You are currently browsing all posts tagged with 'food'

monday morning will be here soon!

  • Posted on March 7, 2010 at 1:28 pm

I have another song to get me started for this Monday…

Fleetwood Mac: Monday Morning

Go ahead!! Click the link and listen to the song!! Ya know ya want to!!

A Change will do you good:

This past week was very interesting! I decided to quit Weight Watchers. I have loved my meetings and I have learned so much but I am starting to waver with why I am at those meetings!! I have also been having a lot of guilty feelings. I have been feeling guilty about what I am eating, guilty about counting & not counting all my points, guilty about spending the money on WW!

I hit the cancel button! I canceled my WW account. As of April 1 I will no longer be a WWer. I feel oddly relieved about this.

Wednesday will be my new weigh-in day! I chose Wednesdays so that I can be in sync with Shrinking Jeans since I LOVE their challenges!! I weighed in at 192.4 for a 2 pound loss this week. I am just recording  the number and moving on. My success is not and WILL NOT be determined solely based on the number on the scale.

I am still training to run a 5K! I have completed week 2 of the Couch to 5K training! I actually LOVE slogging!! I call it slogging ~~ Slow jogging/walking is totally the way for me!! Here comes week 3!! I love challenging myself and this is the way to go! The kid is super happy about my running ventures. She is going to slog with me on days we can hit the school track. I am going to sign up for a 5K at the end of the training and when I can run 3 miles + I have decided to sign up for the Warrior Dash in Maryland in October.  This race looks like so much fun!! I am in training!!

I also finished Week 2 of the Bob Greene 8 Week Total Body Makeover. I love these workouts! They are short but powerful! I feel like I am getting stronger. I have been trying to break into strength training. I want to strength train and I know how good it will be for me but I am so clueless! I love simple workouts at home and this one fits the bill!!

I am revamping my food plan this week. I am cutting out more processed food and concentrating on whole grains and lean proteins and LOTS of fruits and veg! I am aiming for Monday – Friday to be awesome food days (now white flour, no sugar and lots of the good stuff)! This gives me the weekend to let loose a little but still make good choices. This will also allow me to eat without feeling guilty. I can record what I eat without worrying about a certain # of points.

Slogger training has made me hungrier than usual and I want to feed my body so that I can continue to make progress.  I feel like this eating “plan” I am working on will be better for me! I will be eating all the right foods, or clean,  80-90% of the time and I think this will allow me to break my guilty feelings about food.  I will be posting about this more often! I have not blogged about my food feelings very much because I am just now realizing I have feelings about food! I will come back to this topic.

NON SCALE VICTORY:

Yesterday, I put on a thumb ring that I have not been able to wear in at least 6 years! It is not tight either!! It fits perfectly!!

This week, I am going to ROCK week 3 of the Couch to 5K and week 3 of Bob Greene!

This week, I am going to eat so many veggies I may turn green! LOL!

This week, I am going to plan and prep for each day the night before (just like I make my daughter do before bed)!

This week, I am going to enjoy my life!!

How will you enjoy your week?

Comments

mindful menu – week of 3.7.10

  • Posted on March 7, 2010 at 11:14 am

On the Menu

Dinners

Sunday:  Quesadillas with Rice & Beans

Monday: Oven “Fried” chicken with vegetable and noodles

Tuesday:  Soup, Sandwiches, and Salad

Wednesday: Sloppy Joes and a Salad

Thursday: Chicken Stirfry over Barley instead of rice!

Friday: Pork Chops Stuffed with Smoked Gouda & Bacon with cabbage & potatoes on the side

Lunch Options

Chicken or Tuna with Veggies & mixed greens  in a whole wheat pita

Green Salad with chicken

Leftover veggies with sandwiches

Breakfast Choices

2 eggs scambled with veg, whole grain english muffin

oatmeal with berries and a hardboiled egg on the side

hardboiled egg, english muffin & side salad (yep for breaky)

Snacky Snacks

hardboiled egg

apple with peanut butter

cheese stick or yogurt with fruit

Here’s where I rant about the benefits of menu planning:

I love menu planning! I have learned over time that planning truly is a lifesaver! Dinner can be so stressful but not at my house!! Not anymore!! Jenna taught me all she knows about menu planning and it has been the best thing I have done for my health, sanity, weight loss, and my family!! Menu planning has leaked into other aspects of my life. Planning keeps me organized and focused!!

Are you menu planning? Are you linked up with Jenna?

Comments

mindful menu – week of 2.28.10

  • Posted on February 28, 2010 at 1:23 pm

Sunday:  Sunday night Spaghetti! We are not Italian but we like our Italian-style Sunday night dinners. One of the my favorite scenes from The Sopranos were the Sunday night dinners! Yes, this Jersey girl LOVES the Sopranos! I love mafia/mob/organized crime movies and shows!

Monday:  Chili-rubbed Pork chops (new recipe from Food Network magazine) with a mexican rice dish (rice with corn, beans, salsa, and enchilada sauce)

Tuesday: Bubbles and Squeak! Big Man is crazing a St. Patty’s meal and I hate ham and cabbage! I like cabbage but not all boiled and soggy…eww! Bubbles & Squeak sounds like the best of both worlds! and I really like the name!

Wednesday: Breakfast for Dinner!! Another family favorite!! Since it is a karate night (and also a C25K training day for me) breakfast is the perfect option! The kid has requested Cream Chipped Beef – not my fave but I will make it for her!!

Thursday: Pizza CheeseSteaks! I love homemade cheesesteaks! They are quickly becoming a family favorite! The best part is we really like my version better than take-out so we refuse to order cheesesteaks anymore. I know cheesesteaks are not exactly healthy but my version is extremely low in fat (compared to the original) and I use LF cheese (or laughing cow) and LOADS of veggies! Oven fries are a definite part of this meal!! I use potatoes, PAM, salt & pepper! Simple and yummy!

Friday:  Cajun Marinated Shrimp & Steak (Big Man has come around to my way of thinking! We are sharing a nice steak!) with a potato & pepper hash.

Menu planning has become part of my weekend routine. Big Man and I usually sit on Sunday with a cup of coffee and the weekly sales ads. This week, we have a very tight budget! Basically, we need to spend as little as possible. The freezer and the pantry are well stocked so it was not too hard planning-wise. All that is really needed at the grocery is cat & laundry supplies. And of course the trip to the produce store ~ must keep up with loads of veg and fruit!

Menu planning has helped me and my family in so many ways!! If you are not planning, why the heck not?!?! Try it!! Try it right now!! Try it for one week and you will be hooked!! Not sure how to start? Start here at my girl , Jenna’s place!! She has links to all kinds of menu planners. Read through some menus, get some ideas, menu plan for one week then come and tell me how it went!!

much love, Jen

Comments

mindful menu plan – week of 2.7.10

  • Posted on February 7, 2010 at 9:44 pm

I am watching the Super Bowl and tweeting and menu planning!! That is what I call major excitement! We were invited to a Super Bowl party but we decided to stay home. This weekend we got hammered with snow when a nasty nor’easter blew into town. The storm was pretty freaking bad! We lost power for several hours on Saturday morning. I did not take pictures! Sorry folks, I slacked there! Here is a link to the front page of local paper.

Needless to say, I have been in the house and not eating all that bad but not all that great! Really, I just ate too much this weekend! This week will focus on lots of veggies!

monday: Barley Stuffed Peppers -I am going to add diced zucchini to the stuffing and make cauliflower fritters on the side.

tuesday: Chicken Caesar Salad

wednesday: Breakfast for Dinner – the kid has requested pancakes and bacon. She loves breakfast for dinner!

thursday:  Skirt Steak Fajitas – loaded with peppers and onions and such.

friday: Pork Goulash – I found a slow cooker cookbook that I forgot I had. Big man looked through it and found a couple recipes he wanted to try. I settled on this one for this week.

One of my goals this year was to try one new food or recipe each week. So far I have been doing good with this goal but I haven’t really mentioned it too often. This week I am hitting both: I have never had barley (so actually, barley qualifies as a new food and a new recipe) and I have never made the Pork Goulash. I am very excited about this week’s dinner.

Lunches will be leftovers from dinners plus there is leftover chicken pot pie and spaghetti in the fridge. Hubs also took out some homemade ham & bean soup out of freezer.

Breakfasts will be eggs (with leftover veg or hashbrowns cooked in Pam), or oatmeal with apples or bananas

*Every week I write this menu plan. Every week there are life stresses…but I always know what I am having for dinner. This is one stress I am glad I do not have in my life. My good friend, Jenna, introduced me to menu planning and I am so happy she did! Menu planing keeps me sane, there are no more days of standing in front of the fridge wondering what the heck I am making for dinner.  I post a handwritten copy of this menu on the fridge and hubby and daughter help with dinners, either getting stuff out of freezer or helping pull everything out to make dinner.

If you are not menu planning, I strongly suggest you try it out!!

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 – 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

mindful menu plan – 1.10.09

  • Posted on January 10, 2010 at 4:42 pm

Planning is so important to my waistline and my wallet. I may have mentioned it before…Big Man has been out of work for nearly two years. Needless to say, it is has been tight. We have learned to budget but we are far from perfect. Planning our menus has been so good for our budget. Mainly because we are not wasting any food. Big Man has taken over most of the grocery shopping and he is very good at sticking to an alotted budget. Actually, he is better at sticking to the budget…but he used to hate using a list. He would just plan meals while he was at the store. He has gotten so much better at this and now he uses a list that we base on our menu. Big Man even goes to a few different stores to strecth our dollar further: Sam’s Club, a local produce store, Acme (our grocery), and a local butcher/meat market.

Sorry for the ramble, I swear I had a point…

oh yeah!

Planning has allowed us to save money. We know what we need to buy at the store. We know what we have in the freezer and pantry. We don’t buy items we don’t need unless said item is one we use and it is a good sale price. We are eating healthier and fresher than ever and we are spending less. We are able to survive and thrive on my paycheck. People, let me remind you that I am a teacher – an early in my career, still in student loan debt hell, teacher. ;)

If you are not planning your meals you should. If you need some ideas to get you started you should check out my good friend (and fellow Cowboys fan), Jenna, the mastermind behind “Mindful Menu Plan.” Jenna introduced me to the joys and benefits of menu planning. Check it out and then go make your menu plan for this week! Then go link up your blog! I will check out your menu! We can inspire each other!!

Our wallets and our waistlines will thank us!!

Ok, I totally rambled.

This week I will be trying a new format for my weekly menu. Last week I told you of the eating plan I was going to be following. I liked the week and I loved how I felt on that plan. I am now going to follow my own version of that plan. I am going to continue to add lots of veggies and new foods and new recipes but last week’s plan will be the basis. I need a bit more variety and I need a bit different way to plan …so check out how I plan out this week. Let me know what you think and I will let you know next week how this works out for me!

Breakfasts:

  • Oatmeal with banana and Sugar-free syrup & cinnamon
  • 2 eggs scramble with 1/2 turkey sausage and veggies
  • I need another idea to rotate in here – something with beans. any help here would be lovely!!

Lunches:

  • homemade chicken noodle soup with salad or leftover veggies or raw veggies
  • leftovers from dinner

Dinners:

  • chicken & cous cous with a spinach salad with hardboiled egg, bacon (just enough), and red onion
  • chicken stirfry
  • chicken fajitas
  • tilapia and a veg medley
  • turkey meatballs, alfredo noodles, broccoli & BIG salad

Snacks:

  • berries
  • apples
  • tagerines
  • occasinal fiber one bar
  • hardboiled eggs

 

Menu plan people!! Planning ahs helped me, it can help you!!

Much love, Jen

Comments

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

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