week six - need a fix

Ladies-

First of all - sorry for the one post in two weeks situation - family here last weekend and this, so I'm doing what I can with the little time I have. Second...........SERIOUSLY!!?? Why is this getting so tough all the sudden? I'm having a hard time tracking my food which means I'm not aware of where I'm at come afternoon and I'm just making the wrong choices. I read this article that was really discouraging in Readers Digest (picture to the right is where I read magazines....picture a toilet for where Justin reads magazines). Here's a snippet of the major points......
http://www.rd.com/health/how-to-limit-your-carbs-and-lose-weight/
There was much more than this and too much of it hit home for me. When this guy was going off about how sweet things, and "easy to digest carbs" were the enemy, I felt like he was telling me I had an ugly baby. How can you say those things about my true love...POTATO'S! Not to mention your unkind words about rice, and one of my super essentials, BREAD! You guys know how I get down with a lovely loaf of gorgeous white artisan bread. Trying to imagine living my life without these loves is really putting me into a discouraged funk. HELP! I need new energy - I need some pep talking, get out of the pantry and back into your favorite pants help. Anyone have any ideas?? I did find a recipe that is really good and has super low calories so that's something, although, it's sweet. To me, sugar is almost a synonym for happiness. All things smiling and lovely and full of joy, that stuff and sugar just can't exist without one another in my world. Maybe I'm revealing my true problem here, but do you feel me people? I'm off the motivation box and asking for someone else to get up on there and tell me how to get out of my funk.

Here's that recipe lovies-

Whole Wheat Blueberry Banana Bran Muffins

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (I subbed 1/4 for ground flax)
1 cup Bran Cereal (I used wheat bran)
1/4 cup buttermilk (add more if needed)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3)
2 eggs
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

(I added about a Tablespoon of molasses to make it nice and dark)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 9 X 5-inch loaf pan with Cooking Spray or a muffin pan.

In large bowl, stir together flour, cereal, sugar and baking soda.

In another bowl whisk together banana, eggs and oil. Using wooden spoon, stir banana mixture into flour mixture. Do not over mix. Stir in blueberries. Spoon into prepared loaf pan or muffin pan.

Bake in centre of oven for 50 to 55 minutes for a loaf and 20 min for muffins or until tester inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes.

So for tips this week - I need your comments. The only ones I've been successful with are workout stuff, I can tell I'm stronger but I'm still stuck at

151

and I feel like I'm putting muscle under fat because I'm doing a lot of weight training mixed in with my cardio. What do you think party people? I would love your comments and feedback because my Mommy comes to town today and I'm worried about the food fest that will likely accompany that visit.

Give me your best cheer team!

4 weeks in - feeling thin??

Hey hot babes!

Sorry for the tardy post - I had some craziness going on this weekend.....let me elaborate. I had a dream fantasy going on this weekend. Our superstar weight loss club member Stacy came down from Portland and stole me from my day to day to have a girls weekend of luxury! Seriously one of the most generous birthday gifts ever known! We stayed a this unbelievable hotel in Del Mar. And after a workout (we are committed people!) We had an unbelievable day with delicious/healthy food (minus a few bites of Cory's chocolate chocoloate doughnut - just keep those things away from me!) and a full body massage at this INCREDIBLE spa called "Bergamont" plus a super luxy pedicure. It was a dream day.

I'm still losing even though the week started with me and Afton sick. My weight this week was straight up -

151

It's a little frustrating that I'm not losing faster, but I only have 5 lbs or so to loose verses last year when I had more like 25 to loose. I got a little lazy about my food tracking this week and that for sure hurts my progress. The more on top of food tracking I am, the better I do with my eating. Whether you're on Weight Watchers or not - tracking your food makes a huge difference just in terms of being aware of what and how much you eat.

Tips-

Farrah had some really interesting stuff to share with us that she found. Check it out - there's a lot of helpful information in here, all compliments of our amazing and endlessly motivated Farrah!!:

• This is why you're fat- Article on Breakfasts: http://www.gourmetfury.com/2011/01/wendys-arbys-mark-bittman-quits-bon-appetit-ad-campaign-bite-me/
  And Melody Fury's food blog video- attack on Kraft! Evil! Evil! Evil! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA7mvlL4hOI&feature=player_embedded#
• Booty Moves for me & Whoolia:
  For the pilates loving hip-hop in us all
  http://www.self.com/fitness/blogs/freshfitnesstips/2011/02/your-best-butt-move-booty-barr.html
• This made me think of a few things Amy has said and a few others have mentioned in their comments.
  http://www.self.com/health/blogs/healthyself/2010/08/the-pleasure-diet-mindful-eati.html
  I believe finding activities and foods we enjoy that are also healthy for us and focusing on what we can give ourselves and recognizing those things as treats/rewards/hobbies vs punishing ourselves for what we can't have/do/eat is a much healthier, positive mindset that can take us the distance to reaching our goals and enjoying ourselves along the way!

I want to share a really delicious recipe with you girls that is actually really low cal - only about 2 1/2 WW points per slice. It's kind of a pain to make, but in my opinion worth it to have a totally decadent tasting rich, chocolaty dessert without loads of guilt.

Cheryll May Chocolate Pie

(my mom uses a normal pie crust, but for calorie purposes - I use the following)

Graham Cracker Crust -

Ingredients -
1 1/2 C ground low-fat graham cracker crumbs
1/4 C white sugar (recipe calls for 1/3 so I go 1/4 and also use one packet of Splenda)
4 Tbs butter (recipe calls for 6, but I find 4 is sufficient)
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix graham cracker crumbs sugar, melted butter and cinnamon until well blended - press into 8 or 9 inch pie plate.

Bake at 375 for 7-8 minutes - let cool.

Mommy's Pie -

Ingredients -
3 egg whites
3 T corn starch
3 C skim milk
1 C cocoa
3/4 C sugar
1 T vanilla

Whip egg whites with a mixer till they are white and foamy but not stiff. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl whip together 1 C milk, 1 C cocoa and 3 T corn starch till it looks sort of like thick cake batter.
On the stove in a thick bottomed pot, mix 2 C milk with the sugar and stir constantly on fairly high heat until mixture boils and bubbles up to the top of the pot. Remove from the stove, fold in the chocolate mixture. Place back on stove under medium heat stirring constantly for longer than you think is necessary - till mixture boils, then time the boiling for 2 minutes. Be sure you stir constantly and keep the stove from getting too hot or it will burn your pudding at the bottom of the pot. After the 2 minutes remove from the stove then remix the egg whites till they look like meringe, but not quite that stiff. Then place a cup of the pudding mixture into the egg whites and mix with a mixer or whisk. Next put the egg/pudding mixture into the pot with the rest of the pudding. On very low heat stir for 2 minutes. Add the vanilla very last - mix it all in and pour into pie shell. Takes about 2-3 hours to set up. Serve with cool-whip lite and you have a super low calorie delicious treat. (and LOTS of dishes to wash - sorry, told you it was a pain).

Okay, one more recipe that we eat all the time - it's not crazy low cal, but it's super reasonable because it's ground turkey instead of beef. I serve with a basic coleslaw recipe that I use skim milk and substitute some of the sugar with splenda. Also- put it on a mulitgrain sandwich thin. These things are amazing- they have zero points value on WW because they have so much fiber and so few calories.

Tyler's Ultimate Sloppy Joe's

Ingredients

• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground turkey
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups ketchup
• 1/4 cup yellow mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 12 parker house rolls
• Homemade Bread and Butter Pickles, recipe follows

Directions

Set a heavy-based pot over medium-high heat and add a 3-count of olive oil. Add onions and saute for 2 to 3 minutes until translucent. Add ground turkey, season well with salt and pepper and brown well all over, breaking it up with a wooden spoon - about 7 to 10 minutes. Add ketchup, mustard, cayenne, brown sugar and tomato paste. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes. Finish with a splash of red wine vinegar and season it once more before serving on parker rolls


That's all I got for right now. I'm so excited to hear how you girls are doing. Anyone struggling out there? Remember you can always re-start your program tomorrow - just get back on track. Tell us your triumphs and tragedies as you challenge yourself to look and feel better in 2011~ !! I will be looking forward to your comments ladies!