Monday, May 24, 2010
monday morning weigh in
another good week for me!! i am down 2.8, total 36.6! yay me! last night i did my regular loop in the neighborhood and shaved 2 whole minutes off of my pace. that felt great! i am thinking of doing another 5K in early june, hopefully i can keep up with the new pace.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
thursday is tip day
my tip is simple today. if you live in the area, go to washington's green grocer and sign yourself up. you will not be disappointed. if you dont live in the area, find a similar service or a CSA (community supported agriculture) and get a subscription. having a kitchen stocked with fresh seasonal fruits and veggies makes it super easy to make healthy choices. because i had it on hand today i filled my lunch with fresh corn, tomato and basil. yummy!!
Monday, May 17, 2010
monday morning weigh in
good week for me. i was down 4 lbs, bringing the total to 33.8! it just goes to show that when i actually do exercise, it shows on the scale. i am proud of myself this morning.
Friday, May 14, 2010
recipe reviews
eating wells mozzarella-stuffed turkey burgers
yummydeliciouscomfortfoodgoodness! thats a word, right?! seriously though, these were super easy to put together and tasted great. i even grilled them indoors on my grill pan. hubby is not a fan of sundried tomato, but when pureed he was none the wiser. (the tomato is pureed that is, not hubby.) i happen to love sundried tomato, so i am excited to have a way to incorporate them into more dishes. they add a lovely full bodied flavor that makes you feel like you are eating a dish with far more calories. this one gets a 5 out of 5!!
eating wells buttermilk dressing
super easy to put together and a great substitute for full fat varieties of ranch dressing. i did have to go to two stores to find dill seed and started to wonder if maybe it was a typo and they meant dill weed. but alas, i did find dill seed in the spice section at the local safeway. hubby did ask me if the dressing had greek yogurt in it, so i guess he could taste the tang of it. but i dont mind that at all, in fact i think it adds a zest to the dressing. i would give this a 4 out of 5.
cooking lights herb-crusted chicken with feta sauce (recipe below)
this was a crowd pleaser. i did not use whole wheat panko because what i had on hand was regular panko. also, i soaked the chicken in buttermilk before dredging it in the panko. why? because i bought it to make the buttermilk dressing and now i have this big container of it. it did keep the chicken nice and moist and help the panko stick. again, this was a quick meal to put together. i loved the sauce. although the word sauce is a bit of a stretch. its more of a topping i would say - not at all liquidy. which, dont get me wrong, is not a bad thing. feta is good stuff and i loved the combo of mint, feta and lemon. it was very fresh tasting, with a bit of a bite from the feta. next time i might add some diced fresh tomato to the "sauce" as well. this was a 4 out of 5.
ina gartens sauteed broccolini
i was a broccolini virgin until tonight. i do think that this dish will become a part of our regular rotation though. blanching veggies is a little bit of a pain, especially since our ice maker is out of commission right now - but running cold water worked in a pinch. the lemon and garlic were a nice combo and married well with the cl herb-crusted chicken with feta sauce which we had the same night. i used half of the amount of butter called for by ina, and also used light butter. i dont think it had an impact on the taste of the dish at all. 4 out of 5.
cooking lights herb-crusted chicken with feta sauce
reprinted from fresh food fast weeknight meals cookbook
2/3 cup whole wheat panko
2 tblsp italian seasoning
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 tsp olive oil
6 tbsp feta sauce
1. combine panko and seasoning in shallow bowl. sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper; dredge in panko mixture.
2 heat oil in large non-stick skillet over med-high heat. add chicken; cook 5 minutes or until browned. turn chicken over; reduce heat to med., and cook 5 mins or until done. serve 1 breast half with 1 and 1/2 tbsp feta sauce spooned over chicken.
feta sauce
1 lemon
1 tbsp chopped fresh mint
4 tsp extra virgin olive oil
dash black pepper
1 (3.5oz) package of reduced fat feta
grate rind and squeeze juice from lemon to measure 1/2 tsp and 2 tbsp, respectively. combine rind, juice, mint, oil, and pepper in small bowl, stirring with a whisk. add cheese, stir with whisk. yield 7 servings.
yummydeliciouscomfortfoodgoodness! thats a word, right?! seriously though, these were super easy to put together and tasted great. i even grilled them indoors on my grill pan. hubby is not a fan of sundried tomato, but when pureed he was none the wiser. (the tomato is pureed that is, not hubby.) i happen to love sundried tomato, so i am excited to have a way to incorporate them into more dishes. they add a lovely full bodied flavor that makes you feel like you are eating a dish with far more calories. this one gets a 5 out of 5!!
eating wells buttermilk dressing
super easy to put together and a great substitute for full fat varieties of ranch dressing. i did have to go to two stores to find dill seed and started to wonder if maybe it was a typo and they meant dill weed. but alas, i did find dill seed in the spice section at the local safeway. hubby did ask me if the dressing had greek yogurt in it, so i guess he could taste the tang of it. but i dont mind that at all, in fact i think it adds a zest to the dressing. i would give this a 4 out of 5.
cooking lights herb-crusted chicken with feta sauce (recipe below)
this was a crowd pleaser. i did not use whole wheat panko because what i had on hand was regular panko. also, i soaked the chicken in buttermilk before dredging it in the panko. why? because i bought it to make the buttermilk dressing and now i have this big container of it. it did keep the chicken nice and moist and help the panko stick. again, this was a quick meal to put together. i loved the sauce. although the word sauce is a bit of a stretch. its more of a topping i would say - not at all liquidy. which, dont get me wrong, is not a bad thing. feta is good stuff and i loved the combo of mint, feta and lemon. it was very fresh tasting, with a bit of a bite from the feta. next time i might add some diced fresh tomato to the "sauce" as well. this was a 4 out of 5.
ina gartens sauteed broccolini
i was a broccolini virgin until tonight. i do think that this dish will become a part of our regular rotation though. blanching veggies is a little bit of a pain, especially since our ice maker is out of commission right now - but running cold water worked in a pinch. the lemon and garlic were a nice combo and married well with the cl herb-crusted chicken with feta sauce which we had the same night. i used half of the amount of butter called for by ina, and also used light butter. i dont think it had an impact on the taste of the dish at all. 4 out of 5.
cooking lights herb-crusted chicken with feta sauce
reprinted from fresh food fast weeknight meals cookbook
2/3 cup whole wheat panko
2 tblsp italian seasoning
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 tsp olive oil
6 tbsp feta sauce
1. combine panko and seasoning in shallow bowl. sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper; dredge in panko mixture.
2 heat oil in large non-stick skillet over med-high heat. add chicken; cook 5 minutes or until browned. turn chicken over; reduce heat to med., and cook 5 mins or until done. serve 1 breast half with 1 and 1/2 tbsp feta sauce spooned over chicken.
feta sauce
1 lemon
1 tbsp chopped fresh mint
4 tsp extra virgin olive oil
dash black pepper
1 (3.5oz) package of reduced fat feta
grate rind and squeeze juice from lemon to measure 1/2 tsp and 2 tbsp, respectively. combine rind, juice, mint, oil, and pepper in small bowl, stirring with a whisk. add cheese, stir with whisk. yield 7 servings.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
thursday is tip day
do we have any negative self talkers out there? i have been the president of that club myself from time to time. and really, what does all that negative self talk get me? usually a gain on the scale. it certainly never makes me feel better about myself.
this week the ww meeting was all about weight-loss saboteurs and how to handle them. could my husband be more supportive? yes! but in fairness, while he himself admits he could stand to lose a few pounds, he is not in the same position i am in. so for him sitting down to a bowl of full fat ice cream or getting up from just having finished a healthy meal at the dinner table and opening a pack of poptarts doesnt have the same impact it would for me. but all in all, he is supportive of my weight loss efforts. so as i thought about the question posed by my leader about if i had saboteurs in my life, the reality struck that i had to look no further than myself.
later, when i opened up the ww weekly (a pamphlet handed out at each ww meeting) and read this quote from another ww leader it was like a light came on in my head. this leader, donna, said "Avoid self-sabotage: don't even think anything about yourself that you wouldn't say to your best friend." so there you have it, thats my tip for the week, blatantly borrowed from donna, the ww leader.
this week the ww meeting was all about weight-loss saboteurs and how to handle them. could my husband be more supportive? yes! but in fairness, while he himself admits he could stand to lose a few pounds, he is not in the same position i am in. so for him sitting down to a bowl of full fat ice cream or getting up from just having finished a healthy meal at the dinner table and opening a pack of poptarts doesnt have the same impact it would for me. but all in all, he is supportive of my weight loss efforts. so as i thought about the question posed by my leader about if i had saboteurs in my life, the reality struck that i had to look no further than myself.
later, when i opened up the ww weekly (a pamphlet handed out at each ww meeting) and read this quote from another ww leader it was like a light came on in my head. this leader, donna, said "Avoid self-sabotage: don't even think anything about yourself that you wouldn't say to your best friend." so there you have it, thats my tip for the week, blatantly borrowed from donna, the ww leader.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
really?
is this what america needs? KFC has launched a new "legendary" sandwich and i think their advertising is at the very least obnoxious, if not downright offensive. the premise of this double down sandwich is that there is soo much chicken there is not even room for a bun. is this supposed to make the carb conscious think this is a good choice?? well, with 540 calories and 32 grams of fat those carb counters will need to think again. even the grilled option weighs in at 460 calories and 23 grams of fat. even that is not a good choice, unless of course you dont plan on eating much else for the day. for those of you following the ww plan, the legendary fried version tallies up to equal 13 points, while the grilled version saves you 2 whole points with a total points value of 11.
i should note that KFC claims to be giving the unneeded buns to the homeless, which is a good thing. maybe they should be donating the money to the american heart association instead, to help fund research for heart attack risk groups. just a thought.Monday, May 10, 2010
monday morning weigh in
so the thing is, when i dont exercise i dont lose weight. i know this, so i take credit for the .4 increase on the scale this week. my total loss is 29.8. this week i am getting back to basics, tracking my points, moving, moving, moving and planning ahead. lets see what happens next week.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
thursday is tip day
think back to when you were in school and you were seated at your desk, pen and notebook at the ready and in walks the substitute teacher. i dont know about you, but i remember feeling a little giddy. i remember thinking yes, this class is going to be cake today! what if we thought about substitute food that way as well?
who doesnt want to load up on cheesesteaks and fries, triple cheese pizza with extra cheese, spicy ooey gooey enchiladas or whatever your favorite indulgence foods are? the fact is, for me, that too much of those indulgences put me in an unhealthy position. after all, food is supposed to be fuel. did you hear that? food is fuel. so when you get a craving for those indulgence foods, why not find a healthier way to recreate them?
ww has some great e-tools to get you substituting healthier options for old fan favorites. try logging into the e-tools and clicking on "find and explore". you can search for recipes by name or cuisine and find a lighter option for what you enjoy. or you can use the recipe builder to lighten up a favorite recipe. just click on the "lighten up" tab in the recipe builder and play around with your recipe that way. both options are good resources.
alternatively you can check out hungrygirl.com. she has some great substitution recipes. basically her philosophy is all about lightening up the old favorites, including the yummy junk food choices. sign up for her email subscription service and get fun tips and free recipes all week long. hungry girl has a partnership with weight watchers, so its super easy to get the point value on all of their recipes. give them a try.
yesterday was cinco de mayo and i was craving something mexican. enchiladas are an old standby in my house, but my recipe was not very waistband friendly. so i set out to lighten it up. when i sat down to eat, i got that same old feeling as when the substitute teacher walked into the classroom. here is what i came up with...
spicy veggie and chicken enchiladas
8 reduced carb whole wheat flour tortillas (i used trader joes), warm in micro to make it easier to work with them
1 store bought precooked rotisserie chicken, pulled off bone and shredded (again, i used tj's)
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 cup chopped mushrooms
4 cups baby spinach, chopped
1 10-12oz bottle or can of enchilada sauce (tj's is my fav - i know shocker)
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
4 wedges of laughing cow, reduced fat garlic & herb cheese spread
1/2 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar or mexican cheese
optional topping: 1 small container fat free greek yogurt, mixed with your favorite fat free salsa
preheat oven to 375 degrees. spray medium non-stick skillet with cooking spray and saute onions, pepper and mushrooms until softened. add spinach and stir until wilted. add enchilada sauce and bring to boil. let simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring until all veggies are well coated with sauce. prepare casserole dish with cooking spray and add enough sauce to lightly coat the bottom of the dish. spread 1/2 of cheese wedge on tortilla, sprinkle handful of beans and chicken on top of cheese. roll tortilla and place in dish, seam side down. repeat until all tortillas are completed. top tortillas with remaining beans, chicken and sauce. sprinkle with cheese and bake in oven until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 17-20 minutes. let sit for 8-10 minutes before serving. top with yogurt mixture and enjoy. a serving size is 2 tortillas.
who doesnt want to load up on cheesesteaks and fries, triple cheese pizza with extra cheese, spicy ooey gooey enchiladas or whatever your favorite indulgence foods are? the fact is, for me, that too much of those indulgences put me in an unhealthy position. after all, food is supposed to be fuel. did you hear that? food is fuel. so when you get a craving for those indulgence foods, why not find a healthier way to recreate them?
ww has some great e-tools to get you substituting healthier options for old fan favorites. try logging into the e-tools and clicking on "find and explore". you can search for recipes by name or cuisine and find a lighter option for what you enjoy. or you can use the recipe builder to lighten up a favorite recipe. just click on the "lighten up" tab in the recipe builder and play around with your recipe that way. both options are good resources.
alternatively you can check out hungrygirl.com. she has some great substitution recipes. basically her philosophy is all about lightening up the old favorites, including the yummy junk food choices. sign up for her email subscription service and get fun tips and free recipes all week long. hungry girl has a partnership with weight watchers, so its super easy to get the point value on all of their recipes. give them a try.
yesterday was cinco de mayo and i was craving something mexican. enchiladas are an old standby in my house, but my recipe was not very waistband friendly. so i set out to lighten it up. when i sat down to eat, i got that same old feeling as when the substitute teacher walked into the classroom. here is what i came up with...
spicy veggie and chicken enchiladas
8 reduced carb whole wheat flour tortillas (i used trader joes), warm in micro to make it easier to work with them
1 store bought precooked rotisserie chicken, pulled off bone and shredded (again, i used tj's)
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 cup chopped mushrooms
4 cups baby spinach, chopped
1 10-12oz bottle or can of enchilada sauce (tj's is my fav - i know shocker)
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
4 wedges of laughing cow, reduced fat garlic & herb cheese spread
1/2 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar or mexican cheese
optional topping: 1 small container fat free greek yogurt, mixed with your favorite fat free salsa
preheat oven to 375 degrees. spray medium non-stick skillet with cooking spray and saute onions, pepper and mushrooms until softened. add spinach and stir until wilted. add enchilada sauce and bring to boil. let simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring until all veggies are well coated with sauce. prepare casserole dish with cooking spray and add enough sauce to lightly coat the bottom of the dish. spread 1/2 of cheese wedge on tortilla, sprinkle handful of beans and chicken on top of cheese. roll tortilla and place in dish, seam side down. repeat until all tortillas are completed. top tortillas with remaining beans, chicken and sauce. sprinkle with cheese and bake in oven until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 17-20 minutes. let sit for 8-10 minutes before serving. top with yogurt mixture and enjoy. a serving size is 2 tortillas.
Monday, May 3, 2010
monday morning weigh in
this week was a fantastic week for me. its funny though because its been fraught with negative self talk ever since my gain on the scale last week. i do think this week's success was exactly what i needed to get myself back into a positive frame of mind. so here it is, all in one week, i walked my first 5K, got my SAS 16 week charm at ww, and lost 4.2! lbs bringing my total to 30.2 overall. i still have a long way to go, but i feel like i am in a much better place today than this time last week. my ww leader told me this morning that statistically speaking, people who make it to the 16 week mark are 80% more likely to make it to their goal weight. yay me!!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
i ran in a 5K
i am soo proud of myself. today i ran in a 5K!! ok, ok, so i only ran about 50 or so yards over the finish line - bit still! my plan was to walk the whole thing and i am feeling like a rock star for having run even part of it. the 5k was a charity event held to raise donations for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. i have to say, this organization is the real rock star. professional photographers donate their time to come to the hospital and create remembrance photographs for families who suffer a loss of their baby. these photographers come into the lives of the families at what is probably one of the worst times they will ever experience and try to offer them some solace, hope and an heirloom photo of what is lost. this service is entirely free. like i said, rock star status!!
so today i was honored to walk with my good friend heather who walked for own little angel baby, aodin, whom she lost 2 years ago to premature birth. heather is doing the couch to 5k training, and for some reason wanted to cross the finish line running. i confirmed that no one was actually chasing us with loaded weapons, but agreed to run nonetheless. i have to say, finishing as the first walkers, running across the finish line, with the crowd cheering for us felt great.
today was a good day. i ran in a 5K!
so today i was honored to walk with my good friend heather who walked for own little angel baby, aodin, whom she lost 2 years ago to premature birth. heather is doing the couch to 5k training, and for some reason wanted to cross the finish line running. i confirmed that no one was actually chasing us with loaded weapons, but agreed to run nonetheless. i have to say, finishing as the first walkers, running across the finish line, with the crowd cheering for us felt great.
today was a good day. i ran in a 5K!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)