Leave Your Past Behind You

So we all have something that we are not proud of, something in our past that we would change; whether it be big or small we all have something. It could be physical, mental or emotional. As I talk to people many things come out: they regret that they have gained weight, they regret not going to college, they wish they would have been a better parent, maybe a better child, they regret financial decisions that they have made, jobs that they have taken or not taken. There is always something. What would you change? This post is not for us to reflect on our past for long it is also not to reflect on other people's past....but to look forward to the future.

People disappoint us. Whether it be our parents, grandparents, children, friends, etc. However Chuck Swindoll once said "We cannot change our past. We can not change the fact that people act in a certain way. We can not change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.” Our attitude makes such a difference. Have you heard of the 80/20 rule? It states that 20% of our life is made of things that happen to you and the other 80% is how we react to it. So, what does this mean? It means that we usually don't have control of the 20%. We can't stop the car from breaking down, the kids from getting sick, etc...but we can change how we react to these problems.

Whether it be people that disappoint us or whether we have disappointed ourselves, the only thing that we can change is the future and our attitude. Since today is New Years Eve, I challenge you to put your past or your contention toward others that have affected your past behind you and move forward. I read a quote the other day "Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future". I have learned that forgiveness is totally for you, it is not for those that have harmed you. A lot of the time we stay awake at night pissed off at how we have been wronged. The problem is that the person we are mad at isn't losing sleep over it; WE ARE! Most of the time they don't even know that we are mad at them and if they did, they wouldn't care. So while we are hoping that it is eating away at them....it's not, it is eating away at us! If you have people to forgive...do it now. Bitterness only kills us.

If you don't like the person you have been, then change it! Don't sit around and talk about what you have or haven't done. Quit talking about the reasons and excuses that have kept you from doing the things you need to do. Instead, change it. TODAY! Whether it be mental, physical or emotional; change it! Someone once said, "One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering.”

Happy New Year to everyone. I hope that you all have a healthy & prosperous 2011. Good luck with all those resolutions!

Local Biggest Loser

So, last year I pledged to lose 50 pounds with the pound for pound challenge with Biggest Loser (the max pledge was 50 pounds). I was able to meet my goal. Well, I am going to pledge another 50 for this year and I am encouraging you all to make a pledge as well.

We are officially having a local Biggest Loser competition. There are already several people signed up and ready to go. It is going to begin January 15th so that we can get some details worked out. So far, this is what the competition is going to look like.

a) $10 to participate, winner will take all

b) The program will last 12 weeks

c) The person with highest percentage of weight loss wins

d) There will be two groups (those with more than 25 pounds to lose and those with less than 25)

e) Biggest Loser viewing parties will be hosted by a few participants. Biggest Loser starts again on January 4th. Tuesdays at 8PM. These will include healthy snacks and we hope to create some better friendships through this socialization. (if you are interested in being a host, we are looking for hosts in Knoxville and Maryville area)

f) I have contacted Biggest Loser runner-up, Ashley Johnston, to see if she would be willing to come to a group meeting and talk to us.

g) still trying to figure out the logistics of the weigh-in. There will be only one weigh in to start and then one at the end of the 12 weeks.

More information will be coming soon. Check out the info for the "Pound for Pound Challenge". We can form a team and make our pledge that way. In a nutshell, money is donated to our local food banks for every pound we lose. So, while we lose weight we can also help to feed the hungry. We need to come up with a name for our team. Please forward this information to any local friends that may want to participate. I would love to see at least 50 people doing this.

Those of you that aren't local. It doesn't mean that you can't sign up for the challenge. Go to the site and do it!

A Barbie World

As a kid I was never into Barbies. I owned a couple but rarely played with them. I was not good at that type of play. Now baby dolls on the other hand...i loved. I loved to play house and pretend to have a baby and pretend feed them, change them, etc. I would never buy a Barbie for my kids just because I personally did not like them. However, Travis thought that every girl needs a Barbie so he bought our 9 month old a Barbie and Ken doll for her stocking. I laughed when I saw them. First because I wouldn't of bought it and because she is so young she wouldn't know how to play Barbie even if she liked them. Looking at the Barbie everyday though has made me think a lot about the pressure that our society puts on women to be Barbies. So, I did a little research and this is what I found:

If Barbie was a real person:
Barbie's bust size would be 39 inches and she would have to crawl to support her top-heavy frame. Her bra size would be a 39 FF, putting Dolly Parton’s 40 DDs to shame. Barbie’s measurements would be an unrealistic 39-19-33. If Barbie had the hips of an average American woman, size 14, she would be 8’ 9’’. The likelihood of a real woman having Barbie’s body shape is less than one in 100,000. Barbie wouldn’t have room in her arms to have all her bones. Barbie’s head would be almost triple the size of a normal-sized head. Her neck would be twice the length of a normal neck and it would only be able to hold either a trachea or an esophagus, leaving her to choose between eating and breathing. While she is the owner of over one million pairs of shoes, more than any other woman in the world, Barbie’s feet would only be a child’s size three.

In 1965, Mattel introduced "Slumber Party Barbie," which came complete with a toy scale which read a constant 110 pounds, roughly 35 pounds underweight for a woman of Barbie's height. And in case girls who played with "Slumber Party Barbie" wanted to know how to reach such a low weight, the doll came with a book titled How to Lose Weight, which entrusted readers with the secret of many a successful eating disorder: "Don't eat."

How sad is it that we have these totally unrealistic expectations to try and meet. It is like doing the impossible. I want to challenge those of you planning to make a new years resolution to make one that is attainable, reasonable and realistic. We can't all be Barbie. I don't strive to be Barbie. I just want to be healthy. Find out what your BMI is here and see where you should be. The BMI chart is not perfect as it does not take into account the different body types and the fact that muscle weighs more than fat but for the average american it is a good guide.

Split Pea Soup & Biscuits

So I had this big ham bone left over for Christmas and was trying to figure out what to do with it. I have made 10 bean soup and pintos with ham-hock but I thought I'd try split pea soup. When Travis had his jaw surgery last year, he was wired shut for about 6 weeks. I became the grand-poobah of soup making. I made every kind of soup imaginable so he would not get bored. My sister-in-law makes split pea and I was weary because of the name and color but remember it being delicious. So I made it tonight. I was going to make cornbread but I don't have any corn meal and I am out of my little jiffy boxes too so decided to make biscuits. To my surprise the recipe I used made them only 2 points each. Here are the recipes.

Green Split Pea Soup (5-6 points per bowl)
Ham hock (OR 1/2 cup chopped ham)
8 cups water
1-1/4 cups green split peas
1 large onion chopped

1 red bell pepper
1 clove garlic minced
2 cups diced carrots
1 or 2 potatoes diced
(salt and pepper to taste)

Combine water and peas in a large pot and bring to a boil.

Add in ham hock and simmer gently for 1 hour.

Add in onions, garlic, pepper, carrots, potatoes and salt and pepper to taste.

Simmer gently for 1 more hour until peas are tender and soup is really thick.

Hot Buttermilk Biscuits (2 points each)

2 cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
3 Tablespoons butter
2/3 cup buttermilk

Sift together dry ingredients.
Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
Add buttermilk all at once.
Stir lightly with fork.
Knead gently on lightly floured board.
Roll ½ inch thick.
Cut with 3 inch round cutter. (I cut with 2 inch...it made 15 biscuits)
Place on baking dish with biscuits touching.
Bake at 450 degrees for 12-15 or until lightly browned.

Original recipes found at http://pinkcookieswithsprinkles.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas

Well, I am not going to post a weight this week. I haven't been on the scale...well actually I have tried but something is wrong with my scale. I think it needs a new battery. Anyway! I am going to weigh on New Years day and then weigh in every Saturday. I am not weighting until January to start but wanted to start fresh on my blog January 1.

Travis did a good job for Christmas. He got me a Bosu ball, a 10Lb medicine ball, some new workout clothes and a simple sport jelly watch. I am really excited to use some of the equipment at home. The Bosu ball came with 4 DVDs so I will be trying those out. I am also excited to show Travis some of the moves I have been learning with Tammye and Weekend Warrior. I need to take pictures though. I easily forget some of the great exercises and techniques.

I am not going to make any resolutions this year as I feel like I already have made the lifestyle changes that are necessary for me to meet my goal. I am just going to try and stay really focused. Now that I am home, I am cooking 85% of our meals (6 out of 7, one night we go out), then I should be able to eat healthier. I do want to try and eat less processed food and less refined sugar. I love sweets! This year I would like to eat less of them. Less desserts. Less Candy. Less cookies. I need some alternatives. Any suggestions?

This week I am just going to keep at it and prepare for the new year. I need to buy some groceries, put my plan together and start off the new year below 188. I have a couple friends and family members that have talked about doing it with me. I would like to propose a challenge. A 10-week challenge...anyone that wants to participate can. Take a picture (front and profile) on January 1 and weigh, in 10 weeks we will do it again. Any suggestions on a prize? Maybe everyone that is interested can contribute $10 to a pot and then the winner takes all? Those of you interested let me know what you think?

Well, more to come but for now I just want to spend the day enjoying my family. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.

Sharing my Journey

So, several people from my workout group and Weekend Warrior have inquired about my blog. I recently sent an email to Tammye's email group telling them the address to the blog. I have had several responses but one of them literally brought tears to my eyes. I'm not going to share who sent it but wanted to share it (hope she doesn't mind).

Hi Cheryl. Thank you for sharing your blog. You are an inspiration! I have lacked the motivation to work out in recent months & just don't feel like myself as a result. I've used every excuse in the book not to make it to the gym. I've actually been hiding from Tammye too! But after reading your blog today I am vowing to make it to Tammye's 11:30 Affliction class today. My packed gym bag is in my car...no telling what is in it, but it's there. :-)

You look amazing girl! Keep it up & know that you are inspiring women everywhere!

This was amazing to get an email like this. It totally got me motivated and just made me want to stay the course. It is great to get validation for what you are doing. I have had several good followers but I thought that sharing my blog with more people would just give me even that much more accountability. It makes you responsible when you have people watching you to set and example and following along to help get their motivation. The month of December has been so hard! I am plugging away and going to my workouts but I have not been on the treadmill. I have snacked too much, ate too many yummy goodies, etc.

I can actually say that I am really looking forward to Christmas being over this year and for me to get motivated again. I want to set some short term goals and I am so ready to see 175. I know it is right around the corner but it still feels so far away. I am also really looking forward to a size 14. I think that a 14 is the size of the average American women. While I aspire to be smaller...at least I wont be in the plus sizes anymore. Most clothes and clothing stores go up to 14 but if you are a 16+ you have a much harder time finding clothes. And.....why is it that they think people that are overweight don't know how to dress and want to look ugly. The clothing industry has done a terrible job accommodating larger sizes. Most plus size clothes lack style. They are getting better and the selection is getting more diverse but as a whole, it is bad. Maybe this is a good thing. Maybe they think that if you have to look ugly everyday you will be more motivated to lose weight. This worked for me. I guess I actually have the clothing industry to thank.

Holiday Blitz Weekend Warrior

(My trainer Tammye and me...she looks nice in the picture...looks are deceiving)

Yesterday was Weekend Warrior. It was great. I swear it almost kills me every time but I am always thankful that I went when it is over. This weekend was the first time that I had my bodybugg (I burned over 650 calories). What a great workout! There were quite a few of us in the group yesterday. It is interesting to see all of the different ages, body types, etc. There was one girl in my group, Kelly, she was amazing. She did all of the exercises with great form and she never quit. She did all of them for the entire minute. She was my inspiration.

I took several pics yesterday. Here are a few.

I was teasing Tammye that I need to teach CPR toa few of the people in my class....that way when I need someone to save me, someone will know how. I am just proud of myself that I even go to this. It is intense 90 minutes of working out. There are several different stations with a specific exercise. There are approx. 4 people per station and usually around 12 stations. You do the exercise for 1 minute and then have a short recovery and move to the next station. There is also a warm up and post work out stretch. Some of these stations feel like the longest 60 seconds ever. Tammye walks around the room very cheery, singing and keeping us motivated. It is kind of mean. She knows she is torturing us and then she smiles about it. I guess it is what we are asking for. I may not do every exercise perfectly or be able to do each of them as many times as some of the gals but I am there and doing what I can. Last weekend warrior a girl passed out....this is not for sissies.

Any local friends want to join me? You'll be glad you came....

Blog Award

Well, I accidentally skipped the November blog award and now it is already almost the end of 2010 and I haven't given one out for December either. This month's blog award goes to my sister-in-law Kimberly. She has posted several encouraging words on my blog and was encouraging when we just visited Idaho. I get tons of ideas from her. She is so talented and such a great cook/baker. Everyone knows that she makes the best treats (not all healthy) but her coconut cream pie and home made rolls are seriously to die for. I follow her blog "pink cookies with sprinkles" religiously. It has loads of great recipes and ideas. She cooks most everything from scratch and this automatically lends itself to more healthy eating. Her family eats very little processed food. She makes her own granola bars and even her own healthy fruit leather. Just this week I made her chicken and wild rice soup..it was so yummy.

Kimmie seems to have it all figured out. She knows what is important to her. Her husband and her family. I once had a pastor tell me that you can tell what things are important to people. Just look at their day timer and their checkbook. Where people spend their time and money...that is what is important to them. I really respect Kimmie and her hubby for making their marriage and children the most important. It isn't huge houses or expensive cars but making time to spend quality time, making memories as a family. This is a great concept. Once I was talking to my grandfather about buying a new car and I asked him why he didn't buy something nicer like a Lexus or Mercedes, instead of a Chrysler. He responded with cars aren't important to him. He wants one that is nice, comfortable, gets good gas mileage, has a big trunk and meets their needs but he would much rather go on 10 more vacations with my grandma and spend their money making memories than to drive a BMW. I think they all have it right....I want to live like that. Don't get me wrong...I want nice things but it doesn't have to be the nicest. Houses and cars don't last, but memories do.

She also is physically fit and makes staying in shape an important task in her life. Her husband, Tracy, and family love to hike. They have hiked the Teton Crest trail several times and have endurance and stamina that I dream of. I hope to one day hike the trail with them. I believe it is 30 miles done in 3 days (approx 10 per day). I am definitely not ready for it now but maybe Summer 2012. Maybe I should set that as a goal. The regularly walk and set a good example of how to spend time getting your body moving. They go on several fun adventures through out the summer and on the weekends. I think they really try to squeeze as much out of life as they can. Travis and I have been trying harder to do that too.

Anyway...Thank you Kimmie for being an inspiration and for keeping me motivated. Keep the comments coming. Love ya!

Getting my Gravy Back!!

So, when Travis and I first started dating he asked one of his friends/family members what they thought of me. Now you have to remember that in high school I was 117 pounds, had long blonde hair, etc. The person responded with something like "well she looks like she is all gravy, but does she have any mash potatoes?". Trav told me about this years later and for some reason it has stuck with me. I think that the mash potatoes referred to anything with substance such as intellect, personality, character, etc and the gravy was referring to something physical or sexual. Well, for the past 10 years I have been trying to prove to people that I had lots of mashed potatoes. I completed an advanced degree, bought a home by my 21st birthday, drove nice cars, got a good paying job, became the president of clubs, was involved in church activities, etc. but while I was doing all those things...I let my gravy go. Well, this post is to tell you....that....

I AM GETTING MY GRAVY BACK

The other night I was going through pictures from the last year and I stumbled upon this one taken in January. Wow! That was enough to go get me on the treadmill. Seriously? Oh, my! I actually printed this baby off in an 8x10 and posted it on the fridge. I know that the month of December is going to be hard. I am busy making goodies and I am busy taste testing them too. However, if I can lose any weight in December I am going to be happy. I think the average American gains 3-5 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years so if I can lose some I am going to be very proud. I must admit that I am looking forward to the new year. Not because I want to start another resolution but just to start fresh and have the holidays behind me.

My niece Ashley is getting married in late March and we will probably go to her wedding. We are going to try! My goal is to lose 25 pounds. Hopefully I can do it in time. It is an aggressive goal. The wedding is 13 weeks away and 3 of those weeks are in December. So really I have 10 good weeks. As we know, I have had a hard time losing 2-3 pounds a week as of lately but like I said, I do think the new year will help with that. I will probably see the person that made that statement 14 years ago and I want them to see that I still have some GRAVY :) 2011 is the year of my gravy train!

Last week I only lost a pound but at least I am back to my pre-Thanksgiving weight and that is something to celebrate! And...look at all the progress I have made since January of last year when that pic was taken. This journey may not always go as fast as I would like it to but it is a journey in the right direction. I promise to re-paint my toes for the next weigh in...they look terrible!

Meals

So it has been really fun cooking since I have became a SAHM. I have made dinner every night. It is awesome because it really doesn't take as much effort and I am excited to make meals instead of being exhausted. I cleaned out the fridge and pantry and now I have a great inventory of what we have. I got a magnet note pad for the fridge and when we get low on something I put it on the list. It makes it easier to shop too because I got for specific things and have been good about not just throwing a bunch of miscellaneous things in the cart. We have been eating fresh salads and some yummy meals. Today I made fudge and put it in little baggies to give to the neighbors. I have the easiest recipe for fudge and I promise that it delicious and always a crowd pleaser. Here is the recipe (I kind of feel bad giving a fudge recipe on my weight loss blog, but what the heck)

Easy Fudge

1 box powdered sugar

1/2 cup baking cocoa

1/4 tsp salt

1 TBSP vanilla

1/4 C milk

1/2 C butter

Mix all dry ingredients together, add vanilla and milk and stir. Cut the butter into fourths and put on top of dry ingredients. Microwave for two minutes. Stir vigorously until all butter is melted. Add 1 C chopped walnuts. Put in wax paper lined 8x8 square dish. Refrigerate and cut into squares. So easy...and so yummy.

One thing I notice is that I burn about 300-500 more calories per day being at home just by playing with my kids and doing household chores compared to sitting on my rear at a desk and in meetings all day. That is one thing that I do not miss. I used to attend at least 5 meetings per day. It is so nice to have a break. I have worked consistently since I was 14 years old and began doing miscellaneous jobs such as babysitting and washing neighborhood cars at 11. The only time off that I have really had is my maternity leave. This is great. Remember how much weight I was losing while I was off on maternity leave? I am hoping that I can get back into that rhythm and lose 2-2.5 pounds per week again. I always thought that exercising would be easier if I was at home but I am finding that not to be so true. I spend most of my day doing household chores, laundry, cooking, playing with kids....so when the kids do finally take a nap the last thing I am thinking about is going for a run on the treadmill. I am exhausted! I need to find a rhythm and a schedule for getting on the treadmill and just stick to it.

I have always thought that couponing was stupid! I couldn't believe how much time people spent going to miscellaneous stores and cutting coupons and finding deals. But...now I have time. I going to give it a try. Any experts out there that can give some advice? One thing I don't want is to buy stuff that I don't normally buy. I just want to buy my regular things. Several things I buy generic but if with the coupon I could get it for the same price or lower that would be okay too. We don't buy lots of things that come with coupons but I am thinking there are probably some opportunities for yogurt, eggo pancakes, diapers, baby items, cleaning supplies, etc. I don't want to just stock up on a bunch of unhealthy processed food. I mean, we do eat some snack foods like chips and salsa and Hudson does eat fruit snacks and stuff but even if I can save a little it may be worth it. Any tips would be great.

Feeling good this week! I'll be posting a new weigh in on Sunday.

Enchiladas

So my friend Rachel has a great blog. She has lots of simple recipes that are great for families. I use her recipes often. She is also on weight watchers and is in the process of adding all the nutritional information and point values to the recipes. Today I made her chicken enchiladas. They were so yummy and they were 6 points per serving (for two enchiladas). Recipe is below.

Several recipes I make call for cilantro. Travis loves cilantro! I buy it and I know its cheap but it doesn't stay fresh very long. The other day I found this cilantro paste, made from organic cilantro and it lasts about 8 weeks. I didnt have any fresh cilantro on hand today so used the paste. It was great! I highly recommend keeping some in your fridge.

Chicken Enchiladas

1 medium onion, chopped fine
1 tsp. canola oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. cumin
1 tbsp. sugar
1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 cup water
1 tomato, seeded and chopped
Salt and pepper
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese (or pepperjack), divided
½ cup minced fresh cilantro
12 (6-inch) soft corn tortillas
Cooking spray

Directions:
Combine the onion and oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until the onions and. Stir in the garlic, chili powder, cumin and sugar, and cook just until fragrant, less than 30 seconds. Mix in the tomato sauce, water, and chopped tomato. Bring the sauce to a simmer, lower the heat and cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.

Nestle the chicken into the sauce. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the chicken is completely cooked through (160˚ F on an instant-read thermometer), about 12-20 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside to cool.

Strain the sauce through a large mesh strainer into a medium bowl, pressing down on the onions and tomatoes to extract as much liquid as possible. Transfer the reserved solids to a large bowl and set aside. Season the sauce with additional salt and pepper to taste. (though in my opinion, you don't really need to add any because there are so many great spices already going on)

Shred the chicken into bite size pieces and add to the bowl with the onion mixture. Add in ¼ cup of the enchilada sauce, ½ cup of each of the shredded cheeses, and the cilantro. Stir to combine.

Preheat the oven to 425˚ F. Oil a 9 x 13″ baking dish with cooking spray. Stack the tortillas on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave for 40-60 seconds, until warm and pliable. Spoon 1/3 cup of the chicken mixture evenly down the center of a tortilla. Roll up the tortilla around the filling tightly, and place in the prepared baking dish, seam-side down. Repeat with the remaining filling and tortillas.

Lightly spray the tops of the enchiladas with cooking spray. Place in the oven, uncovered, for 7 minutes or until the tortillas start to brown slightly.

Reduce the oven temperature to 400˚ F. Remove the enchiladas from the oven and pour the sauce oven the top. Sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.

Remove the foil and bake for 5 more minutes, until the cheese is browned. Remove from the oven and let stand 10 minutes before serving.

New Weight Watcher Plan

So, Weight Watchers has totally revamped their program for the first time in about 15 years. They are now basing the points on protein, carbs, fat and fiber instead of calories and all fruits and vegetables are free. I was going to do an entire post on all the changes but instead decided to borrow the article from WebMD. I am excited about the new plan and again it gives you a new excuse to start fresh. Today I begin by tracking my points diligently with the new system. I actually agree with all the changes because it is not healthy to eat junk food for your points and then neglect to eat healthy foods. I do think that this new program will be a little harder for me though. I tend to sneak in little treats here and there and this is going to hold me more accountable. I am looking forward to the challenge though.

Here are some excerpts from the article:

“With the old points system, you could use your points anyway you like. But we now know if you use your points wisely by eating foods rich in protein and fiber -- these foods fill you up, keep hunger at bay, and help you lose weight in a healthier and more nutritious way,” Kovach says.

Calories, Fat, and Carbs

Calories still count in the Points Plus program because the bottom line in weight loss is creating a calorie deficit -- burning more calories than you eat.

But there is so much more to successful weight loss, and where those calories come from makes a big difference.

Even when the calories are the same, protein- and fiber-rich foods get fewer Points Plus to encourage dieters to eat more filling food for their allotted Points Plus.

Calorie-dense foods that have more fat and simple carbs are assigned more points.

One new feature: You get unlimited quantities of fresh fruits and non-starchy vegetables.

“Most adults don’t eat enough fruits or vegetables. So our strategy was to allow these as free foods to encourage more consumption of these super-nutritious foods that are among the lowest in calories and very filling," Kovach says.

Dieters are encouraged to maximize their Points Plus allowance by choosing more "Power Foods," such as whole grains, lean meats, low-fat dairy, and unlimited quantities of fresh fruit and nonstarchy vegetables. "Power Foods" are the healthiest, most filling foods.

Fruits and vegetables are especially filling and nutritious foods that should be the foundation of every weight loss diet.

Decadent foods can still be worked into the calorie budget, but the new program limits the amount of these extras.

Weight Watchers Points Plus: How It Works

The new Points Plus program is based on Weight Watchers' proprietary formula that calculates the positive and negative attributes of food that considers the following:

• how much harder your body works to process protein and fiber compared to carbs and fat
• filling foods
• healthy foods
• sugar, saturated fat, total fat, sodium, and fiber content of foods

Choosing foods that are rich in the most satisfying nutrients but not loaded with calories is the primary goal to give dieters the weight loss edge.

Focus on eating more Power Foods as an easy way to fill up on the healthiest low-calorie options.

To get started, dieters fill out a form with age, gender, height, and current weight to get their assigned Points Plus daily allotment along with a weekly allowance.

You'll get at least 1200 calories daily. The distribution of those calories between carbs, protein, and fat are within the Institute of Medicine’s acceptable ranges.

Weight Watchers Points Plus: Expert's View

Keri Gans, MS, RD, an American Dietetic Association spokeswoman and New York weight loss consultant, gives the program a thumbs up.

“I always loved the peer support aspect of the Weight Watchers program but it concerned me that the old points could be used for anything," Gans says. "The new Points Plus program addressing where calories come from is a huge improvement.”

Gans says she loves the flexibility of the plan, which makes it easier to sustain long term, and the encouragement to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. “Our nation is not overweight because we eat too many fruits and vegetables but anyone who struggles with overeating needs to be careful because you could pack away plenty of calories if you eat too much fruit," Gans says.

Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, is director of nutrition for WebMD. Her opinions and conclusions are her own.

Weight Watcher Results: Week 33

Well, I gained a pound over the past 2 weeks. Not too bad figuring it was Hudson's birthday, Thanksgiving, my birthday and a vacation. It could be much much worse. I am actually going to celebrate that and just take this time to start over fresh and try to lose a few pounds by Christmas. Then the new year starts and it is usually pretty easy to stay motivated for all of January.

I never posted the pic from last week! Here it is...

A Blessing in Disguise

So.......I am a SAHM; for those of you that don't know what that is.....it is probably because you work and you aren't up on the Stay At Home Mom lingo. Way too many details to discuss, as to what happened, on my blog but as of 2 weeks ago I separated employment with the hospital. For those of you that know me this may come as a shock to you. This week alone I have received several phone calls and emails from sales reps with the big "WHAT?!?!" I have always been about climbing the corporate ladder, putting my education to use and making money. As most of you know, I own a CPR and First Aid business as well. It has been growing steadily and for the past 3 years I have wanted to take the leap of faith and dedicate my time to it and quit working for corporate america. I was so torn though. I had worked very hard to get into the position that I was in, I know lots of people in the industry and felt like stepping out was a risk. However, ultimately I wanted to be with my kids and do this but I was scared. How would I pay for medical benefits, would we have enough, would I be able to step back in if I wanted to? Well, this has forced me to take the leap of faith and DO IT.

The best part about it is that I get to be at home with my kiddos. I know that CPR Choice can be way more than it already is and now that I have a little time to work at it, I am going to try hard to get some contractual agreements in place with some businesses. Why work for the other guy...when you can work for yourself?

I am also excited to get control of my home. For the next several weeks I am planning to play a little game; I play it about once a year...It is called "What would June do?" June is my grandma and she is the epitome for organization and cleanliness. This is when I open my cupboards, drawers and closets and say "What would June do?" Her philosophy is that if you haven't used it or wore it in a year than you need to throw it away. I also hear another philosophy once. It goes like this...you look at all your STUFF and you say "Do I LOVE it?", "Do I NEED it?", "Does it make me money?" and if it doesn't answer yes to at least one of those questions than you trash it. I love being organized but it seems like with work and everything I had to much and something had to give.

Do you remember my post about the glass balls. Well, I just got to gently put one of those balls down. A big ball...WORK. Now I will have more time to focus on me. Cooking healthy meals, grocery shopping, exercising, and organizing. I can't wait. This week I already cleaned out the office closet, the fridge and the pantry. If felt so good and now I have an inventory as to what food we have and I am trying to come up with meals for dinner at least 5 nights a week. I figure there will be left overs and we will still eat out some. It is going to be so much easier to eat healthy. We hardly have any unhealthy food in our home so as long as I am home...I should be good.

Happy Birthday to me

Well, today is my birthday...not just 3-0 anymore but in my early 30s. This birthday is much better than the last. My last birthday is actually what caused this weight change. I had wrote about it in previous posts but I will do a quick recap. Here is a picture of me last year on my birthday.

Turning 30 was really hard on me. I had felt pretty confident through most of my teenage years and felt like I looked okay and was in pretty good shape till I turned about 20. My entire 20s were a struggle with my weight. Trying a different diet every couple months, only to stay on it for a couple weeks. My kids were born in my 20s, Hudson was born one week before my 27th birthday and Reese was born when I was 30 but I was pregnant through most of my 20s. It seems like your 20s are supposed to be when you are absolutely the most radiant. You have great skin, no wrinkles, and a youthful body. However, I let my entire 20s slip away from me and was a fat slob. I wasn't sexy and I felt like once I turned 30 the other things of my age would begin to show (i.e., wrinkles) and that I had let my prime go. I made a vow a year ago that I would not let my 30s go by and me just continue down the same path of destruction. I vowed that as soon as I had my baby that I would do something about it and change it! Well, 65 pounds later I can proudly say I have made a big difference. I still have a long ways to go and I sure hope to be at my goal by my next birthday, well hopefully even sooner. Here is a picture taken this week.

This week has been difficult. We have been in Idaho in subzero temperatures and the only thing to do is to sit by a warm fire and eat! Hopefully I havent packed on the pounds. I have been scared to get on the scale. I have not exercised as planned but will get on the treadmill today. Tonight we are having a birthday party for Hudson and his cousin Cole...more food! I know the holidays will be difficult but at least I will be home more and away from the multiple temptations. Hopefully I can just splurge Christmas day.

I will post a new weight pic on Wednesday when we get home to our scale. I am not giving up. I am embracing my 30s and going to be proud of them when I turn 40 instead of wishing that they had been different.

Thanksgiving

Well, today is the big day! The one day of the year totally centered around eating! I would like to tell you that I was going to eat mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes but that is not the case. I figure that one day a year will not ruin me. I am going to get on the treadmill this morning to at least help counter balance the food and I am trying to have no seconds.

Today should be a fun day. There are about 30 of us getting together. I made 4 dishes. Sweet potato casserole, Raspberry Pretzel Jello salad, Broccoli/Cauliflower salad and green bean casserole. My sister-in-law, Kimmie, makes the best desserts and I have already read the long list of pies she is making. It will be so yummy! We could not do Thanksgiving with out the sacrifice of my brother/sister-in-law, Joel and Shelley, they are always willing to open their home up and host the family. They do have a great house for hosting but they always seem to draw the short straw...but I am so Thankful for them.

I thought I would focus on the just a few of the things I am thankful for....
A wonderful husband, who does way more than his share. He is such a hard worker and the best daddy. I am so proud of him. He lights up our children's eyes. I hear about these husbands that aren't great helpers. Well, Travis changes diapers, bathes kids, feeds kids, gets up in the night as well as going to work every day and keeping up with our huge yard. I am also thankful that he unloads the dishwasher (because I only like to load) and thankful for the cup of coffee that he brings to me each morning.

Thankful for a wonderful 3 year old son, Hudson. My life has been so much more fulfilled since having him. He is so much fun and his vocabulary never ceases to amaze me. He is smart, talented and funny and I love the joy he brings to our family. Thankful for my little princess, Reese. She is the sweetest little girl. It has been so fun to watch her grow this year and fun to dress/accessorize her. I am actually thankful for hair bows. :)

Thankful for my friends. I would not have made it this far down this journey without you all. Friends really are your chosen family. Even those of you who are far away, know that I love and miss you. I cherish the memories we have together and the impact that you have made in my life.

Thankful for my family. I have two grandparents that gave me a wonderful life. We made lots of fun memories going on trips and participating in all my extra curricular activities. Thankful for my mom and hoping that she is recovering from her surgery she had on Monday. She has been in a lot of pain the last 2 years and I am hoping this makes a big difference for her. Thankful for my in-laws; who have been my family for 14 years. Looking forward to a fun Thanksgiving with them this year.

Especially today thankful for a warm house. It is sub zero temps here in Idaho today. Brrr.. Last week a Facebook friend contacted me and said she was looking for 12 month-2T clothes for 2 kids who were found with their young mom living under a bridge in Knoxville. I hurried and gathered a big rubbermaid of clothes and toys for the kids. Breaks my heart. We really do take things for granted. The food we eat, the heat in our house, the air we breath, the clean water we drink. Thankful to be an American with the freedoms we have. So thankful that I do not have to live a life where I am persecuted every day for my sex, race or religion. Thankful for our military that keeps us safe and for the sacrifice they make. Especially thinking of my nephew who is in Kuwait this Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Take time to remember what you are thankful for and never take for granted all that you have. Life is not perfect but there is SO much to be Thankful for!

188 and Smiling

Well, I made it to 188 before we left on vacation. I have a picture but havent had a chance to download it, I will add soon. Not quite the 185 I had hoped for but close enough to be proud. Now the trick will be to keep it off and not gain a Thanksgiving 5 pounds. I am actually about to get on the treadmill right now but it will be the first bit of exercise I have had since we left. The first day we spent the entire day in an airplane and/or car and didn't really get to move around at all. We arrived in the middle of a blizzard. It has been so cold and snowy and several family members have been snowed in and practically unable to see us yet. Maybe today we will see some of them.

Since it was cold we spent most of yesterday inside just visiting around the fire and watching TV. I guess I am not used to the TV. While it was really fun to watch some shows I can see how it is easy to get complacent and to just sit around watching TV and to neglect the treadmill. I recently read that the average american watches more than 4 hours per day and that the average home has more televisions in the house than people. My bodybugg will give you a rude awakening; sitting down watching TV burns a small 1-2 calories per minute (about the same amount as you burn when you sleep). Maybe that is the problem that is leading to obesity in America. At home, we very rarely watch TV as we don't have one on our main floor but we have been sucked into spending too much time reading iphones, playing on the laptop, etc. What is your vice? Do you play video games? Even reading is bad in regard to burning calories. Check out this very short article. The most amazing thing I read is that the average senior citizen spends an average of 207 hours a month in front of the television, which is about 7 hours per day.

Well, I better go get busy! I am setting a new goal to reduce the amount of time I spend sitting around reading my iphone, watching TV and playing on the macbook. I do love the ipad as it has allowed me to be active while watching TV. Now I can go watch an episode of 24 and get my workout done too!

Gadgets & Gizmos of Plenty

So, this week is my gadget week! The other night I was making cupcakes for Hudson's preschool class, his birthday is this week and I ran out of paper liners. I called my neighbor and she said that she had some. So, I rushed over but on my way out the door I noticed a package on the front door. I automatically assumed that it was something for Hudson. I told Travis about it and he immediately said "oh...thats for me", I asked what it was and immediately looked at who it was from. I saw that it was from NBC. Well, it took me about 5.2 seconds to figure out what it was. It wasn't for Travis and it wasn't for Hudson.....IT WAS FOR ME. I have been wanting a bodybugg for years. The bodybugg is a very accurate calorie management system and can really help manage weight loss. The bodybugg system works by keeping an accurate daily record of calories consumed vs. burned making it easier to stay informed, make decisions and more effectively manage your weight. I was so excited!! I have worn it everyday and it works great. The results that you can look at on the computer are amazing. I'll write more about it soon but wanted to at least let you know I got one and that it is awesome.So, you know that I posted measurements. The next day after getting my bodybugg, Trav brought me home a myotape. They sell them at A1Supplments.com (where Travis works) and he got one for me. It is an accurate measuring tape for measuring all your circumferences. It makes it so you you always measure the same "tightness". It is pretty cool. The good news is that most of my measurements are smaller than what I had posted. I will do a new post soon. My Birthday is a week from Monday. Happy early Birthday to me! I am so excited to post my weight this week! I think all my gadgets and gizmos have really helped. Tomorrow is Hudson's birthday party. I just need to be careful and not consume too many calories. We are having a very fun pirate party. I'll post some pictures and details soon!

I really try to limit my fast food but sometimes it is absolutely necessary. At least once a week I work until 5PM and then teach a CPR class in Knoxville (30 minute drive) at 6PM and I need to be there a little early to set up. This means either eat at fast food, pack my dinner or wait until 9PM to eat. I pack occasionally but usually I end up at fast food. I found this article to be some good tips for eating at fast food when you dont have any other options. The article gives you your 11 best fast food post option workout snacks under 200 calories.

Here is the intro:
Some protein bars can be more like candy bars, providing sugar and fillers rather than actual healthy nutrition. While a fast food restaurant may not be the best choice for a quick bite after your workout, these options are good. They provide protein, carbohydrates and, most of all, satisfaction for fewer calories than a Snickers bar.

The articles gives you some ideas for the following:

• Best in-hand option
• Best breakfast option
• Best open 'till 2 a.m. option
• Best drive-thru hand held
• Best high protein option
• Best filling sandwich option for early risers
• Best sides as a snack option, plus a high-protein treat
• Best protein splurge option
• Best sweet treat option

So, when you are absolutely on the run...give these a try. I love Wendy's Chili and I can always enjoy a skinny Starbucks latte.

Surprise!!! We're leaving on a jet plane......

Wow..I am so tired today. I really need to go workout but I just can't get motivated to do it. As soon as I do this post I am going to bed. But first, I wanted to see how many people in East Idaho are still reading my blog. I feel a lot of pressure to meet this goal of being at 185 by Thanksgiving. I AM RUNNING OUT OF TIME!!! Wonder why I feel the pressure? Because we are making a surprise trip to Idaho for Thanksgiving. We get there on November 21st and come home on the 30th. It should be a fun trip. Last time we were there I was 7 months pregnant. We haven't told anyone about the trip up until this point and wanted to wait and just show up at the door step but then decided with the trip only being 2 weeks away, we better tell them. So....SURPRISE!!! See ya in 13 days!

Another exciting thing happened today....baby girl Reese (we call her Sissy)...started to crawl. I am so proud of her. She is so cute and to watch her determination to learn how to move that body keeps me motivated. It is so cute to see her crawl across the room and then kind of collapse cause she is so tired. I'm sure she will build up some stamina soon.

Well, my diet has to be PERFECT and I have to do cardio at least 5 days a week to meet my goal. The problem is that I am tired and getting burned out. Not burned out from my diet and working out but just burned out. Seems like we always have something going. Between work and the kids I stay busy and then this week for example, I have a CPR class tomorrow morning, need to go to my workout class on Tuesday night (cause I can't go Thursday), Wednesday night I have a meeting and I can't get out of it cause I am the president of the chapter, Thursday night I am teaching CPR...and the list goes on and on. It will be hard to get in those 5 workouts but I am going to try hard. We leave two weeks from today and I have 7 pounds to lose! I know that I can do it! Wish me luck and for those of you in Rigby....See ya soon!

Stir Fry

Tonight I am making Stir Fry for dinner. It is so easy and so yummy!

Clean & Cut the following in bite size pieces:

• Broccoli
• Mushrooms
• Bell pepper
• Snow Peas
• Bean Sprouts
• Zucchini
• Onion
• Carrots
• Water Chestnuts

Cook Shrimp, Steak or Chicken with 1-2 tsp olive oil until done (tonight I am using shrimp). Add vegetables to skillet and cover allow to cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Don't over cook; I try to keep my vegetables a little on the crunchy side. I have bought a variety of different sauces to add; you can find these in the asian section at your local super market. Tonight I am adding a General TSO sauce. Just be aware of the sodium content and get one with no MSG. You can serve with brown or white rice. I know that brown rice is better for you but for a special treat, pick up a bag of jasmine rice. It is very tasty.

I just googled the nutritional differences between brown and white rice and this is what I found:

White vs. Brown

Many health fanatics automatically choose brown rice when selecting a side dish to accompany their meal. The fact is, however, that both varieties of rice are good for you. A cup of white has about the same amount of calories as brown, but far less fat. (.8 grams per serving vs. 2.4 grams per serving) However, brown rice is much higher in fiber than the white variety, with 2.8 grams of dietary fiber per serving versus .6 grams. Most other nutritional values are similar.

Shocking Food Industry Secrets

I read an article on yahoo yesterday and found it to be interesting so I thought I would share. Some of the article was no surprise and some of it was shocking. Feel free to read the entire article from the link but here are a few things I thought I would share:

1. The average American has easy access to 2,700 calories each day, versus just 2,200 in 1970. If 500 calories a day doesn't sound like much, consider: that’s 52 pounds a year.

2. The average American drinks 450 liquid calories a day. That’s twice as much as we consumed 30 years ago.

3. Fresh fruits and vegetables cost 10 times more than junk food. A thousand calories of nutritious food cost $18.16, while a thousand calories of junk food cost a mere $1.76.

4. Your food can legally contain maggots and rat poop.

For more shocking secrets...check out the article

source: http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatthis/15-shocking-food-industry-secrets

Weight Watcher Results: Week 29

A solid 2 pound loss. I was expecting a little more but I am still proud of that. I did good this week with my points; plus I did 3 sessions of cardio, 1 session of strength and drank my water pretty well. I need to do better about my water. My trainer Tammye encouraged me to try and do faster intervals on the treadmill. Last night as I was doing them, I increased my speed to 6.5 for 10 of the intervals. To be honest, it wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. My legs work just fine, it is my heart and lungs that feel like they are suffering..but they feel like that at 5.0 so I may as well be going 6.5. I am going to try and continue to increase the number of faster sets this week; seems like I needed a little longer period of time to recover though.

Looking for a 3 pound loss this week. Going to increase my cardio sessions to five. It will take some time and dedication but I know that I can do it.

Measurements

Okay, so I am not sure what is more embarrassing...posting my weight every week or posting these measurements that I just took. I recently read that the ideal measurements for a female model are 34-24-34 (Bust-Waist-Hips). Wow! That is a rude awakening. I am far from the ideal. The Weight Watchers online tool allows you to track several measurements, so I have decided to take measurements monthly; I feel that weekly is way to often.

So here they are:
Bust: 42.5
Waist: 39
Hips: 49
Arm: 15.5
Thigh: 28.5
Calf: 15.5
Dress Size: 16

So my thigh is bigger than a model's waist? That kind of makes me want to puke. I also have recently read that women with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches have a higher disease risk than people with smaller waist measurements because of where their fat lies, in the abodomen. So, I need to at least get my waist below that number. The good news is that at least my measurements are kind of like an hour glass; my hips are my biggest problem area...any suggestions on how to reduce them??

A Good Week

Well today was a good day. I was only 2 points over and I burned 7 activity points with my workout. I went to the gym early so I could spend some time on the elliptical. I brought in my iphone and blasted the 80s rock in my ear buds. It is amazing what a little music can do for your workout. When ever I listen to music with faster beats I guarantee that I burning more calories and moving my legs faster. I love listening to Poison, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, White Snake, etc when I work out. I also like some pop and hip hop to workout.

My workout tonight with Tammye was good too. She is encouraging me to do measurements. Maybe I will do that soon. I feel like I am going to have a good week. I am actually excited for the weigh in on Sunday. I am off tomorrow so going to try and get some time in on the treadmill. Tammye has challenged me to increase my speed on the treadmill to 6 or 6.5 even if it is only for 30 second intervals. I am going to try it and hopefully I won't die.

STRESSED spells DESSERTS backwards

Have you ever noticed that if you write the word desserts backward that you get the word stressed? Well, today was a hectic day at work. I have been doing so good. I have been tracking my points and eating things I am supposed to. I still haven't been on the treadmill much but I have been drinking my water and my diet has been spot on. It helped that Nov 1 was a Monday. Doesn't get any better than that to start a fresh again! But...even though I have been good the end of my day today at work was very stressful and ended in what seemed to be a confrontation with a friend. I am not quite sure why it was that way but the room felt very tense like you could cut the air with a knife. I could bore you with the subject matter but I will spare you the details but in a nutshell I just try my best to make sure that everyone is aware of all of their options, the benefits/disadvantages to the product and the financial gain/loss of the item. I thought that is what I was doing today but for some reason it was just really high stress, high tension and combative.

At my job I have to be pretty tough. My job is to create change in the hospital and as you probably know..people hate change. I try to be a good listener, and a good moderator but I get in the zone and can be pretty tough sometimes especially with the vendors that come in unannounced or unprepared, etc. I think because of this, I get the persona that my feelings don't get hurt and that I am tougher than I am. However, I do have feelings and while honestly I really don't care what MOST people think of me, I do care when it my friends or family or someone that I really care about and value. The problem is that sometimes my work can interfere with those people. Well, I still can't put my finger on why the air was so tense today but I left with feelings hurt and stressed out about it.

As soon as I got home I was stressed out and proceeded to tell Travis about my last meeting of the day which did not go at all as planned. I opened up Hudson's cookies and started indulging. I purposely buy Hudson M&M cookies because I don't particularly like them but they just sounded good tonight. I also ate a very small handful of cashews. I had a pretty high point value lunch so I didn't have many to spare. So..to make a long story short I went 5.5 points over tonight. 2 cookies were 3 points and my small scoop of cashew pieces was 2.5. Darn it. Why couldn't I control myself.

I do have to admit that it felt better after eating it and that my stress seemed to dissipate as the chocolate cookie hit my lips. I usually try really hard not to sweat the small stuff and to allow myself to get stressed out but this has been a crazy week and today did not help it any. Hopefully there will be a better day tomorrow. I recently read this quote by George MacDonald, "It is not the cares of today, but the cares of tomorrow, that weigh a man down". So, I will put this behind me because I don't want to be weighed down...literally!

Have your Dessert and Chew it too

Today my friend at work asked me if I liked Key lime pie; I answered with yes and she said, "you have to try this gum, it tastes just like it". I was hesitant to try it as I am usually a classic gummer. I love bubble and mint but dont really get into the fruity flavors but.... I gave it a try. Surprisingly it tasted exactly like key lime pie, right down to the graham cracker crust. It was so weird but yummy at the same time. It really did taste like easting a dessert. The gum is called Extra's Dessert Sensations. Tonight when I ran into Walgreens I saw another gum flavored mint chocolate chip. This sounded nasty to me even though it is my favorite flavor of ice cream. I usually hate any fake chocolates but curiosity killed me. I had to get it. Again, to my surprise it was good and did taste like the ice cream. On the way home from the store I called my friend Amanda to tell her. She also had tried the key lime and loved it and said that her favorite is the strawberry shortcake. I am going to have to try it next. Anyway, I know it sounds weird but it was really good. It is great for when you are craving something yummy and you don't have any extra calories.

Today I ate really good. Only one point over my threshold. Tonight I just stared at the Halloween Candy craving some....but then I stuck in a piece of my gum and I have been okay. Gum has many health benefits too. It has been proven to help relieve stress, improve oral health, increase alertness, as well as aid in weight management. It can help reduce calorie intake, end mindless munching, and increase energy. It also burns about 11 calories an hour while you chew.