Happy Thanksgiving!

Blessings,

Thankful!

I had my JC consult this morning and am pleased to report that I am down another 1.6 pounds! I wanted to be at 160 for Thanksgiving and I'm just about there - 160.6. Very pleased and motivated to keep on going! I can't wait to get down into the 150's, isn't it funny how those numbers are so depressing when they're going up but fantastic when they're headed down?

What's everyone cooking for Turkey Day? I'd already decided to eat my JC Turkey & Gravy because it is so delicious, I truly don't feel deprived, but will be cooking the traditional dinner for my family. I will have a couple glasses of wine and "volumize" my meal with lots of veggies, and will have a slice of pumpkin pie for dessert. Not the usual 400-calorie pie, though; instead I'll be making this one courtesy of Hungry Girl:

HG's Too-Good-To-Deny Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

For Crust
2 cups Fiber One bran cereal (original)
1/4 cup light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Brummel & Brown); melted & mixed with 1 oz. water
3 tbsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, granulated
1 tsp. cinnamon

For Filling
One 15-oz. can pure pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
One 12-oz. can evaporated fat-free milk
3/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, granulated
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters)
1/4 cup sugar-free maple syrup
1 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. salt
Optional Topping: Fat Free Reddi-wip

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a blender or food processor, grind Fiber One to a breadcrumb-like consistency. Combine crumbs with all other crust ingredients. Stir until mixed well. In an oven-safe 9-inch pie dish sprayed lightly with nonstick spray, evenly distribute mixture, using your hands or a flat utensil to firmly press and form the crust. Press it into the edges and up along the sides of the dish. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients for the filling. Mix well. Pour mixture into pie crust. (Filling may be taller than the crust -- trust us, this is okay!) Bake pie in the oven for 45 minutes, and then remove it and allow to cool. Chill in the fridge for several hours (for best results, chill overnight). Cut into 8 slices, and if you like, top with Reddi-wip before serving! MAKES 8 SERVINGS


Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 133
Fat: 3g
Sodium: 236mg
Carbs: 28g
Fiber: 9g
Sugars: 8g
Protein: 6g

POINTS® value 2*


The nutritional content is similar to the JC desserts so I can easily substitute, guilt-free. Now, that's something to be thankful for!

Have a Beauty-Full Day,

Sun Funnies: Size 8

Remember when a Size 8 was an acceptable goal? When 0, 2 and 4 were rare and not necessarily sought after? Kinda makes you think, doesn't it?



Have a Beauty-Full Day,

High Expectations

I thought my horoscope today might resonate with some of you, it certainly did with me.


November 20, 2010
High Expectations
Leo Daily Horoscope

Your high expectations of success may have you feeling apprehensive today. You may have concerns that the goal you had aimed for is out of your reach, leaving you feeling nervous and unsure of yourself. Our goals point the way, but when we have done our work, we must release them like balloons to float out into the world and do their work. We can have hopes for our goals, but ultimately detachment from their outcome will allow us to do what is ours to do and move forward knowing we have done our part. Holding on to expectations and becoming upset when they don't appear exactly as planned means we do not trust that the universe knows better than we might. When we trust in the wisdom of the universe today, we can trust that our dreams and goals, released to its care, will find their perfect places in the world.

As humans, we seek to control everything. As spiritual beings, however, we know that we are cocreators with the universe. When we can accept that we don't have ultimate control, we become willing to work with what life brings us with our best intentions. It can be difficult to release our hopes to the unknown, but the unknown is also full of possibilities we cannot imagine. We may think of only two possible outcomes for any scenario, but there are infinite possibilities in every moment. When we release our expectations, we open ourselves to the best possibility for us right now, today.

Beren and I some errands to run today, then there's housekeeping and holiday prep but in between I'll be logging some treadmill time as well.

Have a Beauty-Full Day,

Slow & Steady...

First off, I didn't have a chance to post yesterday but I did have my JC consult and weigh-in, lost 1.2 pounds last week. So I am now down almost 12 pounds in 7 weeks. Slowly but surely, I'm getting there!

I had a couple of victories in the past couple of days, mostly regarding clothing. While I'm not yet able to officially go down a size, I believe that's because my clothes were much too tight in the first place and they are just now fitting properly. *blush* The new, expensive jeans I bought before we went to NY are loose, though, and won't be fitting for much longer. I'm considering doing a blog giveaway for them, hate to spend $200 on jeans and donate to the Goodwill, you know? Are there any size 12Ps out there who might be interested? Also, I treated myself to some new workout shirts in a size smaller (M), put one on this morning and lo and behold, it fits! I can see more definition in my waist, my breasts are definitely smaller (sorry, Beren!), stomach is a little bit flatter but my hips are hanging in there. I guess I'm destined for the pin-up body, just might need the help of a Miracle Bra pretty soon. *wink*

Has anyone heard of the book called 100 Days of Weight Loss by Linda Spangle? There's a lot of talk about it on various diet forums and blogs so I checked it out from my local library. Basically it's a 100 day "program" to accompany any weight loss program of your choices. It's not a diet or nutrition book per se, it's all about your head, not your body. The program requires daily exercises and journaling so I thought I might do some of that "aloud" here. Anyone interested in joining me? If so, grab a copy of the book and join right in! I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'll start reading/journaling this afternoon or evening.

Until then, have a Beauty-Full Day!

The Way to a Man's Heart...

I haven't been spending as much time in the kitchen since calling Jenny, and I miss it! Cooking is not just a necessary means to an end (getting food into the body), it's therapy for me. I love donning an apron and tuning out the rest of the world while I slice, dice, bake & simmer! Under the right conditions, it becomes a downright magical experience!

So, today I decided to make something special for Beren, figure he might like a change from the frozen pizza and fried shrimp he's been feeding himself lately. ..rolling eyes... I pulled out this fantastic thrift store find, a Betty Crocker recipe box, circa 1971! I remember my mom having the exact same one so this brought back fond childhood memories for me. (Can't you just see this in Samantha Steven's avocado kitchen??)





Now, I've often written about my man's less-than-healthy food choices at times and you've seen the potato chips he loves so much, so when I found this recipe I knew I had to make it for him:



Yes, those are potato chips topping that meaty, cheesy mess! Welcome to the early 1970's, folks! I console myself with the fact that at least we rode our bikes to the grocery store to purchase the ingredients(about 4 miles).





Now, I admit that I made Beren the original version of the casserole because he wouldn't have it any other way, but I also cleaned it up a bit for those of you who would like a hearty retro-style meal but without the possible heart attack! I couldn't think of a tasty alternative to the potato chips so I lightened them up, but if you have another suggestion I'd love to hear it.






Zippy Beef Casserole

-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 pound ground beef
4 ounces elbow macaroni -- uncooked
10 1/2 ounces cream of mushroom soup
3/4 cup milk
2/3 cup catsup
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1 tablespoon minced onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup crushed potato chips

Heat oven to 350. Cook and stir meat until brown. Drain off fat. Cook macaroni as directed on package; drain. In ungreased 2-quart casserole, mix all ingredients except potato chips.

Cover; bake 40 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with potato chips and bake 5 minutes longer.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 484 Calories; 31g Fat (57.3% calories from fat); 20g Protein; 32g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 79mg Cholesterol; 1083mg Sodium.





Zippy "Beef" Casserole Redux

-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 serving Boca Ground Crumbles
4 ounces whole wheat pasta -- elbow shaped, uncooked
10 1/2 ounces Healthy Request® Cream of Mushroom Soup
3/4 cup skim milk
2/3 cup catsup
1/2 cup reduced fat cheddar cheese -- shredded
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1 tablespoon minced onion
1 cup light potato chips

Heat oven to 350. Cook and stir Boca crumbles until thawed. Cook macaroni as directed on package; drain. In ungreased 2-quart casserole, mix all ingredients except potato chips.

Cover; bake 40 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with potato chips and bake 5 minutes longer.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 253 Calories; 11g Fat (37.6% calories from fat); 6g Protein; 35g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 3mg Cholesterol; 560mg Sodium.


Ok, I have never seen Beren enjoy a meal quite as much as he did this one! He scarfed down two huge servings and had to refrain from grabbing a third, praising me all the while. *grin* I guess those retro housewives knew how to please their men, huh? *wink*

I Like It Dirty

Beren and I went out for cocktails at our favorite martini bar last night, I thought I chose well when I selected the Dirty Martini but this morning I discovered that those babies are about 240 calories each, actually more than my beloved Cosmos! Ouch. I didn't plan on 400+ empty calories but was awfully glad I'd walked in the morning and had a fairly active (and on program) day up until that point. I do give myself some credit for not indulging in any appetizers at the bar, had saved my JC popcorn to enjoy when we got home. According to Sparkpeople, I consumed about 1,500 calories yesterday. Not a catastrophe but more than I'd expected so I'll be exercising more and eating less today.

I got up early and took a nice long walk to the park...





then came home and plugged in my menu...



We may be taking the bikes out for a spin, with this kind of weather it's a sin to be indoors!

Have a Beauty-Full Day,

Beach-Bound

So, last night I put on my bathing suit and joined Beren in the hot tub, because we can do that in Florida in November and though I am certainly no Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, I did notice a difference in the way my suit fit & looked. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was much easier to put on and fit much better than it did last summer. It's little things like this that keep me motivated, you know?



I'm home from work today, plan on heading to the Ormond house this evening when Beren gets home. Of course I'll be packing a cooler with my Jenny Cuisine and staying On Program as much as possible. Lacking a treadmill up there, I plan to take some long walks in the park nearby which Loki will appreciate.



I only choose to have sweet snacks twice a week and am really looking forward to trying the new Pumpkin Spice Cake! Alongside a cup of steamy decaf coffee, it's going to be a welcome treat this evening.

Have a Beauty-Full Day,

10

Sneak Peek

Here's a sneak peek at what I've been working on this week, my very own "Mom Cave." I still have to decorate, add some furniture, etc. but the important parts of the room are in place. I have soooo enjoyed hopping on my treadmill in the peace & quiet of my own little space, turning on the DVR and watching one of the shows I recorded. What a pleasure!



Since tomorrow is weigh-in day, I'm keeping my food input really clean & simple today - substituting extra fruit for the Jenny snack. I'm also putting in an extra 30 minutes on the treadmill, am hoping to meet the 10 pound loss mark. Wish me luck!



xoxoxoxo

Sunday Funnies

Happy "Fall Back" Sunday! Hope you all enjoyed your extra hour of sleep or..whatever.

Beren and I had a nice afternoon yesterday, went to see our good friend Artie open for Gretchen Wilson (pics to come). The weather was gorgeous, sunny and in the 60's, perfect for an outdoor event! Knowing that I would want to have a couple of light beers (this was country music, after all!), I planned ahead and worked off those calories in advance.



In addition to the 30 minutes on the treadmill, I logged some activity just doing chores around the house, easily meeting my goal of 10,000 steps per day. Anyway, as I was chugging away on the blasted machine, staring out the window while my i-pod blasted, I looked over to my right and this is what I saw...


(not included in picture: the pile of chicken wings recently consumed)

So, you see what I have to deal with on a daily basis..a skinny man sitting on the couch watching football while stuffing his face with chips & beer. ..shaking head..
Now do you feel sorry for me? *grin*

Anyway, we had a great time at the concert and I was able to enjoy aforementioned alcoholic beverages guilt-free, proud to say that I also eschewed all junk food offered, came home and prepared my Jenny meal/snack and was content.

Today we are doing some major housecleaning, am making some changes in our set-up here now that Kali has moved out and I have an empty room! Stay tuned for more news!

Here's today's menu, all planned out:



Have a Beauty-Full Day,

Be Prepared

One of the most important tools I've found to assist me in this weight loss effort is planning. In order to succeed, I need to be prepared. This means my refrigerator is kept stocked with fruits, veggies, yogurt, etc., my JC meals are in the freezer ready to go, my menu hanging in a prominent spot where I can refer to it often, water bottles filled and chilled, etc. Just for kicks, I put my JC daily menu into Sparkpeople because I wanted to confirm my daily calorie intake. I was impressed! Even with "unlmited free foods" like my homemade WW veggie soup, I still am consuming about 1,200 calories a day:



The most important part of preparation at the moment: having my work-out clothes clean and ready to don. I have discovered that if I step out of bed and immediately get dressed, right down to sneakers, it's half the battle in the I-don't-wanna-exercise war. I'm already up, dressed and ready to go; now, what's my excuse?

Since I am sorely lacking in dresser space (that'll change when I don't have it stuffed full of various sized clothing!) I had to get a bit creative with my storage options. As a collector of vintage suitcases & train cases, I have a couple empty ones hanging around and I decided to put one to good use:



The main compartment holds my t-shirts, yoga pants & socks, front pouch contains i-pod, pedometer and measuring tape. Behind there is a place for my sneakers. Voila! Perfect! I keep this right next to my bed so that I literally roll out of bed and get dressed. Easy as pie! I then meet Beren in the family room for our morning coffee and when he leaves for work, I either grab the dog and hit the sidewalk or I jump on the treadmill. Put in my 30 minutes, shower, and off to work I go.

When I get home from the office, I immediately put another outfit on so I'm prepared to hit the treadmill again, take Loki for a stroll, do a little workout video..whatever! Since the clothes are cute enough for streeetwear, I can also walk to the grocery store, park, wherever and still feel comfortable.

So, there you go, my little Girl Scout tip of the day!


Have a Beauty-full Weekend,

November Already?

Just got back from my meeting with Jenny, lost 1.4 pounds this week for a total of 8.6 so far.

Yeah, I'm pretty happy today!

In other news, I can't believe it's already November which means Thanksgiving is on the horizon and Yule right around the corner! I'm already thinking about the holidays, my eating plan, and how I'm going to manage my diet. I've worked so hard already, I have no intention of blowing it now!

How about you all? Have you given any thought about the upcoming holiday season and what it means to your diet & fitness plans?

Have a Beauty-Full Day,

Rapunzel Cuts Her Hair..

for the first time in 21 years, I got a "real" haircut...change is good, right?





Now, if only it were that easy to take seven inches off my body! *wink*