New motivation...

Hope you both had a happy 4th. I did, but I can’t say that I am too happy with the food choices I made. I went to MS as you know and ended up gaining back the 2 lbs I had lost the week before. I went back to counting calories yesterday though and I was able to lose one of them. I had a good weekend. Now that I’m single, I’ve been going out more and that has motivated me to keep up with the program. I mean, how am I gonna find the man of my dreams if I hate the way I look??? A friend of mine lives about 4 hours away and has someone she wants me to meet… supposedly we are perfect for each other. She wants me to come visit her and meet him. So I’m planning to go at the end of August… now that’s some motivation. I have about 6 weeks to lose 20 pounds. I think I can do it…no, wait… I KNOW I can do it. I’m not really in the market right now for Mr. Right, but I wouldn’t mind meeting a few nice guys. Anyway, hope you losers have a great week.

B - Yogurt 100/2

L - Lean Cuisine 150/3

S - Cobbler 170/3

S - 2 Mini Reeses 118/3

Traci's Daily Intake - Wednesday

B - Coffee - 39/1
B - 1.5 cups of Fresh Cherries - 110/1
S - Trail Mix - 180/4
L - Lean Cuisine - 330/7
S - WW Cobbler - 170/3
D - Chicken Breast with sauce 190/4
D - Whole Wheat Toast with RF Butter - 75/2
S - 10 Pringles - 85/3
S - Hostess 100 Calorie Snack Cakes w/ 1/2c Chocolate Ice Cream - 200/3 (low points because the fiber in the snack cake is high)


Total Calories: 1379/1300
Total Points: 28/28
Total Water: 56oz
Total Exercise: walked 2 miles

BTW, as for posting my daily intake... hopefully you guys don't mind. It's really more for me than anything... you all probably don't care to see exactly what I'm eating everyday. :)

Weigh-In Wednesday: Traci

I know I just posted my weight yesterday, but I figured I would do it again today for weigh-in Wednesday....


Down 1 lb for the week, total of 11 lbs

Weigh-In Wednesday: Tiffany

Well here it is my first Weigh-In Wednesday for the new year...funny since it is already JUNE!! (Really almost July!) So needless to say I have done enough slacking off for the year so it is time to get back on the wagon. I officially started this "new" weight loss program 2 weeks ago. In that time I have lost:

I actually cheated and on Friday weighed in and I was down 6.5 lbs. So since Friday I have lost but gained .5 back. Truthfully, I haven't drank enough water since Friday and haven't eaten that great so I am lucky (and probably because I am actually exercising) that I did not gain more than 1/2 pound back! All in all, I am okay with the loss. I had hoped to be up to 10 pounds by now but I will take 6! My goal for my next Weigh In Wednesday is 2 lbs...I would love for it to be 4 (and if it is great!) but I am trying to take baby steps. I am afraid if I set my "goal" too high that I will end up being disappointed if I don't come close!

You girls are doing great!! Let's Keep Up The Good Work!!

Another Loser

OK. So, I started June 4th and was 200lbs, as of today 190lbs. My goal is 130 lbs. I am basically counting calories and exercising 6 days a week. I try to only take in 1000-1100 cals a day. I find when I get hungry in between meals I snack on watermelon, cucumbers sliced with salt and pepper, and grapes that I freeze. That usually does the fix and it is nice and cool, since we are in the HOT summer. Also, on one of the days during the weekend I grill a bunch of boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, along with veggies, such as squash, cherry tomatoes, onions and bell peppers. It is a healthy lunch or dinner. I keep it in the fridge and heat up as needed. Keep up the good work girls!

Traci's Daily Intake - Tuesday

B - Activia Yogurt 70/1
B - Coffee with Creamer & 2 Sweet and Low 39/1
S - Beef Jerky 75/2
L - Smart One 180/3
L - Salad with Light Dressing 50/1
S - WW Cobbler 170/3
S - 5 RF Crackers 70/1
S - 2 Slices of smoked ham 32/1
D - Squash sauteed in 1 T Olive Oil (gotta have your 1 serving of good fat) 100/4
D - Chicken Breast with 2 T BBQ Sauce 190/4
S - 1/2 cup Chocolate Ice Cream with 10 Hershey Kissables 155/3

Total Calories - 1131 out of an allowable 1300
Total Points - 24 out of an allowable 27
Total Water - 88oz
Total Exercise - walked 2 miles

My first mini-goal

I want to lose 25 more by my B-day (Sept 8th)...

~Best Friend's Hubby's Deployment~

My bestfriends's husband...who also happens to be my best guy friend ever!..unit deployed. At least we will have each other through this...

Counting Calories vs. Counting Points

As I’ve mentioned I’ve struggled with whether or not I should keep counting points or if I should switch to counting calories. I lost more weight and lost it more quickly when I was counting calories. On WW I’m losing about a pound a week; I lost closer to 2-3 a week when I was counting calories. So, yesterday I tracked both points and calories. When I was counting calories, I was allowing 1200-1300 a day. With WW, I’m allowed 27 points. I ended the day at 1330 calories and only 22 of my allowed points. If I had been counting just points, I would have eaten the 5 additional points that I’m allowed - that would have resulted in about 300 more calories for a total of 1600! I’ve been tracking both today too…so far I’m at 615 calories and only 11 points. I only have 650 calories left, yet I have 16 points left… based on an average of 55 calories per point, I would normally eat another 880 calories. So in light of this, I’m going to go back to counting calories. It’s easier anyway because I don’t have to mess with calculating anything. I think WW works, I mean it’s basically the same concept except you get “credit” for eating more fiber and eating less fat. I guess I could just cut my points back to 22… but I figure why bother when the calorie counting is easier to keep track of. We’ll see what my weight looks like at next week’s weigh-in. I haven’t lost any weight in the last 2 weeks on WW, so I’m setting my target weight loss goal at 3 lbs for next week. Should be interesting considering I’ll be on vacation for 6 of those days. I’m going to have to work really hard to stay on course.

Happy losing!

BTW, starting tonight I will begin posting my daily intake again.

Skinny Dip!!!

HG's Amazing ATE-Layer Dip

(I got this from Hungry-Girl and I was SO excited because I love this kind of dip and I LOVE the idea of putting it on a tortilla! Yummy! I plan to try this in the near future! I will let you know how it goes!!)

Skinny Dip!
We're serious suckers for layers of cheesy, bean-packed, meaty stuff we can dip crisp veggies and baked chips into (yay!). This dip happens to be so delicious, that we've been wrapping it up in high-fiber tortillas and even eating it straight. And why stop at seven measly layers? HG has upped the ante, adding an eighth guilt-free layer to this fun fiesta food. Pay extra close attention to our most valuable layer (sorry, we had to!), spiced mashed butternut squash; it makes the perfect swap for refried beans.

Ingredients:

4 cups shredded lettuce

4 oz. fat-free sour cream

1 cup canned black beans; heated

10 oz. (about 2 and a 1/2 cups) butternut squash cubes

2 cups cherry tomatoes; chopped

1 cup diced onion

4 oz. roasted red peppers (not packed in oil); chopped

1 pouch (4 oz.) BOCA Ground Burger (or another ground meat substitute, like the Morningstar Farms version**)

1 oz. Galaxy Veggie Shreds, Cheddar (or another low-calorie cheddar cheese**)

3 and a 1/2 tsp. taco seasoning

Optional: lime juice, salt, and pepper

Directions:

Begin by combining half of the tomatoes with all of the onion. If desired, season to taste with salt, pepper, and lime juice; set aside. Next, nuke squash in a covered microwave-safe dish with 2 tbsp. water for 6 - 7 minutes (until squash is tender enough to mash). Using a fork or potato masher, mash squash to a pulp. Mix in 1 and a 1/2 tsp. of the taco seasoning and set aside. In a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray, combine Boca Ground Burger, tomatoes and the remaining 2 tsp. of taco seasoning and cook until crumbles are defrosted and mixture is thoroughly heated. In a large dish, layer ingredients in this order: lettuce, butternut squash mixture, tomato/onion mix, sour cream, black beans, "meat" mixture, cheese shreds, red peppers. Delicious served hot or cold! Makes approximately eight 1-cup servings!

Serving Size: 1/8th recipe; approx. 1 cup

Calories: 100

Fat: 1g

Sodium: 400mg

Carbs: 18g

Fiber: 4g

Sugars: 3.5g

Protein: 7g

* 1 Point! (Weight Watchers)

Low Cal Cobbler

This may not sound very good but let me tell you.... it is awesome!! The only bad thing that I can say about this recipe is that it is hard to only eat one serving.

3 Point Fruit Cobbler

16 oz bag of frozen fruit (I've tried blueberries and peaches)

1 Yellow Cake mix (don't use Duncan Hines, it has more calories)

12oz of Fresca

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Layer frozen fruit in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over the fruit. Pour fresca evenly over the cake mix. Do not mix the ingredients! Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

12 servings

1 serving = 3 points or 170 calories

I'm in...

If you're back in, so am I. As you know I've been doing Weight Watchers for about 6 weeks now and I've lost 10 lbs. It's been slow going but at least it's going. I am struggling on the weekends but doing pretty good during the week. There are 2 ladies from work doing it as well. We've decided to quit going to the meetings though. We are going to start weighing in at work each week, so that we can still be held accountable. My mini-goal is to be under 200 by labor day. That's 21 lbs in 10 weeks... That should be no problem if I'll just stick with the program. I've debated on whether or not I should just go back to calorie counting, because I seemed to have lost it quicker then. I was allowing 1200 calories and with WW, I'm getting closer to 1400-1500 calories a day with 28 points. I guess I could push my points back to 24. For the next week, I've decided to do both and see what my calories look like compared to my points. As of today, I will start logging my food too. Glad we are doing this again, it has really helped in the past. Also, if you know anyone else that wants to join, please feel free to offer. The more support the better. By the way, see ya in 6 days!!!!

Long Time No Post...

Well I will make this short and sweet...the hubby has been deployed to Cuba for 6 months. He has already been away from home for almost 2 months prior to his deployment. In the next six (well really 5 now) months I am trying to lose AT LEAST 40 pounds before he returns. (My big goal is 120 pounds.) I am weighing in on Wednesday (just like our old Weigh In Wednesdays). I actually started my diet two weeks ago (on the 13th) so I am going to do my first official weigh in this Wednesday. I will be using this little marker to track my progress!

The frog is kind of .... well Brian's unit's mascot. Most of the guys in the unit have a frog tatoo on their butts! HAHA! That is a story for another day. Anyway, so that is why I chose the frog! I can not wait to see him moving along on his little lily pads! I can't wait until my first official weigh in! Check in on me on Wednesday!!

Playing Catch Up!

Hope everyone is doing well!! Things in my life have been a little crazy lately but I thought I would catch everyone up!!

Brian left to go to Cuba. He won't be home until sometime later in the year. That is what we have been told so as long as things go well he will be back by then! We (Baylee and I) are doing okay for now. We have our moments but all and all we are fine. I guess when you are faced with something you just can't change you have to work with it and move on! Plus, it helps that we are always so busy!! He works 12 hour days so I know he is so tired after working he probably doesn't have time to miss us much! Then on his days off they have stuff to keep them busy (bowling, movies, snorkeling, softball). I do hear from him every couple of days.

In the process I have cleaned out closets and gotten rid of SO much junk! I am telling you we had SOOOO much stuff that I was like, "Why did I even keep this?" I still have a ways to go but I really have made a big dent. I feel so much better knowing things are more organized! It helps me feel more organized all together...even at work!

I joined the local YMCA again! I have GOT to get this extra weight off of me! So many people I know have died (even in their 30's) from heart attacks and I don't want to be one! So I joined the gym and changed my work hours around so myself and a couple of the ladies form work take a longer lunch and go during our lunch hour. I am feeling better already and I just started last Thursday!

My mini-schnauzer Storm was just diaganosed with heart worms. For those of you that are animal lovers you know your animals are like another member of your family. They think we caught it early on so he goes for his first treatment on Wednesday. I don't know what I would do if he didn't make it! Especially while Brian is gone...I know it would really upset him and it would be that much more loss for Baylee right now. I know they can't live forever but this would be a REALLY bad time for something to happen. Plus, he is only 6 years old. So please pray he pulls through!

~The Hubby's Deployment~

Well if you have wondered where I have been...lets just say things have been crazy. I saw they hubby off to Cuba, made some great friends and shed alot of tears! He will be missed and I will be praying for him everyday! Please remember to think about and pray for our ENTIRE military and their families...their sacrifices for our freedom is HUGE!!

A Quick Vent From The Church Member In Me

I just have to vent this...my mom was planning on joining the Church I attend. She won't tell me who but when she mentioned it to another member of the Church apparantely the member had a bad attitude about it. The Church itself is an AWESOME Church and I can only imagine that this particular member whomever she may be must have something against my mom or the devil was working through her. I have noticed something about Churchs though...especially small ones...all to often you do have that group of people that don't want change. You also have the ones that would rather complain about something than do something positive about it. What really got me is now my parents and brother - whom I was really looking forward to joining our Church - have now decided because of what one person said to them not to join the Church. I know not everyone is a Church goer and not everyone can relate but just imagine this was a really important club or organization that you were in and the whole point was to bring people together and do all of the positive things...wouldn't it be wrong for a member of "said organization" to go completely agains what the whole organization is about??

OKAY I AM DONE VENTING!!!

Stop This Ride...I want OOOOFFFF!!!

This morning I compared my life to being locked in the back seat of a car and someone throwing a brick on the gas pedal...and off I go! It seems it has been this way for months. As I said in my previous post my husband's grandfather passed away about 7 weeks ago...Monday night his grandmother passed away. I am torn in my feelings about this. I just keep thinking she is in such a better place but yet I know how much she will be missed here. The only thing that gives me reassurance is she told us last Sunday, "I am in a win/win situation. Either the cancer will be healed or I will be going to heaven to be with Granddaddy."

I am ready for things in my life to start slowing down...and I know it will. I know God never gives us more than we can handle and I am just trying to hold my head high!

We all have our hard times and I know that we will all make it through!

Thyroid!

I have been feeling kind of bad lately...migranes, dizziness, etc. I decided to break down and go to the doctor and check this out. In the process of doing this he told me I have Thyroid problems. His nurse was telling me that after my medicine gets in my system that it really may help my weight loss right along! So here I am again saying I am ONCE AGAIN going to try to lose weight! I figure that maybe JUST MAYBE if I can attempt to eat right, drink water and exercise along with taking my new meds that I will able FINALLY to shed some of this weight! I will keep you updated!!

Life Happens

I know I always come back and PROMISE I will be up and blogging again. I decided this time...no promises! We have been busy and well...times have been hard but things will eventually slow down...I suppose anyway. My cuz and one of my best friends Traci and a friend of mine that recently started a blog Holly...made me want to get back into blogging again. I had started using "My Space" last year...but not really doing alot of blogging. That took up alot of my time but I am kind of over it. I will keep up with alot of people there and check in occasionally but not as often as I had before. All in all ... i miss my blogging time here. I miss my blog friends!!

I am again going to copy something from Traci...I am just going to list what all has happened to me since...well November. I can elaborate on more if you like and I am sure I will eventually but for now I am just playing catch up!

• Thanksgiving - my whole family on my dad's side came to visit and all of us for the most part spent the whole week at my grandmothers. We decided to make this a new tradition. It was so nice...I saw people I haven't seen in years...most importantly my dad! It was so nice...we have a good relationship (in my opinion) it is like we can just pick up where we left off and there is not real akwardness...I was a daddy's girl for sure! :-)
• Christmas - this was kind of a blur to me! We have so much family that it is hard to keep up!! WHEW! All in all it went very well!!
• Baylee had her whole cheerleading team over to the house for a slumber party and they had a blast! Those girls crack me up!
• I got rear-ended on the way to work...the next week my husband got rear-ended on the way to work!
• My husbands grandfather (he was very close to him) got very sick after Christmas and on March 1st went to Heaven.
• A few weeks after this my husband's brother was in a 4-wheeler accident and remains in the hospital today. He is much better than he was but it will take lots of therapy to get back to normal.
• My husbands grandmother (that was married to the grandfather that passed away) is now in the hospital fighting cancer.
• I learned how to say "no more" and walk away.
• I learned that I am stronger than I thought I was.
• I learned you can be nice to someone without them taking away your sense of self worth.
• My washing machine broke.
• My fuel pump went out but now it is fixed! Yeah!
• I am coaching Baylee's softball team and loving it!
• She decided she hates gymnastics and never wants to go back...fine by me.
• Side note to above...I usually don't let her quit things but I didn't feel she was learning anything especially considering what we were paying...plus she really did cry everytime I took her because she hated it...even though she misses her friends that go there.
• I am on the planning committe for my 10 year reunion - I am so excited to see everyone!!
• This is the sad part...my hubby and my best friends hubby will both be deployed this year. We don't know exactly when they will leave but sometime between now and the end of summer...keep them in your thoughts and prayers!!!

So that is all for now...well I am sure there is more but that is all I have time for anyway. I will try to keep update more...but no promises!! Talk to you soon!!