! I am still working on that balance thing but I think I am learning more and more about balance every week!

How do you find balance?

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BFL Week 11

  • Posted on November 25, 2009 at 7:34 pm

BFL

HAPPY THANKSGIVING & GOOD LUCK TO ALL MY FELLOW BFLers!!

Thursday
Green Bay @ Detroit
Oakland @ Dallas
NY Giants @ Denver


Sunday
Indianapolis @ Houston
 Tampa Bay @ Atlanta
Miami @ Buffalo
Cleveland @ Cincinnati
Seattle @ St. Louis
Carolina @ NY Jets
Washington @ Philadelphia
Arizona @ Tennessee
Chicago @ Minnesota
Kansas City @ San Diego
Jacksonville @ San Francisco
Pittsburgh @ Baltimore


Monday Night
New England @ New Orleans

Combined MNF Score = 51


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Happy #TweetsGiving 2009

  • Posted on November 24, 2009 at 9:00 am

A HUGE THANK YOU to Miz Fit for the head’s up!! I had never heard of Tweetsgiving but MizFit has been tweeting and blogging so I thought I should check it out.

From MizFit’s blogpost:

“It’s almost Tweetsgiving and, this year, Im inviting you to join me.

Scheduled for November 24 – 26, 2009, TweetsGiving is a global celebration that seeks to change the world through the power of gratitude.

This 48 hour event was created by Epic Change and encourages us to express thanks using online tools & at live get-togethers across the world. ”

This is the easiest way a person can “give” to charity.  After you read all the things I am thankful and grateful for, Please go write a post about what makes you thankful & grateful! Then come back and tell me all about it! If you are on twitter make sure you tweet with #tweetsgiving

I am thankful and grateful for:

  1. healthy & happy kid
  2. my husband who is also my bestfriend
  3. my friends
  4. I have a job to go to every day
  5. I love what I do
  6. hubby may not be working but I appreciate that he is home so much!
  7. we have roof over our head
  8. we have enough money to pay the bills
  9. we have enough food
  10. we have enough!
  11. I am learning healthy
  12. I have lost 45 pounds the healthy way
  13. I have made great friends on the same journey
  14. I have made great friends who encourage & support me
  15. I am a good role model for my daughter
  16. I have gained confidence and strength
  17. I have a whole new wardrobe thanks to my mom!
  18. I have more to give!!

I could probably go on and on and on but this list makes me happy!

So, are you going to join me in this great cause?

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my chive talkin’ menu plan – week of November 22, 2009

  • Posted on November 22, 2009 at 3:11 pm

I love Thanksgiving!

Planning will be key for me this week! I don’t get paid until next week so I am making dinners out of the freezer and pantry with the exception of fresh veggies, milk, bread & eggs I will not be grocery shopping this week.  I am also going to make sure I have leftovers for lunches.  I made my plan on Saturday so this weekend will be included – just because!

Saturday:  Turkey Burgers ~ I had mine with smashed up avocado and melted Cabot 75% reduced fat Cheddar and the Big Man had his with fried baby portabellos and swiss cheese. Oven Fries – these have become a favorite!!

Sunday: Braised Short Ribs with roasted garlic smashed potatoes. I am going to make some sort of green veg from the freezer – peas for the kid…she is the only one who likes peas!

Monday: “Fried” Chicken ~ I am going to make my own crust using corn flake and some spices, Mac & cheese and green beans! This sounds so southern. UPDATE: yes, I am using cornflakes but I am using Biz’s recipe for the chicken [I don't have melba toast :( ] and for the mac & cheese I am using this recipe with a few modifications.

Tuesday: Pulled Pork and leftover mac & cheese. Something green will be added here! If you like Pulled Pork you should try this recipe…it is a huge hit at my house. I may have to deem Tuesday nights Crockpot Tuesday. The kid has her karate lesson 6-7 and we leave the house about 5:40. I have found it is just easier to eat before this lesson  so Q is not up all night. Crockpotting just makes sense. I am searching crockpot recipes for future Tuesdays.

Wednesday: Skirt Steak Asian style.  Maybe a nice stirfry over rice.

Thursday: We are heading to the MIL’s house for Turkey dinner. I don’t know exactly what is on the menu but I am sure there will be turkey and veggies. I will not let Thanksgiving destroy the hard work I have put in this past year. I will exercise portion control during dinner and I will exercise that morning.

Friday:  Leftovers! OR Breakfast for Dinner! I know MIL will send us home with leftovers. Big man always gets t he carcass so he can make Turkey noodle soup. Big Man’s soups are amazingly awesome! If we are tired of turkey by dinner I will make pancakes and sausage – as different as I can think! What will you do with your leftovers?

CHICKEN HELP: Folks, due to a sale I have an abundance of chicken breasts and  thighs (with bone & skin) but I need new recipes…what is your favorite way to eat bone-in chicken?

Menu Planning, are you doing it?

I cannot believe how many benefits there are to menu planning?!?! It has helped my family stay on budget and it has helped to lose weight. I never realized how much we ordered out… I had no idea how often we were scrambling with the “what are we gonna make for dinner?” … I have since learned that the grocery store is not as evil when you really have a plan and a list!

Planning my menu has helped my family in many ways and I owe it all to Jenna (@chivetalker) and her Chive Talkin’ Menu Roll.

What?!?!

You haven’t joined Jenna’s menu roll?

What are you waiting for?

Check IT out and I am sure you will not regret it!!

Now, just because it made me laugh….I leave you with this picture!

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Saturday Scale Time

  • Posted on November 21, 2009 at 8:25 pm

Last week: 198

This week: 197.4

Change this week: -0.6

Change since 11/8/08: -45.2

Change since back @ WW (10/10/09): -2.0

Summary of week: Monday I started the 30 Day Shred!! Jillian Michaels scares the bejesus out of me but I want to be stronger and I want to be toned and sexy! Everyone swears by JM and her 30 Day Shred. I was lucky enough to win a copy of the Shred from Fat Fighter and I have decided to give it a whirl! It is hard! and I sweat! A LOT! it is only 20 minutes long but it seems like so much longer! Tuesday I woke up very sore – muscles I didn’t know existed were screaming! By Friday I was able to do squats later in the day! Today I am taking a day off because my knees are a bit sore. I tweeted my dilemma – and I was told to rest, take the day off and basically that I wouldn’t be able to do anything if I was broken.  I was also told to listen to my body! My body (and brain) is tired! It was a busy and filling week at work! I needed and took a day of rest!

Hot 100 Update: I have changed my goals about four times! I am no longer worried about the 200 squats & 200 sit up challenges. I know it not something I desire to do – it is boring and I choose to do squats in a much more sporadic way and added to other exercises I am doing or as a way to get extra movement into my evenings. I hate just doing crunches but I like doing a variety of core exercises and will continue to work my core in this manner. I am getting more organized and this is the single most important goal I made!! It is also the goal I did not think I would be able to actually accomplish. I didn’t think it was possible for me to be organized but every week I am getting a bit better at it and it is helping in many aspects of life. I am scheduling certain things (blogging, school stuff, household chores, and workouts) and I am actually doing these things! For this alone, I feel like I am accomplishing the impossible! I am so thankful to Steve for creating this challenge! And, since I really really started working on my goals I have starting seeing and feeling the benefits of my hard work! The scale is moving in  the right direction and I am so less stressed!

Goals for the week ahead:

  • Keep on keepin’ on!!
  • Continue Shredding
  • Add walking back into routine (40 minutes 5 times ~ Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday)
  • Do not let Thanksgiving destroy all the hard work I have been doing (It is only one meal and it will not ruin me!)
  • Enjoy family time – turn the computer off a bit more!

Thoughts for the week ahead: This week is going to be interesting! I only have to work 3 days but sometime short weeks are harder than regular weeks. Holidays are especially hard for my students (if you remember I teach at an alternative high school with at-risk youth).  Sometimes it is very hard on the kids! It can be an emotional month between Thanksgiving and Christmas! It makes me very appreciative of my family (even the ones who drive me insane)!! I am really going to work on a better blogging schedule…any hints or thoughts about this? when do you blog? are you scheduled? or random? what would you like to see more or from me? less?

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oh sh*t it’s frozen

  • Posted on November 20, 2009 at 1:57 pm

On the menu tonight was Turkey Loaf but when I grabbed the ground turkey out of the fridge it was still kind of frozen. So, I had to improvise! The big man just wanted to order pizza but I wasn’t having it! We are trying to budget and eat healthy…and not the pizza would have been the end of the world on either fronts, I just did not want to give in and order out!!

I put my thinking cap on and I looked around to see what I had in the pantry: we are pretty stocked up at the moment thanks to some really good sales at ACME (my local grocery store)!AND, a friend had just dropped off a huge ziploc of cubed cheese because his mother had some gathering and had all this cheese leftover.

I browned the ground turkey (I added salt, pepper, garlic pwder, and crushed red pepper flakes), drained the meat and set aside.

Boiled a pound of pasta (I just happened to have large elbow noodles!)

I made a quick cheese sauce using fat free evaporated milk, 1/8 cup of butter, 10 ounces of mixed cheese, salt, pepper & tabasco.

I then microwaved two boxes of frozen veggies (one was broccoli and other was mixed with broccoli, peppers, & carrots).

I threw it all together and put it in the oven just long enough to make sure everything was hot!!

Here is what it looked like:

just the pics 439

The verdict: For a quick, no idea, throw together this worked fantastical!! My family loved it!! Even my picky (most of the time) kid ate her whole plat and asked for seconds.

I loved it but will make it with reduced fat or fat free cheese to lower the points value!!

When asked last night on twitter what I was making for dinner, I sarcastically replied with “a mess” which is exactly what I was making: A MESS! But, it was a delicious mess!!

Comments

BFL Week

  • Posted on November 19, 2009 at 7:50 pm

BFL

Week 10: Quick Post tonight because Thursday night totally snuck up on me!!

Good Luck to all my footballers!!

Thursday Night
Miami @ Carolina

Pittsburgh @ Kansas City
Cleveland @ Detroit
New Orleans @ Tampa Bay
Atlanta @ NY Giants
Buffalo @ Jacksonville
Washington @ Dallas
Seattle @ Minnesota
San Francisco @ Green Bay
Indianapolis @ Baltimore
Arizona @ St. Louis
NY Jets @ New England
San Diego @ Denver
Cincinnati @ Oakland
Philadelphia @ Chicago

Monday Night
Tennessee @ Houston

Combined MNF Score =49

Comments

just a little reflection

  • Posted on November 18, 2009 at 9:46 pm

The last few weeks I feel like I have started over! It is a bit weird but I feel like I did back at the beginning of this wacky weight loss journey. The first two months after I joined Weight Watchers I was diligent about tracking and following all the healthy guidelines. Then I was pretty good about it until this summer when I slacked a whole bunch and then I made my way back to my WW meetings!

November 8, 2009 was my one year healthiversary! November 1: I made the choice to stop half-assing  my way down this long and winding road towards healthy! This Monday (November 16) I started Shredding! If you have never heard of the 30 Day Shred you are either lucky or blind! I swear Jillian Michaels is freaking everywhere! I really dislike Jillian and I swore I would never try this workout ~ mainly because I won’t support her (I lost respect for JM when she sold out for a diet pill) but I actually won this workout dvd. When I mentioned Shredding on twitter I got a lot of feedback! Well, I am trying the 30 day challenge ~ oh lordie!!

Today was Day 3 of 30 and I am feeling it! I am tired early at night but I have energy all day long! I am super hungry but I am staying within my points (I am using my 35 extra weekly points and some activity points) and making good food choices. I am determined to go the distance and complete 30 days! Last night I was talking to the big man about this challenge and he said that he had no doubts that I would make it through the whole 30 days!

Ok, where was I going with this? Oh yeah!

I have not been blogging very frequently! You get 3 every-week posts: weekly weigh-in, weekly menu & weekly BFL picks but  that is it! Nothing really creative about that! Just reports!

I have tons of bloggy ideas that pop into my head at the absolute wrongest of times! If only I could think a blog and it would write itself! I will try and blog more of these great ideas but know that if I am not blogging every day it is because I am living ~ exercising, eating healthy, staying on top of housework and my lesson plans and other such things! I am trying to schedule most things so I can get everything done that needs to get done ~ easier said than done! I am learning that if I schedule things I get more accomplished! So my real life is getting more organized and that is so nice! BUT, that means I haven’t found the time to blog every single day…yet…I will figure a better schedule!

Thanks for still following along with me! I will try to be more exciting!

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my chive talkin’ menu plan – week of November 15, 2009

  • Posted on November 15, 2009 at 9:00 am

On the Menu this week,

Sunday: Pork Cutlets Parmesan with Angel Hair Pasta (whole grain) and a lite Caesar salad
Monday: Steak with Shrimp Scampi (never had the shrimp last week) and Spaghetti Squash
Tuesday: Chicken Stroganoff ala the Sisterhood. The kid has karate from 6-7 and eating after class is just too late so using the crock pot is the way to go! We can have dinner before class and strange enough my picky kid will eat any kind of shredded meat…I know, weird right?!?
Wednesday: Manwiches w/ fried onions and red peppers & oven fries. Another karate night, but tonight’s class if from 5-6 so we will eat when we get home. Big Man usually makes dinner Wed nights while I take the kid to class.
Thursday: Turkey Loaf with smashed potatoes and a salad
Friday: Chipotle Grilled Chicken with red beans & rice! A spicy way to end the week!

Menu Planning, are you doing it?

I cannot believe how many benefits there are to menu planning?!?! It has helped my family stay on budget and it has helped to lose weight. I never realized how much we ordered out… I had no idea how often we were scrambling with the “what are we gonna make for dinner?” … I have since learned that the grocery store is not as evil when you really have a plan and a list!

Planning my menu has helped my family in many ways and I owe it all to Jenna (@chivetalker) and her Chive Talkin’ Menu Roll.

What?!?!

You haven’t joined Jenna’s menu roll?

What are you waiting for?

Check IT out and I am sure you will not regret it!!


This week I am looking for soup recipes ~ whatcha got for me?!?!

Comments

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