A Weighty Matter

I'm finished with my first trimester and I ended up "officially" gaining two pounds.  Unofficially it was actually one pound as I had consumed excess sodium the day before my last office visit and I'd dropped that extra pound later in the day.  Given my starting weight, it wasn't necessary for me to gain anything at all in the first trimester.  Regardless, I'm pleased with my weight gain thus far and soon I'll begin to work on gaining around one pound per week.

Weight is a tricky thing for some women and it certainly is with me.  It's hard for me to just relax and let go of my standard "diet" (meaning my normal way of eating) even if I'm pregnant.  Understand that I would never risk the health of my baby over my vanity about weight by dieting while pregnant, but I also would never treat pregnancy like it's forty-weeks of all-you-can-eat buffets and gorging on junk food. 

I'm never as disciplined with my diet as I am when I'm pregnant and I think that's why I have found that I don't pork up when knocked up.  Though Weight Watchers makes it clear that one shouldn't follow their plan while pregnant, I make sure to follow the WW Good Health Guidelines about water, fruit, veggie, dairy, and vitamin intake because it is a healthy way to eat and live.  That's not to say that I don't splurge sometimes because I absolutely do.  It's true that there's nothing I love more than a good hamburger, but it's not like I eat that way everyday and I see value in enjoying treats every now & then. 

My problem lately is dairy, both milk and cheese.  Even yogurt, to a lesser extent, is offensive to me at the moment.  I wouldn't ordinarily care about my dairy aversion, but pregnant women do need quite a bit of calcium and dairy products are the most efficient way to get that valuable mineral.

I have had so much trouble consuming dairy that I've had to get creative about where to get calcium because there is only so much broccoli and dark leafy greens one can take.  Where have I been getting calcium?  Milkshakes, frozen yogurt, and ice-cream.  Nothing like getting my dose of calcium with a hefty serving of fat and sugar, huh?  Yeah, it's really not the best way to go about getting calcium.

I may have been able to get through the first trimester with my weight gain essentially right on target, but I'm pretty sure that I won't be able to claim the same for my second trimester if I don't get exit the ice-cream train and get back on the non-fat milk bus.  How do you like to get your calcium?  Any ideas and suggestions would be most appreciated!

Sometimes "Breathing" Sucks

I have found myself "breathing" at dinner each night this week.  Of course, I breathe all the time, but this is a special breath.  It is the subtle, but deep, breath you take when your hunger is satisfied.  That's the point that you should stop eating because you are no longer hungry.

I was never made to clean my plate while I was growing up, but I can't stand leaving food on my plate now that I'm an adult.  Other than greedy gluttony, I don't know why I've developed this habit.  But I have it now and it is a hard one to break.

I've learned that I consistently put too much on my plate.  Not a lot, around 1/4 to 1/2 cup, but it's definitely enough to add up over time.  By stopping when I'm full, I have consumed about three fewer cups of food this week that I would have eaten otherwise.  I keep telling myself that the food will still be there if I want it later; sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

I have also rearranged how I eat, consuming my favorite parts of the meal before anything else.  I always used to eat salad first, but I'm saving it for the last thing to eat because I'm more likely to stop eating when I'm full when salad is all that remains.  I don't even dress it unless I'm about to eat it because seeing it with a Tablespoon or two of my tasty semi-homemade ranch dressing would tempt me to eat it even if my hunger is satisfied. 

I'm glad that I can hear what my body is saying and that I'm listening.  And I'm pretty amazed at just how little I actually need (want is another matter!) to eat before I feel satisfied.  Seriously, one night I only ate half of a stuffed red bell pepper and 1/4 cup of a delicious barley & mushroom side dish before I was full.  I still had half of my dinner left on my plate.  I'm very happy that I have an abundance of plastic containers for storing leftovers because I've been using them a lot this week!

All this isn't to say that I've been perfect because I haven't been.  I ignored that special breath at lunch once and kept shoveling food in my pie-hole.  I still didn't clean the plate though because I began to feel uncomfortably full after eating a few more spoonfuls of what can only be described as Sloppy Joe Salad.  I wonder now if this is how I always felt after eating and I just didn't notice it?  If so, that's really sick and I'm glad that I'm taking steps to stop this self-destructive behavior of over-eating.

I sure hope the scale reflects my efforts at my next weigh in. . .

Keep Moving Forward

I can't believe it.  I actually lost weight last week.  That's a good thing, but I'm totally shocked because I screwed around way too much and I didn't work out at all prior to my weigh in yesterday afternoon.  Yet I somehow still lost weight. 

I know that this surprising weight loss this week was a gift so I've been diligently staying on-track since my weigh-in.  I have performed two workouts (no cardio, but it's still valuable and worthwhile) and I have had two very healthy meals.  I find that reflection is important in all areas of life and thought I'd list out the things I did right, no matter how small, and the things I need to improve upon. 

I will keep the weight loss going this week!  Once again, with emphasis, I will keep the weight loss going this week!  One more time, in case you aren't sure what I'm saying, I will keep the weight loss going this week!

What I did right last week:
~ I stopped eating when I was full, even though there was still food on my plate, at three meals.  I didn't leave a lot on my plate, but I did leave it.  This might sound like no big deal, but it is really hard for me to walk away from a bite or two of food.  Unfortunately, "just" an extra bite at every meal over the course of a year really does add up to a lot.
~ After eating, I threw whatever was left on my son's plate right down the drain.  I didn't customarily eat the remnants off his plate, but I have done it a time or two if the meal was particularly tasty.  A spoonful of mac & cheese was calling my name on Sunday night as I was cleaning up the dining room table.  I ran the plate to the sink and poured water on it - temptation removed!
~ I made three big pots of soup to eat for lunches and the dinners without my husband.  Soup is a terrific weight loss food for me because I find it filling and nourishing.  I made a low point soup that utilized ground chicken and lots of veggies, a zero-point pureed cauliflower soup (kinda like potato soup but not), and a low-ish point sausage, kale, & bean soup.  I froze some of the leftovers into single serve containers so I will always have meal options even when I don't feel like cooking.
~ I made spinach-y scrambled eggs on Wednesday morning and, instead of adding milk to the eggs, I added some of that pureed cauliflower soup that I made last week.  By trying something different, I save a little on calories and boosted the nutrition in my breakfast.  I liked the result so much that I did it again this morning.
~ I found a rye-crisp that is only 1 point for two crackers.  Normally I'm not a fan, but these ones are pretty tasty and they offer more nutrition than regular ol' saltine crackers.  Even better, I found them at my local 99 cent store.
~ I set a goal to work out at least once.  I did it with only hours left in my weight-loss week, but I did do it!
~ I normally wouldn't exercise at night, but I did last night.  I've been sleep training my son and I have nothing else to do while I'm standing in the hallway to hustle him back to bed when he leaves his room.  By the time he stayed in bed, I had completed three sets of squats, lunges, standing leg lifts & donkey kicks, biceps curls, triceps dips, chest flys, and inverted flys (bent-over lateral raises).


Where I need to improve:
~ I didn't track at all.  Not even once.  I so didn't track that I didn't even grab a tracker.  I will grab a tracker right after I finish this post.
~ I didn't measure at all.  Not even once.  I hate measuring, I really do.  Unfortunately, I don't know how to make it any less annoying.  I guess I will just leave my measuring cups and spoons on the kitchen counter so that I remember to keep my portion sizes reasonable.
~ The busiest social season of the year is looming and I need to strategize about how to handle parties and get-togethers.  I had two this weekend and I colossally bombed at both of them.  Too much food and too much booze combined with not enough will power or activity is just a bad equation.  When possible, I will bring a WW-friendly addition to the event.  I will also alternate one glass of water for every alcoholic beverage that I consume.  I should also avoid drinks made with juice or mixers, but that just sounds so un-fun.  Perhaps I should refamiliarize myself with just how many points are found in only one Cosmo. . .actually, that's a very good idea.
~ I have to really watch my drinking at home.  One glass of wine turns into the entire bottle nearly every single time.  Okay, every time.  This is particularly true if I've already been drinking out with friends.  I hate when the partying stops, but I can't lose weight without radically changing my relationship with liquor.  I'll have one glass of water for every alcoholic beverage that I consume because it slows down the guzzling.  I'll have to get my husband on board with this one because I won't be able to do it without his support.
~ I didn't get in all my water this week.  A lot of this is because I'll drink coffee until around noon if I'm home.  I'm going to have to watch my coffee intake and start chugging the H2O after mid-morning.
~ I need to fit in exercise wherever I can.  I frequently fall victim to the all or nothing mentality and, more often than not, that means doing nothing.  An hour to spend on cardio isn't going to magically materialize, but even a busy SAHM can find ten minute chunks of time to work on a little toning.  I will take advantage of those times when I find them.
~ I didn't take my son for a walk even once.  I blamed the weather, but really I was being lazy.  I will walk him to the park at least once this week.


Those are the things that I can think of off the top of my head that I've been doing right and the things that I need to improve.  Seeing it in print drives home the point and I will continue to improve.  Coming up with a plan is key because, as they say, a failure to plan is a plan to fail.

Did you know that I will keep the weight loss going this week?

Two Recipes for Hot Days

I have a couple of posts that I keep meaning to write, but I really need to work on how they are presented because they could be considered offensive. In case you're wondering, one post is about wieners (the male kind, not the kind you eat with ketchup & mustard) and the other post is about. . .you know, I just don't know how to put it other than lezzing out at a sex party. And, no, I have not.

Instead of working on difficult to finish posts, I thought I'd offer up a couple more recipes that are weight loss friendly. Both of these recipes are fast, easy, and won't heat up your kitchen. Perfect for the upcoming hot days of Summer!

Tuna Wraps
5 La Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious Tortillas
2 cans water-packed albacore tuna
2 Tablespoons low-fat mayo (I used the Best Foods brand, but I also like Smart Balance)
1 Tablespoon cilantro, chopped
3 cups fresh spinach, chopped
2 green onions, thinly sliced
4 tomatoes, diced
1 cup baby carrots, minced (I used the food processor)
Seasonings (for tuna): cumin (don't be shy with it), salt, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes

Thoroughly drain water from tuna. Flake tuna in bowl and mix in the mayo, cilantro, and seasonings to taste. In a separate bowl, mix spinach, onions, tomatoes, and carrots. Heat tortillas until they are pliable. Equally spread the veggie mixture and the tuna mixture on the five tortillas. Tightly roll tortilla and cut in two. Serves 5. Each wrap is 4 very filling WW points.

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This next one isn't really a recipe, more like guidelines.

My Favorite Salad
Vegetable Ingredients: Lettuce (I use any except iceberg), fresh spinach, green onions, celery, carrots, mushrooms, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, hearts of palm.

Use as many raw vegetable ingredients as you'd like. They are all 0 WW points for 1 cup.

Additional Ingredients: The WW points are listed behind the item - Grilled boneless/skinless chicken breasts (1 WW point per ounce), black beans (2 WW points per 1/2 cup), garbanzo beans (2 WW points per 1/2 cup), kidney beans (1 WW point per 1/2 cup), pinto beans (2 WW points per 1/2 cup), regular shredded {cheddar, mozzarella, jack, Parmesan} cheese (3 WW points per ounce), crumbled feta cheese (3 WW points for 1 1/3 oz.), pickled beets (1 WW point per 1/2 cup), hard cooked egg (2 WW points per egg), canned tuna fish (WW points vary by brand).

I usually only use one or two of the additional ingredients.

Dressing: I do a few different things for dressing, depending on the salad I've mixed up. I make a low-fat ranch dressing using 1 cup nonfat milk, 1 cup mayo (1/2 regular & 1/2 low fat), and 3 Tablespoons Hidden Valley Ranch powder. I sometimes make dressing using salt, pepper, garlic, oil (olive or flax), and vinegar (balsamic is what I currently prefer). Sometimes I use salsa as a salad dressing. If I've recently made a batch of low-point chili, I'll just toss the chili in with lettuce, onion, carrots, tomatoes.

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What do you like to prepare on hot days?

My Favorite Foods

Tonight we'll be having Tuna Wraps stuffed with spinach, spring greens, cilantro, onions, carrots, and tomatoes. I still haven't decided if I want to add black beans to the wrap and I'm kicking myself that I used our last ripe avocado the other day. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to share some of the foods that I always like to keep on hand since I'm working the Weight Watchers (WW) plan.

Seasonal Vegetables and Fruit - I generally only purchase produce that is in season for a couple of reasons: it tastes better and it's cheaper. Where I live we have a wonderfully long growing season with plenty of growing heat so produce is pretty darn cheap nearly year-round. My favorite vegetables are: broccoli, carrots, celery, onions, peppers, garlic, zucchini, butternut squash, pumpkin. And I adore all greens: collards, mustard, turnip, spinach. My favorite fruits are: apples, bananas, strawberries. WW points vary according to what fruit or vegetable we're talking about. Generally speaking, they are the lowest point things you can eat when you compare volume to points.

Frozen Vegetables and Fruit - I have no problem hitting the freezer section of the supermarket if the fresh produce looks a little limp. Sometimes the price per pound (or ounce) is cheaper than buying fresh. My favorite frozen vegetables tend to be broccoli, spinach, green beans, and those blends with carrots, peas, & green beans. My favorite frozen fruit are berries - I prefer a blend of blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. WW points vary according to what's in the package.

Beans - I stock dried beans because they're so cheap and canned beans because sometimes I do a poor job planning and don't want to take the 15-minutes it takes to cook the beans in the pressure cooker. If I use canned beans, I always drain and rinse the beans thoroughly. I prefer black beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, and lentils. Most beans (not all) are 4 WW points per cup.

Whole Grains - I always have a tub of brown rice in the fridge. I usually also have barley and quinoa on hand if I'm burned out on rice. Most grains (not all) are 4 WW points per cup.

La Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious Tortillas - These are high fiber and low carb tortillas and they are HUGE. I use them to make very satisfying wraps. 1 WW point per tortilla - did I mention that they are HUGE?

Oroweat Double Fiber Bread - At 12 grams of fiber for two slices, you will be nice & full even if you only had a boring old sandwich at lunch. 1 WW point per slice of bread.

Canned Meats - I love the convenience of canned salmon, tuna, and chicken. I use these in casseroles, to make patties for grilling, to make salads, and to make sandwiches. WW points vary.

Lean Meats - You can always find some boneless, skinless chicken breasts in this house. We cook up a large package of these once a week and keep the pre-cooked chicken breasts in the fridge. This removes fast-food temptation because we always have something healthy to eat within minutes. We almost always have 4% ground beef on hand for patties, chili, to add to pasta sauces, and more. WW points vary by ounce.

Eggs - Eggs aren't glamorous and they aren't sexy, but they sure are satisfying and tasty! I like to hardboil them by the dozen so that I always have something handy to snack on if the crudites aren't cutting it. I know people like scrambled egg whites and egg white omeletes, but I'm a yolky kind of gal. 2 WW points per egg - ditch the yolk and the white is 0 points.

Nonfat Milk - Two cups of milk fulfills the WW Good Health Guideline for dairy. I'm glad that I never had whole milk growing up because I understand that people who did really are grossed out my nonfat milk. I don't like my drinks this way, but I kinda like my milk watery and weak. 2 WW points per cup of nonfat milk.

Powdered Nonfat Milk - Want to save a little money while cooking? Use powdered milk (all you have to do is add water) when you're cooking. Even if you think powdered milk tastes awful in the glass, you'll never notice the taste when you cook with it. 2 WW points per cup (prepared according to directions, of course)

Chicken Broth or Stock - I do have canned broth in my pantry for those rare times that I don't have any homemade stock on hand. I prefer to use homemade if at all possible though because it gives superior flavor and mouthfeel to the finished dish. I use it to make soups, cook grains, and make sauces. WW points vary.

Instant Potato Granules - Yeah, yeah, I know. Look, I haven't actually made "real" mashed potatoes in years and I don't think that anyone is the wiser. I make these instant potatoes with nonfat milk and don't add any butter. I figure that most people put gravy on potatoes anyway so they won't notice the missing fat. If I'm not serving gravy, I season them up with ranch dressing powder so that they are tasty. Lately I'm a fan of making ranch dip with nonfat sour cream and stirring in some of that to make the finished potatoes creamy and delicious. 2 WW points per half-cup for the potatoes prepared with just water & nonfat milk.

Flax Oil - You can choose from a few different types of healthy oil to fulfill your Good Health Guidelines, but I prefer to use flax oil. I like the nutty taste it imparts to plain ol' steamed veggies. Don't cook with flax oil, just use it to finish off your dish. 1 WW point per teaspoon.

Olive Oil - Another healthy oil and the one that I prefer if I need to cook with oil. I don't fry often so it's lower smoke point hasn't been a problem in my kitchen. 1 WW point per teaspoon.

Capers - These briny berries add a tasty tang to sauces and pasta dishes. Big taste for being such a little package. 0 WW points.

Mustard - My favorite condiment. I stock Dijon, spicy brown, and yellow mustards. I use more mustard than mayo when I make deviled eggs, tuna salad, chicken salad, macaroni salad, or potato salad. 0 WW points.

Flavor Helpers - The ones that I use most often are: kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, red pepper flakes, cumin, cinnamon, oregano, onion powder, granulated garlic, curry powder, turmeric, chili powder, fresh lemon juice (I freeze it in ice-cube trays), soy sauce, fish sauce. A complementary mix of these flavor helpers will liven up any boring dish. 0 WW points.

Sugar-Free Jell-O - I love this stuff when it's hot out. Sometimes I get cute and layer it in a wine glass with fat-free whipped topping. I've also been known to mix in fruit on occasion. WW points vary according to what you do with it.

Sugar-Free Popsicles - Another sweet treat that I love when it's hot out. WW points vary by brand.

Kool-Aid - It is so cheap to make a pitcher of Kool-Aid and you can control the sugar content. The package calls for a crazy amount of sugar (a cup I think - I'm too lazy to go look) and I've found that you don't even need half of that amount. You can also do what I did as a kid: freeze Kool-Aid in ice-cube trays to make ghetto Popsicles. WW points vary according to how you mix it.

Iced-Tea - I prefer Lipton black tea bags when I'm making iced tea because I find it pleasantly astringent. 0 WW points.


Do you have some healthy or low-point foods that you like? Please share!

Two Recipes to Try

I hate cleaning, but I love to cook. I've been tinkering with recipes lately to make them as low-point as possible while remaining true to the original recipe's taste. I have a couple that I'd like to share with you tonight.

The downside to spending so much time in the kitchen is that I tend to taste a lot because I don't like to measure and I never follow recipes. Since I've been measuring everything (thanks to Weight Watchers), I've really cut back on my tasting in the last several weeks. I couldn't resist tasting this recipe that I whipped up for my son tonight.

Avocado & Tomato Salad
1 tomato, diced
1 avocado, diced
1 green onion, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon olive oil
Seasonings: A little salt, pepper, onion powder, & granulated garlic.

Mix everything in a bowl and enjoy!

This makes a lot and it's 9 points for the entire salad, so you be sure to share it or you'll be burning a lot of points on a side. Remember too that avocado is loaded with healthy fats so a little bit is very satisfying.

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I've been making this sauce for years, but it originally calls for an entire stick of butter. Needless to say, I haven't made this sauce since starting Weight Watchers because the points value was through the roof. I came up with this decent version earlier in the week. This sauce pairs deliciously with light fish (cod, halibut, snapper) or chicken breasts.

Lemon Butter & Caper Sauce
2 glasses dry sauvignon blanc (I've also made this successfully with vermouth)
2 cups chicken broth
1 oz. lemon juice
2 teaspoons butter
2 Tablespoons capers, drained & rinsed

To begin making this sauce, I browned the outsides of previously cooked chicken breasts in a regular pan (NOT non-stick) so that I could get some browned bits for flavor building. The stove was set to Medium-High and the pan was dry - no oil or anything.

Remove chicken breasts to a covered plate, add wine to the pan, and turn stove to High. When liquid begins to boil, scrape up all the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and capers to pan. Reduce sauce.

This makes a little more than 1/2 cup for 6 total points for all of the sauce. I have a little ladle and I get 6 ladlefulls of sauce at 1 point each. The flavor is fabulous and it really livens up plain ol' fish or chicken.


I hope you enjoy these recipes. Happy cooking!

Weight Loss - Week 9

I'm in my ninth week with Weight Watchers (WW). In the last two months, I've only indulged in alcohol twice, I've enjoyed very little fast food, and I've pulled my sweet tooth. Uh, I didn't literally have a tooth extracted - I just mean that I've stopped eating sweets each day.

I've been very strict about following the daily Good Health Guidelines from WW. I drink enough water (6), I consume enough fruit/vegetable servings (5), I drink enough non-fat milk (2), I consume enough healthy oil (2 teaspoons), and I take my multi-vitamin every single day. I weigh or measure everything I eat and I weigh or measure while I'm cooking meals so I can correctly calculate the Points value per serving. Though I skipped tracking for the last three days because I was hosting a big celebration, I had been keeping a meticulous food journal and I started tracking again today.

Thanks to my efforts, I've lost just over 20 pounds. Actually, I lost it in the first four weeks and I've been hovering at just about the same weight for the last four weeks. I know the program works and I'm not tempted to blow it off because the scale is stuck. If I somewhat work the program, it will somewhat work. If I really work the program, it will really work!

The number on the scale isn't a great motivator to me though. The scale can reflect a different number from one hour to the next. Plenty of things can influence the scale upward or downward: sodium, fiber, fluid retention, hormones, toileting, inflammation, etc. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather lose weight than gain it, but I'm disgusted to report that I don't even notice this 20 pound weight loss and all that tells me is that I have a lot more weight to lose. That depresses the sh*t out of me. Who in the heck doesn't notice when they've lost 20 friggin' pounds?! Fat people. :(

I do feel motivated, however, by my measurements. I have lost several inches in the last two months: 1" off each arm, 2" off my chest, 5.5" off my waist, 4" off my hips, and 3.5" off my thighs. That kind of progress makes me excited because it's a number that I can see and trust.

My husband has also been following Weight Watchers since I'm on the program. I don't know how much he's lost, but I can tell that he has dropped some pounds. An added benefit is that his snoring isn't quite so obnoxious and I've been sleeping pretty well for a couple of weeks now.

I like that we are modeling healthy eating behavior to our son. Since starting WW, we don't eat junk food and we haven't been overeating at meals. I want him to grow up and think it's perfectly normal to snack on fresh carrots, celery sticks, and fruit. I want chips, cookies, and snack crackers to be the exception rather than the rule.

I like that we are eating a very healthy diet because that means that our son has been eating a very healthy diet. He eats whatever we eat so he has been getting plenty of fruit, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains. We still eat stuff like french fries & burgers, but it is rare.

I like that we are taking responsibility for our son's diet. Would it be easier to just feed him standard toddler-fare like chicken nuggets, tater tots, processed meals, cookies, and crackers? Sure! But I know that's not the healthiest choice for my boy. Again, this doesn't meant that he doesn't eat stuff like that because he sure does. It just isn't the cornerstone of his daily diet.

I think it's pretty cute that my son wanted my carrots instead of his Goldfish crackers at snacktime this afternoon. Who says that parents aren't the best role models for their children?

I didn't gain this weight overnight and I know that it won't come off overnight. After two months, I am pleased with my progress. I'm eager to see what the next couple of months will bring!

Three Tasty Recipes

I can't recall if I mentioned it or not, but I have lost nearly 15 pounds. In honor of my success, I thought I'd share some recipes that I've come up with in the last three weeks.

Veggie "Stir-Fry"
2 Tb olive oil
2 cups onion, sliced in thin strips
1 cup carrot, julienned
1 cup red bell pepper, sliced in thin strips
1 Tb water
4 Tb soy sauce, divided
4 cups broccoli florets
5 cups mushrooms, sliced
6 cups spinach, chopped (the leafy green parts of bok choy or napa cabbage work well in this too)
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tsp fresh ginger puree

Add oil, onion, and carrots to pan. Cook until onion starts to soften, add red bell pepper. Cook until carrots are somewhat soft. Using slotted spoon, remove vegetables from pan and place in a covered container so that they can steam a little bit. Add water, 1 Tb soy sauce, and broccoli to pan. Cover, allowing the broccoli to steam. Using slotted spoon, remove broccoli from pan when it is tender and add to the covered container with the other cooked vegetables. Add remaining 3 Tb of soy sauce, mushrooms, and spinach (or other greens) to pan. Turn heat to high and toss mushrooms & spinach well. After the spinach & mushrooms have reduced by nearly half, add garlic & ginger to pan. When mushrooms are tender, add all of the cooked vegetables back to the pan and toss well with a sprinkling of crushed red pepper flakes.


Ground Beef "Stir-Fry"
1 lb. 4% ground beef
2 Tb olive oil, divided
4 Tb soy sauce, divided
1 medium onion, sliced in thin strips
1 cup red bell pepper, sliced in thin strips
2 cups shredded carrots
1 Tb water
2 cups broccoli florets
4 cups spinach, chopped (the leafy green parts of bok choy or napa cabbage work well in this too)
3 garlic cloves, pressed
1 tsp fresh ginger puree

Brown ground beef in pan until no longer pink. Drain grease off meat - there won't be very much. Add 1 Tb olive oil, 1 Tb soy sauce, onion, and red bell pepper to pan. When onion softens, add shredded carrots. Cook until red bell pepper is somewhat soft. Using slotted spoon, remove from pan to a covered container so they can steam a little bit. Add 1 Tb soy sauce, water, and broccoli to pan. Using slotted spoon, remove from pan to covered container when broccoli is tender. Add remaining olive oil, soy sauce, and spinach to pan. When spinach has reduced by half, add garlic & ginger. When garlic is fragrant, add meat and other vegetables back to the pan and toss well with a sprinkling of crushed red pepper flakes.


Pasta Sauce (a chunky-textured sauce for whole wheat pasta, of course!)
1 lb 4% ground beef
2 Tb olive oil
1 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1 1/2 cups onion, chopped
2 cups zucchini, sliced as rounds
1 head of garlic, minced or pressed
2 cups shredded carrots
2 cans diced tomatoes
4 cups spinach, chopped
3/4 can of water
Seasonings: oregano, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes

Brown ground beef in pan until no longer pink. Drain grease off meat - there won't be very much. Add olive oil, red bell pepper, and onion to pan and cook until onion softens. Add zucchini and cook a few minutes longer. Add garlic and carrots and cook for a couple more minutes. Add tomatoes, spinach, water, and seasonings. Turn heat to high and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 30 minutes or so.

Making Progress on My Journey

I did something this morning that I haven't done in ages. No, not that - you perverts. I worked out on a Saturday morning.

Even back when I was the Cardio Queen, I NEVER went to the gym on a Saturday morning. I would go in the afternoon, but never in the morning. I've always enjoyed sleeping in on the weekends and, more often than not, I was drinking on Friday evening and didn't have the energy to work up a sweat come sunrise.

Since I'm not drinking at all this month, I decided that I had no reason not to squeeze in some activity before my little tater tot woke up. Besides, I was attending an Easter Egg Hunt/Potluck in the afternoon and I knew that I'd have an easier time facing temptation if my appetite was dulled from some aerobic activity. I was aiming for 30 minutes, but I ultimately rode the LifeCycle for 45 minutes before I called it quits.

I'm fairly critical when it comes to exercise because I know how hard I used to work my body. In some ways, I feel that I shouldn't be too proud over doing 45 minutes because I used to do 90 minutes of cardio and I never did less than 60 minutes.

But that was then and this is now. I had trouble doing just 20 minutes on Tuesday (on Level 1 and Level 2) and I made it through 45 minutes (30 on Level 2 and 15 on Level 3) today. That is progress and that does make me feel proud.

Best of all, I remembered why I used to love exercise. At about minute 19, I felt it. That high-flying feeling you can only get by doing some moderate-to-intense aerobic activity. It's exhilarating and it's a big reason why I enjoyed working out. I began to smile and punched the air for a few minutes before raising them over my head in some sort of mental victory. My face was flushed and my eyes were lively. My skin glowed and I tingled from my head to my toes. It was almost as good as an orgasm except my panties weren't soaked from anything besides my sweat. That warm feeling remained long after I showered.

I used to feel a real joy of movement and I suppose I had missed moving my body. Once I experienced that awesome and long-forgotten feeling, I knew that I will be able to embrace activity once again. Sure, it will take some time to work up to 60 minutes and even longer to work up to 90 minutes. But I can do 45 minutes today and I will do 45 minutes tomorrow.

Thanks to the aerobic appetite suppression, I was able to resist unhealthy choices that would have tripped me up at the potluck this afternoon. Macaroni & cheese, cocktail meatballs, and potato dishes surely would have been my downfall. Instead, I chose to enjoy a hamburger patty, a lot of raw veggies (that was my contribution!), and some fresh fruit. I did decide to have a sliver of homemade chocolate cake and a 1/2 cup serving of homemade banana pudding. I reasoned that I would use my dinner points on dessert at the potluck because I knew that I wouldn't eat supper tonight since the potluck was in the late afternoon.

I've faced quite a bit of temptation in the last two days. I went to John's Incredible Pizza for lunch yesterday and I had the potluck today. I feel that I handled both situations very well. I budgeted my points with these events in mind and I made great choices along the way. Add in the activity and I think I'm definitely making solid progress on my weight loss journey.

A Party Girl Confronts Her Past

In addition to this being Day 3 of my weight loss journey, it is also the third day that I am abstaining from alcohol. I plan to avoid booze for at least 30 days to get this weight loss started the right way. Since I've made it forbidden, I'm naturally jonesing for a drink to wind down.

I don't hide the fact that I like to drink. I really, really, really like it. I like wine, champagne, sparkling wine (no, it is not the same as champagne), light beer, vodka, tequila, and the occasional glass of whiskey or bourbon. If I didn't have my son to look after, I would probably drink every day.

I can't say when this love of liquor developed. I was born in the 70s and, prenatal care being what it was, my mother drank a little when she was pregnant. And when she was nursing. Alcoholism runs in my family, perhaps the taste for booze is buried somewhere in my genes. I got drunk for the first time at the wedding of my mother & father when I was six-years old. Can you imagine? A drunk six-year old. Of course, the next morning I was a hungover six-year old and everyone put together why I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to party with the adults. No, no one was serving me Stingers. I had simply asked for a cup of punch, champagne punch, from every guest. Everyone figured that one cup couldn't hurt and gave it to me. Looking back, I wonder if anyone else even had a sip of that delectable nectar.

I generally hate pack-rattery, but one benefit is that you run across all sorts of useful stuff. I ran across four 12-week food journals that I kept when I initially was on Weight Watchers. I lost just over 30 pounds when I was on the program, so I eagerly perused my journals to see if I could gain any insight to my weight loss.

Talk about an eye-opener!

I discovered that I abstained from alcohol during only one week out of the 48-weeks I tracked. One week out of 48! Another week I only consumed two vodka tonics in the entire week. Sounds pretty good, right? Wrong. Those were the only two weeks that I didn't drink like a fish. Let that sink in. I enjoyed a modest amount of alcohol in only two weeks out of 48.

One week I consumed nine total drinks, a mix of wine, beer, and liquor. And I wrote, "Awesome," next to the tally. That's more than one drink a day and I hardly think it's awesome today. And it gets much, much worse. One week I consumed a total of two bottles of wine (that's bottles, as in five glasses are found in a bottle), 2 beers, and 2 "diet" margaritas. You know, is the diet really that important to you when you are drinking BOTTLES of wine?! I wrote, "Good Job," next to that one. Really, MrsHashBrown, that's a good job? WTF would be a bad job? Well, I soon found out!

I figured that the absolute worst week would have been when we were out of town or at a Jimmy Buffett concert or something. Nope. It was just a random week as far as I can tell. A week that I consumed 41 alcoholic beverages. Forty-one! That's like having six freaking alcoholic beverages every single day of the week. I had the good taste to write, "Not Good," next to that one. No kidding.

The really crazy thing is that on binge-drinking days I would horde my daily points by eating a lot of vegetables. Some days I damn-near drank all of my points. And, yet, I somehow still lost weight. Oddly enough, my weight losses and gains do not appear to correlate with my alcohol consumption. I think that it was only my dedication to exercise that allowed me to lose any weight at all. Frankly, I'm not surprised that I never hit my goal weight with that kind of piss-poor dedication to the program.

I knew I was a pathetic, falling-down drunk when I was married to my ex-husband. I was miserable and just wanted to drink myself into oblivion when I was married to him. But I had no idea that I was still drinking so much after I married my husband. I'm wild about my husband, why do I still need to drink so freaking much?

I'm amazed that one person can drink so much and still have the ability to track their drinks. I'm amazed that I lost any weight at all. After reading the booze consumption on some days, I'm amazed that I have never had alcohol poisoning. Seriously, I think I could drink damn-near anyone under the table back then. Talk about a party girl!

Now, I haven't been drinking so heavily in recent times because I have a little boy to look after and he wants his love & care whether Mama has a hangover or not. But it is scary to me to read just how over-the-edge I was. And it's impossibly easy to go from one drink to two drinks to three drinks to out of control.

I think it's a very good idea that I lay off the liquor this time around. Hopefully my dedication will yield the results I'm seeking.

Day 2 - Overcoming Hurdles

I dragged my old bones out of bed at 6:39 this morning so that I could squeeze in a workout before my kiddo woke up. I didn't want to get up and exercise, particularly when my husband told me it was time to wake up, but I told a friend I would and I didn't want to let her down. Being accountable is tremendously motivating.

So I started the morning with a workout. It was the weakest workout I've ever done, but I did it and I'm proud that I made the effort. Sure, I was queasy and had the shakes by the time I was done, but I felt pretty good about a half-hour after I finished.

My kiddo was still sleeping, so I took advantage of the time to plan my day's meals. I even measured out my breakfast and first snack and wrote them in my food journal. Then my son woke up and we had to hustle out the door to make it to pre-pre-school on time.

There is a snack break at about the mid-point of my son's class. I had packed his snack and my snack before running out the door this morning. My snack, per my food journal, consisted of pineapple and celery sticks. His snack consisted of string cheese, Cheerios, raisins, and a Nutri-Grain bar. Yes, I know he eats a lot, but somehow he is always on the light side of the pediatrician's charts. I think he has a hollow leg. . .

Anyway, my son took one bite of his string cheese and told it, "bye-bye," signifying that he was finished with it and he moved on to his Cheerios. I casually picked up the cheese and brought it to my mouth - and then I stopped. I hadn't written down string cheese in my food journal. I didn't know if I would have the points to waste on string cheese after eating lunch, dinner, and snacks. So I threw the cheese in the trash.

I'm a little bummed out that I'm already facing hurdles, but I feel proud that I handled it the right way. Day 2 was a good day and I hope to say the same about Day 3!

Day 1 - So Far, So Good

Today is the first day of my lifestyle change. I woke up this morning and jumped on the scale for my initial weigh-in. It was worse, much worse, than I expected. I was in shock for at least an hour and I'm still reeling from the digital numbers that glared at me this morning. Okay, more like I was glaring at the digital numbers on the scale.

I weigh more now than I did the day I delivered my son. And I don't have the whole 39-weeks pregnant excuse. I can't even say it's "babyweight" because I lost all 27 pounds of it in short order. No, I gained "toddlerweight" - well over 30 pounds of freaking weight. I could just kick myself, but I'm too fat to make the effort. Of course, my ass has grown so big that it probably wouldn't take much effort at all!

But okay. Dwelling on it or being pissed about it isn't going to make anything any different. I had to know what I'm working with here. Now I know where I'm starting from and I'm working my plan.

The best tool for weight loss for me has always been tracking. Not just tracking, but accurate tracking. Every Bite. Every Taste. Every Lick. If it goes in my mouth, it gets tracked in my food journal. Well, not everything - you perverts!

To help with my tracking, I have been using measuring cups and measuring spoons all day. A drink of milk in the morning - measured it. Salad dressing with my lunch - measured it. A few bits of pineapple in-between a snack and a meal - measured that too. And I will have to do so for many weeks and months to come because I am no longer accurate when eyeballing a serving size.

I've discovered a few things today. More accurately, I've re-discovered a few things today.

- A Tablespoon of salad dressing is plenty for 2 cups of greens if you don't like your salad to look like soup.

- A 1/4 cup of avocado is much smaller than I remembered.

- One cup of fruit will make you feel stuffed. For about an hour.

I tracked all day and didn't even taste the meals I prepared this morning - that was harder than I expected! I've also had a headache all day. No doubt because my body is craving fat, salt, and sugar - three things that aren't really helpful for weight loss and most likely helped contribute to the weight gain. Thanks to the persistent headache, the most activity I could handle (besides chasing around my son) was picking fruit for about 30 minutes.

The journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step. I took that first step today. Day 1 is down and I stayed within my daily points target so I consider it a success.

Preparing for Weight Loss

Yesterday, I shared how I gained back nearly all of my pregnancy weight, now I'm going to share how I'm preparing to lose it.


- I have told my friends and family that I am going to be embarking on a weight loss journey. My husband is even on-board to lose some weight of his own. I know that I will be better able to succeed if I have the support and encouragement of friends and family. Also, it helps keep me accountable.

- I have tucked away or thrown away my "trigger foods." Trigger foods are those which you consistently overeat/overdrink. That means wine is going in the fridge in the laundry room rather than the fridge in the kitchen. It also means that I do not have a single potato chip or chocolate bar in my house. I do have crackers, but they are for my son. . .I will really have to stop myself from taking his snacks because I like them too. My husband tends to eat a lot of peanuts and I specifically did not pick up any today at the store.

- I have started reading nutritional labels and calculating the Weight Watchers Point value prior to purchasing any foodstuffs. I have started writing the Point value on foods that we already have in the house.

- I have purchased high-fiber, low-fat bread and tortillas. I don't eat these things often, but my husband does and I want to help encourage his success.

- I have purchased plenty of fresh and frozen produce. I have already made up my first batch of WW zero point soup. It would taste better with a bit of beef, but it's plenty satisfying if we're craving a snack.

- I have mixed up my favorite low-fat ranch salad dressing because I'm far more likely to enjoy eating a green salad if I like the dressing. I tried making the dressing non-fat, but it was terrible, so low-fat it is.

- I have purchased non-fat dairy - milk, sour cream (for dips), cottage cheese. My husband actually just walked in the door with another gallon of non-fat milk. . .I am officially overrun with non-fat dairy.

- I have purchased a new pair of athletic shoes. No, I will not be running right away, but I will begin doing something active each day. It may be as simple as walking my kiddo to the park and chasing him around in the grass, but it's a start and I have to take this one day at a time.

- I have dug out my measuring cups, measuring spoons, and food journals. I am prepared to begin weighing, measuring, and tracking my daily food intake.

- I have read through my old Weight Watchers materials to re-familiarize myself with the program. I kind of feel that I don't have to pay for the program since I already know the program, but I've told two people that I would join with them.


I think I'm prepared to begin my journey. Let me know if you think I'm missing anything that I'll need to help ensure my success. Wish me luck!

How I Gained the Weight

I'm starting Weight Watchers again in one week. It's not that I particularly want to, it's more like I need to at this point. I haven't truly worked out in ages. Though I have indulged in unhealthy foods, more often than not, I have overindulged in perfectly healthy foods. Instead of only having a glass of wine every now and then, I've enjoyed a few glasses of wine a few nights per week. I know how to lose and maintain weight, but I chose to ignore that knowledge. And it just kills me that I willfully did this to myself.

It wasn't always this way. I used to go to the gym five days each week and thought nothing of doing 90-minutes of cardio on the elliptical, stair climber (that big escalator-looking machine), or the bike. And by 90-minutes of cardio, I don't mean I was chatting with friends - I was seriously working out. I wasn't big on using weights (typical woman, right?), but I did muscle-building workouts every now and then. I walked the dog most days of the week. I enjoyed a healthy and delicious diet. I wasn't at my goal weight, but I was within ten pounds of it. Then I finally got pregnant.

I had been trying for nine or ten months to get pregnant and was so excited. I stopped my workouts and didn't work out once while pregnant (pregnancy exhaustion is a real bitch), but I remained very mindful of my diet. Unfortunately, I developed a love of bacon. . .something I'd eaten only a handful of times in my life. I was disciplined and allowed myself one bacon & egg sandwich each week - see what I mean about being mindful of my diet? Thanks to my efforts, I gained a respectable 27 pounds.

By my six-week post-partum check-up, I had lost all but a few of those pregnancy pounds. By eight-weeks, I weighed just a little less than before I conceived. In fact, I wore a sexy swimsuit to a pool party when my son was eight-weeks old and I looked better than I ever have before. You know, those super-impressive nursing DDs. I really miss having nursing boobs. . .

So what happened? Well, for the first time in my life, I developed a sweet tooth. I don't mean that I liked candy, I've always liked candy, but I NEEDED candy. I didn't need a piece of candy every now and then, or even every day - I needed several pieces of candy each and every day. But I still didn't gain weight because I was exclusively breastfeeding and producing milk takes between 300 and 500 calories each day. My son never took even an ounce of formula because I produced so much milk and that milk production kept me from gaining weight even though I had an impossible to satisfy sweet tooth.

At around five months, my son had his first taste of anything besides my milk. On the advice of his pediatrician, I started letting my son have solids to stop his near-constant spitting up. Though I wanted to exclusively breastfeed until my son was at least six-months old, I followed the pediatrician's advice - which didn't work anyway. Grrr! I have identified that that's when I started gaining weight. Double Grrr!!

Anyone who knows how breastfeeding works knows exactly why my weight started creeping up at that point. For everyone else, here's a quick explanation: Your body tailors it's milk production based on how much your baby eats. If your baby nurses often, you'll make more milk. If your baby only nurses a few times each day or doesn't adequately drain your breasts, you'll make less milk. Anytime your baby eats anything other than at your breasts (formula, solids, even your own pumped milk), it is a missed feeding and your body will decrease it's milk supply unless you pump. Since my son started eating a small feeding of solids, that was a nursing session that he was missing and my body began to decrease it's milk supply at that point. My body no longer needed the full 300 to 500 extra calories because I was no longer nursing exclusively. However, I didn't cut back the calories I was consuming and the weight began creeping up.

By the time I fully weaned my son, a little over one-year of age, I had gained back between 10 and 15 pounds. Why didn't I join Weight Watchers then and nip this in the bud? I really can't say, but I sure wish that I had!

My son will be two in a couple of months. I can no longer claim to be "pleasantly plump" because I have grown quite fat. I'm embarrassed to admit that I weigh just shy of what I did on the day he was born. So there it is. I need to lose 45 pounds to be at my goal weight. Really, I should aim for 50 pounds so I can be below goal with a five-pound cushion - you Weight Watcher members know what I'm talking about!


My next installment will be about how I've been Preparing for Weight Loss. . .assuming nothing else grinds my gears in the meantime! Family Guy reference for you animation domination fans out there!