You are currently browsing the archives for January 2010

mindful menu plan – week of 1.31.10

  • Posted on January 31, 2010 at 12:58 pm

January is OVER!!

WOW!!!

I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that it is not 2009 anymore…and now January is gone.

I have really been focused, mindful is you will, about what I am eating and what I am feeding my family.  Every dinner on the menu will leave plenty of leftovers for healthy lunches at work this week.

Sunday – Herb Crusted Roast with potatoes, broccoli and a salad.

Monday – Chicken (not sure how yet) with Mac & cheese and veggies

Tuesday – Shrimp Creole. This is a recipe from my new WW SlowCooker Cookbook.

Wednesday – Tacos/Burritos! The kid loves Mexican night!

Thursday – Dinner out!

Friday – Steak for Big Man, Fish for me!

I am sorry this is such a short post but I am still sick! Damn cold has me feeling weak and since all I did was lounge on the couch yesterday, I have many many chores that must be done before school tomorrow.

*However, no matter how busy I am, my menu must be planned on Sunday! Having a menu plan keeps me sane and eating healthy, no matter how busy I get!

I hope you are menu planning! If you are menu planning, please check out my good friend, Jenna’s, blog roll. If you are  not menu planning, you should!! Check out Jenna’s Mindful Menu planners! You will not be sorry!

Comments

Perfect 10 – Update #4

  • Posted on January 29, 2010 at 8:29 pm

Holy WOW!!

Did ya’ll know that January is almost over?!?!

It is almost February?!?!

How the heck did that happen?!?!

How did I work my goals this week?

1. Lose 5 pounds per month – my weigh in day is Saturday (tomorrow), last week I lost 4.4 pounds. I am feeling confident in my progress and I am not going to be ruled by the scale. I still want to keep this as a goal because I don’t want to lose sight that losing weight is one of my goals.

2. Walk 15 miles each week - I only logged 8 miles this week! I took last weekend as a rest. Then Wednesday I was walloped with a horrible headache that left me with a nasty head/chest cold. So I will not be walking tonight. I am taking a rest to let my body heal.

3. Strength train 3x each week, every week - Sort of!  did 3 walking workouts this week and as you know my walking workouts combine miles with moderate strength/resistance training and core work. I know I felt my core work but I should have added more strength but I just didn’t have it in me!


4. find and prepare one new healthy recipe (or food) - I am actually cooking chicken parm tonight! Not a new recipe or food but I am preparing it totally different than ever before! DINNER IS NOW DONE: it was very good and very simple! I made a stove-top version  – basically the chicken was browned and removed from pan, then I made sauce in the pan and put chicken in sauce to finish cooking.

What you don’t know about Jen…..

I am not feeling so hot!! I am all kinds of stuffy and congested! So, I asked twitterland – “what do you want to know about me?”

@bwJen are you double jointed? 4 minutes ago from TweetDeck in reply to bwJen

marafaye
No, I am not double jointed but I do have “loose” joints – meaning my joints “stretch” a bit more for me than for normal people. My loose joints are part of the reason I am so clutzy and partially to blame for my ankle sprains.

Workouts this week:

MONDAY = 45 minute, 3 mile Walk Away your Waistline with Walk Belt (walking, cardio, resistance, and core).

TUESDAY = 3.2 miles, 45 minutes Walk Slim: 3 Fast Miles

THURSDAY = 2.2 miles, 35 minutes Walk Slim: 2 Fast Miles (same dvd as above – I did the other disk)

As you can see, it was a very light week. I am taking the rest of the weekend to rest and hopefully I will be back in the game on Monday!

I am not very chatty this evening and I apologize. I am also sorry that I have not blogged …umm..at all this week. I am going to work on blogging a bit more consistently but I am not exactly sure how…any suggestions would be awesome.


Comments

Week in Review

  • Posted on January 24, 2010 at 8:38 pm

Starting weight: 242.6

Last week’s weight: 198

This week’s weight: 193.6

This week’s change: -4.4

Total change:  -49.0

Before I tell you about my week, I have to reflect a bit about the number on the scale. I am not ruled by the number on the scale but it is a piece of the puzzle or game. Losing weight is just like putting a puzzle together – each person must create their own puzzle. I am working hard to find the pieces that best fit my puzzle. Part of the puzzle is the number on the scale and part of the puzzle is measurements. I finally took new measurements and there were actual changes between November and now. I have heard every option for how often to measure and I am not sure how often I will measure but probably not every week. Do you measure? How often?

Another piece of my puzzle has been setting reasonable goals. I admit I have not always been the best goal-setter.  I usually just kind of bulldoze my way through. No real planning just one day at a time. I joined two challenges this year (Perfect 10 and Rethink Your Shrink) that have been helping me set small reasonable and attainable goals.

My BIG goals are outlined in my week 3, Perfect 10 update. You can also find a list of last week’s workouts.

My smaller goals, I will discuss here:

1.  drink 80 oz of water daily I am great about this Monday – Friday. I don’t know why since I barely drink any water during the school day. 5/7

2. take multi vitamin and glucosamine every day I am horrible about this but I am getting better. 5/7

3. make time for workout As you can see if you check out my Perfect 10 update, I worked out a lot last week. I was a bit lazy the last two days but I am very happy with the progress I have made in the workout area. I look forward to working out even if I bitch about it before hand. I love that @ShrinkingJeans leads Biggest Loser commercial break workouts. I love how sweaty I get Walking at Home or on the treadmill. I love that my arms are starting to feel “tight” and I LOVE that I am getting stronger and tighter! I will continue to workout because I finally get it! I really LOVE that I found a workout I LOVE!!

Another piece of the puzzle is FOOD! Ya’ll know how much I love food. All food!! Good food, good-for-you food, healthy food, and just plain junk food. I have learned that some foods have no place in my healthy life plan and I know there are foods that if they were off limits I would rebel and binge on. No foods are off limit. Moderation. I have learned menu planning is essential to my weight & wallet management. I am planning healthy meals full of lean meats and yummy vegetables. I also allow treats and occasional “cheat” days but I don’t call them that. I have always managed to stay within my points and now that I am adding all the workouts in I am ok with some higher points splurge days.

Another piece of the puzzle is accountability! I NEED lots of accountability!! I tried ditching my meetings and just using WW online….I lost and gained the same 5 pounds the entire 4 months. I went back to my meetings and did a little better but then Christmas came and we went away and I did not track and I gained back a few pounds. I found a group of Moms on the same journey.  #Mamavation is an awesome motivational community of moms in various stages of the healthy journey.  The mamavation ladies are all just so sweet and supportive!

Now, on the other side of the coin I found the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans…how could I not check out a group of chicks with a blog titled that?!?! and they are a riot – super supportive & encouraging and not afraid to YELL at me to get my ass moving! I love how sarcastic, snarky and down right brutal their love can be – they are the best!

I join all kinds of challenges! Challenges keep the whole  journey new. I am not always the best challenge participant. Not  the challenge’s fault…but I lack follow through some times. I get all excited but don’t always finish what I start. I am currently involved in two challenges: Perfect 10 and Rething Your Shrink. I liked these two challenges and since the principals behind the challenges were so similar I felt (and still do) comfortable participating in both challenges.

Twitter is the best motivation!! I tweet to inspire and motivate as well as be inspired and be motivated! My twitter peeps are my friends. My twitter peeps know all the answers to all the questions I have!! My twitter peeps don’t let me get away with sulking or not working out! I may be addicted to Twitter but I swear it has huge benefits!

I rambled and rambled! This was a good week – mentally and on the scale. I am finding the perfect balance for me. I am finding what is right and works best for me. This has to be my journey, my way!! I have been traveling on this journey to health for over a year now and it really has been the last 3 weeks that I can honestly say, “I get it!!”


Did I tell you that Twenty Ten is the Year of JEN?!?!

Join me in making 2010 the best year!

Comments

mindful menu – 1.24.10

  • Posted on January 24, 2010 at 3:25 pm

Sunday: Big Man is making Braciole and pasta.

Monday: Patty Melts ~ hamburger patty with fried onions and swiss cheese & 1000 island dressing.  I will make health salad and baked potato skins.

Tuesday: Soup and Sandwiches. I have some Zero Point Soup and Big Man’s Chicken Noodle in the fridge.

Wednesday: Roasted Chicken and Veg (potatoes, carrots & butternut squash)

Thursday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and something green!

Friday: Stove Top Chicken Parm with pasta and a salad.

I had a hard time getting motivated to plan out this week’s dinner. I was just not in the mood but I knew I had to plan. Life is so much easier if I have a menu plan. With a plan, I am able to have time to workout instead of worrying about what I am gonna be making for dinner. I sat on my couch this morning with Food Network & Weight Watchers magazines and a new WW cookbook and could not find anything I really had to make! So, I went with stuff I knew I had and planned easy, but yummy and healthy, meals!

My good friend, Jenna, blogs at Chive Talkin‘ and she is the mastermind of the Mindful Menu Plan!! I am forever grateful for Jenna! Menu planning has been a big help to me, my weight loss, my budget, and my sanity.

Comments

if you’re happy and ya know it clap your hands!

  • Posted on January 24, 2010 at 2:40 pm

I am a happy person most of the time! I am also human so I have many moods and some are not always a ray of sunshine! But for the most part I am a happy, look at bright side of life kind of person! Today, I am super excited because this is my 100th post!! WOW! I have been blogging for a little more than a year but I started Jen in Real Life in the summer of ‘09!

And this post right here is number 100! Thank you to all of you that read my ramblings. A double thanks to those who have encouraged and supported me on this journey.

Just the other day tow awesome blogger/twitter friends gave me an awesome award.

Isn’t it just the most beautiful award ever?!?!

Thank You, @ronisweigh and @FabFattieShan

As always, there are instructions:

1. Copy the image and display it on your blog.

2. List 10 things that make you happy.

3. Try to do at least one of them today.

4. Pass on the award to 10 bloggers who brighten your day.

Happiness is…

  1. my beautiful daughter and manly husband ~ they drive me crazy all the time but I would trade them for anything!
  2. a sweater or blanket all warm, right out of the dryer
  3. rainy, lazy days…days where I can avoid all stress and work!
  4. sunny warm Summer days spent near the water, whether at the beach or on a friend’s boat
  5. blogging ~ it has helped me in ways I never imagined. I have a place to vent and cry and share my happiness. Blogging has brought some of the most amazing people into my life!
  6. twitter – for many of the same reasons as blogging
  7. friends – can I admit that my online friends know more about me than some of my real world friends? You all don’t think I am weird.
  8. my WW meetings and the friends I have made there. We may only meet and talk once a week but my WW family is super important to me and they make me very happy!
  9. a lesson plan that works as well with the students as it looks on paper.
  10. a new cookbook or cooking magazine.  I love food pictures and I have a new love for cooking healthy, satisfying, and delicious food.

So, now I have to pick ONLY 10 of my blogger friends to give this award. I am going to try and choose bloggers not on Roni’s or Shannon’s list ~I think all those already chosen are fantabulous but I want to spread the happiness love around. Here are 10 bloggers I want to give happiness, in no particular order!

  1. Steve at Log My Loss
  2. Dr. Mo at footdr69’s blog
  3. Sue at Did I just Eat That Out Loud?
  4. Jen at PriorFatGirl
  5. Rachel at Body by Pizza
  6. Heather at Leading the Weigh
  7. Jenna at Chive Talkin’
  8. LaLoosh – a new find but this blog makes me happy so I want to give it back!
  9. All the hookers over at Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans
  10. and YOU!! If you reading this and you are happy or want to be happy, I give you this award!

Comments

I freaking ROCK! (Monday Project)

  • Posted on January 23, 2010 at 10:45 pm

Yep, I said it!! I may not be perfect but I am pretty freaking awesome! If I do say so myself. I have to make sure @mizfitonline reads this post, I believe she would be proud. I know the hookers over at Shrinking Jeans will be amused and proud at my offering!

Rethink Your Shrink, The Monday Project

Please to enjoy 5 of the many reasons why I ROCK!!

1. I have finally realized that I, do indeed, ROCK!! I am a bit of a nerd, kind of a dork, totally clutzy, high strung at times, lazy as all get out at other times. I finally like me, just because I am me!! and to be honest, fuck anyone who doesn’t like who doesn’t like it!! The fabulous Miz has a saying that appropriately fits here:  I finally understand!!

2. I am a super tweeter! I love my twitter family! For me twitter is a lifeline to staying strong on the healthy journey. Some times I am the one being inspired and some times I am able to inspire others. I love to encourage and be encouraged!

3. I am an awesome mom!! My daughter and I talk about everything and I hope as she gets older (she is 10 now) that she continues to talk to me. Just this year we have hit huge mom-daughter milestones: first bra, the period and sex conversation, and liking boys! I take my responsibility as a mom very seriously and I teach my daughter life skills that she will carry with her always. Q is a confident, loving, and sensitive and independent. She is an awesome kid so I must be an awesome mom!  Plus, she tells me I am!

4.  bbbpo”:?

My kitty just typed that!! Isn’t he the cutest cat!  and he is another reason I ROCK! After losing two pets in as many years and dealing with 3 remaining cats,2 of which are huge pains-in-the-ass, and 3 turtles that are not supposed to be my responsibility, I swore I was done with critters. And then I found my kitty and that went out the window and I had to rescue Whiskey and bring him home with me!

5. I teach at a school that no one really wants to work. I teach English to high school students at an alternative (think second chance) school. My kids are tough and have tough lives and have problems with drugs and the law. They are difficult but not bad kids. There are days that are extremely heart wrenching and emotional and there are days where I wonder if I am teaching kindergarten (I have one class of sophomores – all boys)!! I believe I have found my calling, what I am meant to be doing. And, while I may not be perfect, I do always try to keep learning and trying new methods of teaching to truly help my students.

Ok, now that I am working on me and I am comfortable with who I am this list could go on!

**The last 3 weeks have been awesome for me on this get healthy journey and I attribute this to the 2 challenges I am participating in:

Rethink Your Shrink!

Comments

Perfect 10, week 3 update

  • Posted on January 22, 2010 at 6:57 pm

How did I work my goals this week?

1. Lose 5 pounds per month – my weigh in day is Saturday (tomorrow), last week I gained 2 pounds. I handled it well! I have learned and I remind myself all the time, I will not let the scale determine my success!! I had a good week…the scale just didn’t agree. I am still plugging away!

2. Walk 15 miles each week - I logged 17 of 15 miles this week….so far! After dinner I will jump on the treadmill. I have been quite sedentary today. It was just that kind of day at school – I had a ton of paperwork stuff! I decided to put in a dvd . Wahoo!!

3. Strength train 3x each week, every week - I am getting the hang of strength. I think my biggest problem for me was letting my head get in the way. NOT LITERALLY!! I mean jeesh, my head ain’t that big! I don’t like not knowing what I am doing. I went back to my Walk at Home workout dvds and they give me miles plus mild strength training and core work! I have joined @shrinkingjeans on Tuesdays for some Biggest Loser commercial break tworkouts. I do not watch the show but I do all the exercises and those @shrinkingjeans girls can be bossy!! Anyway, I have just started adding those exercises into my day/workout every other day. I even did pushups (ok, I had to use the back of my couch but my knees do not like being locked and I have no cushion under the knee caps so even girl pushups kill my knees) twice this week.


4. find and prepare one new healthy recipe (or food) - Ok, I totally failed on this one! Unless you count the crockpot chicken I made the other night. I found a McCormick packet for “Italian Herb Slowcooker Chicken” and it was the easiest recipe!! I used Boneless Skinless Chicken breasts (2) and thighs (4), 2 cans diced tomatoes, 1 small can tomato paste and the herb packet. I had mine over spaghetti squash and husband and daughter had pasta. It was very yummy and super easy!

WORKOUTS this WEEK

Friday: 3.1 miles, 50 minutes Walk Slim: 3 Fast Miles

Gruve: To be updated

Steps: To be updated

Thursday: 45 minutes, 3 mile Walk at Home Weight Loss Walk (walking, cardio, resistance, and core) with 2 pound handweights.

Gruve: GREEN goal

Steps: 11,400

Wednesday: 45 minutes, 2 mile treadmill walk

Gruve: GREEN goal

Steps: 12,158

Tuesday: 45 minute, 3 mile Walk Away your Waistline with Walk Belt (walking, cardio, resistance, and core). BL Tworkout directed by @shrinkingjeans -

Gruve: GREEN goal

Steps: 12,012

Monday: 45 minutes, 3 mile Walk at Home Weight Loss Walk (walking, cardio, resistance, and core) with 2 pound handweights.

Gruve: Yellow goal

Steps: 7,800

Sunday: 45 minute, 3 mile Walk Away your Waistline with Walk Belt (walking, cardio, resistance, and core) 50 squats

Gruve:  Orange goal (it was a very lazy day – I barely left the couch)

Steps: 2,000

Saturday: housecleaning, 3 mile outside walk. Gave Blood at the Red Cross!

Gruve: GREEN goal

Steps: 12, 489

I HAD A GREAT WEEK!!

The week started off wonky. I woke up early enough on Saturday to go for a walk with my good friend before my WW meeting. After I gave blood and ran all my errands I came home and ate! I ate too much on Saturday and Sunday. I blew through all of my extra weekly points (for those on WW you understand) in a day and a half. This could have and in the past has set me up for a terrible week. Monday I worked out and ate better! It was still a slower day because it was a day off from school. I do not do well on days off! I need my routine! But, I kept going and I kept making each day a bit better. I am starting to really make working out a daily thing.

How are you doing with your goals?

What you don’t know about Jen…..

I LOVE to cook! I will try almost any recipe and most recently I have even started adjusting recipes to be healthier. I have even gotten so brave as to create my own healthy meals.

So, that part isn’t really a secret but…

I only started cooking after I met Big Man…about 5 years ago. After Q and I moved into Big Man’s house we remodeled the kitchen.  I had no kitchen for 6 weeks and since Big Man was going working on the kitchen I dealt with meals ~ thank goodness the local market has wonderful meals to heat and eat. When the kitchen was finally complete, I made the inaugural meal. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

I have been addicted to Food Network, online recipes, and cookbooks ever since.

Addicted I tell ya!

Is there anything you want to know? Just ask!!

I love this challenge and I am so glad Steve is hosting such an awesome challenge. Thanks Steve!!

Comments

measured success

  • Posted on January 19, 2010 at 9:11 pm

I am not very good about taking my measurements.

I forget to take them.

I don’t know how often I should be taking them!

Well, after my horrible scale number on Saturday I got to thinking! And tweeting! and my twitter peeps said I should take measurements!

I looked in my fitbook and I had taken some measurements November 1 and I took measurements on Monday.

Chest: nov 1: 42.5 in,  jan 18: 41.0 in, change: -1.5 in

Right Arm: nov 1: 14.5, jan 18: 13.5, change: -1.0 in

Left Arm: nov 1: 13.5, jan 18: 13.5, change: 0

Waist: nov 1: 40.75, jan 18: 38.5, change: – 2.25

Hips: nov 1: 45.5, jan 18: 42, change: -3.5

Thighs (both right & left measured sep.): nov 1: 27, jan 18: 26, change: -1.0

Weight: nov 1: 198.8, jan 18: 198, change: -0.8

I think the measurements look better than the weight loss itself! When should I take measurements again?

Comments

True Confession

  • Posted on January 19, 2010 at 8:16 pm

The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans True Confessions Bless me sisters (and brother) for I have sinned

This is my first confession:

Saturday morning started off with an early morning walk with my friend. Afterward I went to my weekly WW meeting where I stepped on the scale and the stupid scale was not nice!! I gained two pounds, spoke with my leader, and proceeded to have a great time with my WW friends ~~> we have formed quite a tight little group over the last year or so. I took my gain rather well!

I went home and had a real breakfast (I only ate a banana after my walk – mainly because I ran out of time before WW meeting). I normally have a bigger breakfast on the weekends.

Then I went and gave blood. Went to Sam’s for eggs and Splenda. Went to the Car Wash. Took the kid and my car to in-laws ~~> how lucky am I?!? My in-laws took my daughter for a sleepover for two nights and took my car to change my brakes!!

Hubby was grumpy all day because he was getting a cold.

So, if you are keeping score we were childless on a Saturday night!

But I was weak from giving blood and Big Man was whiny and getting sick!

We dropped my car and the kid off and on the way home stopped to get snacks. We decided to stay and watch movies rather than go out and deal with people.

I ate cake! Entenmann’s chocolate chip cake! and ice cream.

On Sunday, I never really left the couch!

In those two days, I ate through all 35 of my weekly points allowance! And not with good things like fruits and veggies.

And now I am over it!!

I did it!

I have now confessed!

I now forgive myself!

And, I am moving on!

Comments

mindful menu – week of 1.17.10

  • Posted on January 17, 2010 at 6:41 pm

I love menu planning. I have played with the best way to menu plan and having a set idea for each day works the best for me. Sometimes we switch up the day that we eat a particular meal – this usually happens when something doesn’t defrost properly or we are just human and want something else! Having a plan is super important!

I am so glad I started menu planning and even happier that @chivetalker started me out! Jenna has the best menu plans and menu planning friends. I link up every week and I always check out the other plans. You should try it too!!

Sunday – Crock Pot Beef Stew

Monday – Cheesesteaks, oven fries, and health salad

Tuesday – Italian Crock Pot chicken. Tuesdays nights the kid has karate from 6-7 and the crockpot is a lifesaver!! We eat a nice healthy meal before karate and no one has to rush to get dinner on the table by 5. I was looking for a new chicken crock pot recipe when the husband called to me from the kitchen to tell me he found a packet. He found a McCormick seasoning packet for Italian Crock Pot Chicken – chicken parts, mushrooms, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, and chicken broth and seasoning packet.  I am going add chunks of zucchini and yellow squash and probably serve the whole thing over pasta.

Wednesday – Big Man Chili. This is one of those recipes that I don’t even want to know! It is loaded with whatever peppers Big Man can get his hands on.  I usually do not eat too much of this since it is hot but I do love it!! I am just sensitive!! {I hear Biz laughing at me as she reads this!!} I decided  that baked potatoes would be the perfect addition. I will have my chili right on top!

Thursday – Chicken & Green Beans Stirfry

Friday – Pork Tenderloin with homemade German sauer kraut and mashed potatoes.

Now, that I have the menu planned I can make a list for the grocery and produce stores. I start my plan by taking a quick inventory of the pantry and freezer so the grocery list is not a huge one (unless the sales ad has lots of goodies) and we will hit the produce stand tomorrow and again later in the week.  Tomorrow I will also be making a WW zero-point soup so I need to get lots of extra veggies.  We will have the soup with dinner instead of salads this week. I need a switch up from the salads!!

Are you menu planning yet?

Comments

Get Adobe Flash playerPlugin by wpburn.com wordpress themes
8 visitors online now
8 guests, 0 members
Max visitors today: 8 at 03:12 am EST
This month: 43 at 03-04-2010 12:28 am EST
This year: 43 at 03-04-2010 12:28 am EST
All time: 43 at 03-04-2010 12:28 am EST