Hey everyone! Happy Friday and happy weigh-in day!
Current weight: 293.0
I didn't gain or lose any weight this week, which is a-okay with me! I was very nervous about this weigh-in since I have lost a combined 6.8 pounds in the previous two weigh-ins. With the addition of hormones and water retention, I was very nervous that I might have actually gained this week, but thankfully I did not.
Only 5 more days until I can start introducing new exercises back in the mix. I'm beyond excited! I think I'll start with Zumba and walking and ease my way back into jogging. I'll post a new recipe this weekend and hopefully reintroduce the Snack of the Week post. :)
Keep on keepin' on!
Until next time,
BK
Friday, July 26, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Recipe Time: Chicken Pot Pie
Hey everyone!
As promised, here's one of the recipes that Kyle and I have been enjoying! I got this recipe offline and when I initially tried it, I was not impressed. It was kind of bland and it used frozen veggies, which turned out crunchy. Despite this shortcomings, I felt as though the recipe had potential and decided to make some flavorful changes. The second attempt was incredibly delicious! It did increase the pointsplus value per serving, but the servings are generous and super yummy! This recipe makes four servings (1/4 of casserole) and each serving is around 10 pointsplus.
16 oz. chicken breast tenderloins (or really any white meat chicken)
29 oz can of Veg All, drained
2 cans of Cream of Chicken w/ Herb soup (or any "Cream of" Soup)
1 cup of Heart Smart, Reduced Fat Bisquick mix
1/2 cup skim milk
1/4 cup egg substitute
2 tablespoons of Brummel and Brown (or margarine of your choice)
Mrs. Dash Onion and Herb flavor
1/2 teaspoon Parsley
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
Directions:
(1) Preheat Oven to 400 degrees.
(2)
Cook chicken with olive oil (I usually use about a tablespoon for
cooking) and season with Mrs. Dash Onion and Herb, while it cooks. Once
fully cooked, cut into smaller pieces.
(3) Mix Veg All, Chicken, and two cans of soup together in a bowl.
Add 1 teaspoon of Mrs. Dash Onion and Herb flavor (or more if you
prefer, taste it and see!), mix well.
(4) Spray an 8x8 casserole dish with cooking spray. Pour chicken mixture in the casserole dish.
(5) Mix Bisquick, egg, and milk in a small separate bowl and pour
over chicken mixture. The casserole dish will be VERY full, do not be
alarmed, if it is like mine, it won't bake over.
(6) Bake for about 20 minutes.
(7) Melt the Brummel and Brown and mix in the parsley and garlic
powder. Take casserole out of oven and brush the margarine/herb mixture
over the top of the crust.
(8) Put casserole back in the oven and bake for another 10 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
I hope you enjoy it as much as we have!
Until next time,
BK
As promised, here's one of the recipes that Kyle and I have been enjoying! I got this recipe offline and when I initially tried it, I was not impressed. It was kind of bland and it used frozen veggies, which turned out crunchy. Despite this shortcomings, I felt as though the recipe had potential and decided to make some flavorful changes. The second attempt was incredibly delicious! It did increase the pointsplus value per serving, but the servings are generous and super yummy! This recipe makes four servings (1/4 of casserole) and each serving is around 10 pointsplus.
Ingredients:
Olive OilDirections:
I hope you enjoy it as much as we have!
Until next time,
BK
Friday, July 19, 2013
Steady As She Goes...
Hello everyone! Happy Friday and Happy Weigh-in Day!
Current weight: 293.0
I lost 2.2 pounds this week! I was pleasantly surprised to have lost that much considering last week's big weight loss, but I could not feel better about being back on track and eating the way I should.
I went to my doctor on Wednesday and he feels like I'm on the up-and-up. Definitely still having pain and some stiffness in my knee, but since I'm doing better he thinks anti-inflammatory medicine and rest is working as it should. He did limit me to only swimming and biking for the next two weeks, but if I continue to improve over the next two weeks, then I can begin jogging and doing other exercises (like Zumba) again! He did caution me to start off slowly on the jogging, so I'll start back on Week 1 of Couch to 5K (not Week 3 where I left off). I'm a little apprehensive about jogging again, just because of this injury, but I'm still excited about our first 5K in September. Considering I will have lost 5 weeks of my training for well-needed rest, I have also come to terms with the fact that I won't be meeting my initial goal of jogging the entire 3.1 miles. And that's okay! I will jog as much of it as I can and be proud to just finish it! There will be other 5Ks in the future.
Keep up the good work everyone! I'll work on getting the recipes uploaded that I promised!
Until next time,
BK
Current weight: 293.0
I lost 2.2 pounds this week! I was pleasantly surprised to have lost that much considering last week's big weight loss, but I could not feel better about being back on track and eating the way I should.
I went to my doctor on Wednesday and he feels like I'm on the up-and-up. Definitely still having pain and some stiffness in my knee, but since I'm doing better he thinks anti-inflammatory medicine and rest is working as it should. He did limit me to only swimming and biking for the next two weeks, but if I continue to improve over the next two weeks, then I can begin jogging and doing other exercises (like Zumba) again! He did caution me to start off slowly on the jogging, so I'll start back on Week 1 of Couch to 5K (not Week 3 where I left off). I'm a little apprehensive about jogging again, just because of this injury, but I'm still excited about our first 5K in September. Considering I will have lost 5 weeks of my training for well-needed rest, I have also come to terms with the fact that I won't be meeting my initial goal of jogging the entire 3.1 miles. And that's okay! I will jog as much of it as I can and be proud to just finish it! There will be other 5Ks in the future.
Keep up the good work everyone! I'll work on getting the recipes uploaded that I promised!
Until next time,
BK
Friday, July 12, 2013
The "Switch"
Hey everyone!
It has been far too long. My last blog entry is from February. Here's what has happened in my life since then:
So since February I've been gaining some weight, kind of half-doing Weight Watchers and half not, exercising when I felt like it, but not as much as I was. Now it's five months later. As with previous patterns, I also get super embarrassed when I gain weight and it deters me from posting, which decreases my motivation, which deters me from posting and the vicious cycle continues. I did try to get back on track after my birthday. Kyle bought me a new pair of running shoes and we registered for the Graffiti 5K in New Orleans on September 1st (my FIRST 5k!!!). I got super excited and started training with Couch to 5K. But about halfway through week 2, I started having some serious knee pain, swelling, and stiffness. I went to my doctor who told me to go to the orthopedic doctor who told me I had bursitis in my left knee and that I needed to STOP doing all exercise except for swimming and stationary biking for 3 weeks (ending on Wednesday 7/17 when I return for a doctor's visit). I was so disappointed. I was told it was a common injury/condition for people who are starting new and different exercise routines (like jogging), but every time I looked online I saw it was mostly older people with bursitis, which fueled my self-deprecation. So I kind of got discouraged and gave up a little after that.
Last week, Kyle and I decided that enough was enough and that we HAD to get back on track. I was talking with my mom today and told her that to me, the desire to lose weight (and SERIOUSLY commit to it) is kind of like a switch that has to go off in my brain. And until that switch goes off, it's just not going to happen. I'll sabotage myself (read: Feb-July 2013) and I'll get discouraged and I'll fail at it. I think last week when I stepped on the scale after mine and Kyle's indulgent Fourth of July, the switched flipped back to where it needed to be, where it was in February.
When I got on the scale, this is what I saw:
299.8
WHAT?!?!?! That number is snuggling with 300 pounds. UGH, 300 pounds is the bane of my existence! You remember how hard I tried to get under that dreadful number AGAIN last year. It really woke me up and it really flipped my switch. Not only is that number close to 300, it's also 20 POUNDS from where I was in February. I can rationalize a lot of small weight losses: "I'm on my period." "I've been so stressed out." "It's my birthday week!" But there is no way to rationalize 20 pounds. That's just poor eating choices and me being a bit lazy with my workouts.
So... we got back on Weight Watchers. Counting points, measuring food, eating out smarter, etc. This week was tough, because we have been eating with reckless abandon for the past month or so, but it felt nice to be in "control" (yes, I know, I'm always in control, but it's that cognitive switch, I'm telling you!).
Proud moments from the week: going biking two days, while Kyle attended our usual exercise classes. Sure I had a miniature pity party for myself ("but I don't WANT to sit on the stationary bike and pedal, I want to go do Body Pump"), but at least I'm moving my knee and I went 4.65 miles in 30 minutes, which isn't too shabby in my opinion. Going to Mugshots and ordering FISH and VEGETABLES instead of their delicious, amazing burgers. If you don't know what Mugshots is, it's a ridiculously delicious burger place, full of delicious burger smells, and other people (husband included) eating delicious burgers. But my mahi mahi and steamed vegetables were delicious, also. And I felt like a nutrition super hero. Just a little.
So we stepped on the scale this morning and Kyle lost 1.9 pounds (he had gained some weight over the past five months too, but not 20 pounds worth).... woo hoo!
My current weight: 295.2
WHEW. I lost 4.6 pounds and am steadily moving away from that 300 pound mark. It makes me nervous about next week's weigh-in (because a big weight loss is usually followed by a small or nonexistent weight loss), BUT it's a new week and I'm optimistic. This week back on track has showed me that I CAN still do it and that as long as I make the right, healthy choices, I'll be fine!
I'm going to see my orthopedic doctor on Wednesday and I hope he gives me go-ahead to at least do Zumba, because I miss it so much! Pray for happy news!
I've got some GREAT recipes that I can't wait to share with you AND some awesome new low point snacks that are super yummy.
Until next time,
BK
It has been far too long. My last blog entry is from February. Here's what has happened in my life since then:
- Spring Break/Week at Home
- Grad school finals
- Summer vacation has started!
- Dad's back from deployment/family came to visit!
So since February I've been gaining some weight, kind of half-doing Weight Watchers and half not, exercising when I felt like it, but not as much as I was. Now it's five months later. As with previous patterns, I also get super embarrassed when I gain weight and it deters me from posting, which decreases my motivation, which deters me from posting and the vicious cycle continues. I did try to get back on track after my birthday. Kyle bought me a new pair of running shoes and we registered for the Graffiti 5K in New Orleans on September 1st (my FIRST 5k!!!). I got super excited and started training with Couch to 5K. But about halfway through week 2, I started having some serious knee pain, swelling, and stiffness. I went to my doctor who told me to go to the orthopedic doctor who told me I had bursitis in my left knee and that I needed to STOP doing all exercise except for swimming and stationary biking for 3 weeks (ending on Wednesday 7/17 when I return for a doctor's visit). I was so disappointed. I was told it was a common injury/condition for people who are starting new and different exercise routines (like jogging), but every time I looked online I saw it was mostly older people with bursitis, which fueled my self-deprecation. So I kind of got discouraged and gave up a little after that.
Last week, Kyle and I decided that enough was enough and that we HAD to get back on track. I was talking with my mom today and told her that to me, the desire to lose weight (and SERIOUSLY commit to it) is kind of like a switch that has to go off in my brain. And until that switch goes off, it's just not going to happen. I'll sabotage myself (read: Feb-July 2013) and I'll get discouraged and I'll fail at it. I think last week when I stepped on the scale after mine and Kyle's indulgent Fourth of July, the switched flipped back to where it needed to be, where it was in February.
When I got on the scale, this is what I saw:
299.8
WHAT?!?!?! That number is snuggling with 300 pounds. UGH, 300 pounds is the bane of my existence! You remember how hard I tried to get under that dreadful number AGAIN last year. It really woke me up and it really flipped my switch. Not only is that number close to 300, it's also 20 POUNDS from where I was in February. I can rationalize a lot of small weight losses: "I'm on my period." "I've been so stressed out." "It's my birthday week!" But there is no way to rationalize 20 pounds. That's just poor eating choices and me being a bit lazy with my workouts.
So... we got back on Weight Watchers. Counting points, measuring food, eating out smarter, etc. This week was tough, because we have been eating with reckless abandon for the past month or so, but it felt nice to be in "control" (yes, I know, I'm always in control, but it's that cognitive switch, I'm telling you!).
Proud moments from the week: going biking two days, while Kyle attended our usual exercise classes. Sure I had a miniature pity party for myself ("but I don't WANT to sit on the stationary bike and pedal, I want to go do Body Pump"), but at least I'm moving my knee and I went 4.65 miles in 30 minutes, which isn't too shabby in my opinion. Going to Mugshots and ordering FISH and VEGETABLES instead of their delicious, amazing burgers. If you don't know what Mugshots is, it's a ridiculously delicious burger place, full of delicious burger smells, and other people (husband included) eating delicious burgers. But my mahi mahi and steamed vegetables were delicious, also. And I felt like a nutrition super hero. Just a little.
So we stepped on the scale this morning and Kyle lost 1.9 pounds (he had gained some weight over the past five months too, but not 20 pounds worth).... woo hoo!
My current weight: 295.2
WHEW. I lost 4.6 pounds and am steadily moving away from that 300 pound mark. It makes me nervous about next week's weigh-in (because a big weight loss is usually followed by a small or nonexistent weight loss), BUT it's a new week and I'm optimistic. This week back on track has showed me that I CAN still do it and that as long as I make the right, healthy choices, I'll be fine!
I'm going to see my orthopedic doctor on Wednesday and I hope he gives me go-ahead to at least do Zumba, because I miss it so much! Pray for happy news!
I've got some GREAT recipes that I can't wait to share with you AND some awesome new low point snacks that are super yummy.
Until next time,
BK
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Update/Snack of the Week: Skinny Pop Popcorn!
Hey everyone!
I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to post this Wednesday for our weigh-in! Kyle and I were both feeling cruddy with sinus pressure/congestion so we both took the day off to recover and it slipped my mind until bedtime. We did weigh-in as usual and the results were grand!
Current weight (as of 2/20/13): 278.2
Kyle's current weight (as of 2/20/13): 242.3
I lost 1.1 and Kyle lost 3.1! I'm 1.3 pounds away from my pre-Thanksgiving weight (whew) and back to 75 pounds down. Kyle hit his 25 (almost 26) pound mark! Awesome week for us! It was not a week devoid of challenges: we were both feeling pretty sick and gross so there was less exercise than usual. LSU also had interviews for our doctoral program so we ate out a lot and that was stressful for weight loss. Luckily, we nailed it! I'm so proud of us!
I know I've also been slacking on Snack of the Week posts, but my fellow Sunday School teacher Stephanie introduced me to Skinny Pop popcorn today and it is delicious and low-point. If you're like me, popcorn is addictive and I personally could it a truckload of it every day.
Here's a picture of the bag. The serving size is 4 cups and the pointsplus value is 4! That's only 1 pointplus per cup! The taste reminds me of air-popped popcorn but with a taste! If you love popcorn as much as I do, give this a shot to satisfy those cravings! Snack smart!
Until next time,
BK
I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to post this Wednesday for our weigh-in! Kyle and I were both feeling cruddy with sinus pressure/congestion so we both took the day off to recover and it slipped my mind until bedtime. We did weigh-in as usual and the results were grand!
Current weight (as of 2/20/13): 278.2
Kyle's current weight (as of 2/20/13): 242.3
I lost 1.1 and Kyle lost 3.1! I'm 1.3 pounds away from my pre-Thanksgiving weight (whew) and back to 75 pounds down. Kyle hit his 25 (almost 26) pound mark! Awesome week for us! It was not a week devoid of challenges: we were both feeling pretty sick and gross so there was less exercise than usual. LSU also had interviews for our doctoral program so we ate out a lot and that was stressful for weight loss. Luckily, we nailed it! I'm so proud of us!
I know I've also been slacking on Snack of the Week posts, but my fellow Sunday School teacher Stephanie introduced me to Skinny Pop popcorn today and it is delicious and low-point. If you're like me, popcorn is addictive and I personally could it a truckload of it every day.
Until next time,
BK
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Not-so-Fat Tuesday
Hey everyone!
It's weigh-in day and I am RELIEVED!
Current weight: 279.3
Kyle's current weight: 245.4
I stayed the same and Kyle lost 0.4. I'm actually perfectly fine with those numbers, because Mardi Gras break has been tough. We did buy another king cake (shame on us) and have been eating it in sensible amounts since Saturday (two servings left!). I've also had some time off work/school and I'm not complaining, but it's hard to sit around the house all day! I don't know about you, but I get bored/munchy when I'm at home and my routine is disrupted. Prior to the break, my week last week was insanely busy and subsequently I missed quite a few exercise classes. So needless to say, Kyle losing a little is awesome and me losing/gaining none is equally as awesome.
Kyle and I have decided to give things up for Lent (don't give me the lecture about how Lent is about more than giving up indulgences, I am well aware and will be striving to do more than just "giving something up"). I'm giving up ALL sodas (diet included) and Kyle is giving up extraneous fast food. Kyle likes to indulge in late night or snack-time fast food at times, so we're taking that out! I'm hoping this means I'll drink predominantly water and maybe cut out sodas for good. We'll see!
Time to get ready for a Zumba class tonight! :)
Until next time,
BK
It's weigh-in day and I am RELIEVED!
Current weight: 279.3
Kyle's current weight: 245.4
I stayed the same and Kyle lost 0.4. I'm actually perfectly fine with those numbers, because Mardi Gras break has been tough. We did buy another king cake (shame on us) and have been eating it in sensible amounts since Saturday (two servings left!). I've also had some time off work/school and I'm not complaining, but it's hard to sit around the house all day! I don't know about you, but I get bored/munchy when I'm at home and my routine is disrupted. Prior to the break, my week last week was insanely busy and subsequently I missed quite a few exercise classes. So needless to say, Kyle losing a little is awesome and me losing/gaining none is equally as awesome.
Kyle and I have decided to give things up for Lent (don't give me the lecture about how Lent is about more than giving up indulgences, I am well aware and will be striving to do more than just "giving something up"). I'm giving up ALL sodas (diet included) and Kyle is giving up extraneous fast food. Kyle likes to indulge in late night or snack-time fast food at times, so we're taking that out! I'm hoping this means I'll drink predominantly water and maybe cut out sodas for good. We'll see!
Time to get ready for a Zumba class tonight! :)
Until next time,
BK
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Take THAT, Super Bowl!
Hello everyone!
It's weigh-in day and Kyle and I both lost weight this week! :)
Current weight: 279.3
Kyle's current weight: 245.8
I lost 3.6 pounds and Kyle lost 1.1! We are both pretty excited! I was very nervous about this week because (1) I have been sick, so I haven't made it to as many exercise classes as usual and (2) SUPER BOWL. What did we eat during the Super Bowl? Typical Super Bowl food like pizza, pigs in a blanket, cookies, meat and cheese. I tried to keep it in check, but Super Bowl Sunday is a tough day to count points and Kyle and I both fell short in our efforts. Luckily, our other eating choices and activity choices balanced it out! I am so relieved after the tough weigh-in we both had last week. I'm also super excited because I'm back in the 270s and less than three pounds away from losing all my Christmas weight! Woo hoo!
Next difficult day will be Mardi Gras, which is coming up next week before the next weigh-in. Hoping we'll keep making good choices and now that I'm feeling better we should be able to exercise a lot more! I keep thinking about what to give up for Lent and right now I'm considering chocolate. Yikes! That would be so hard! We'll see how it goes!
Right now it's time to put dinner in the Crock Pot and then head to class! Keep working everyone!
Until next time,
BK
It's weigh-in day and Kyle and I both lost weight this week! :)
Current weight: 279.3
Kyle's current weight: 245.8
I lost 3.6 pounds and Kyle lost 1.1! We are both pretty excited! I was very nervous about this week because (1) I have been sick, so I haven't made it to as many exercise classes as usual and (2) SUPER BOWL. What did we eat during the Super Bowl? Typical Super Bowl food like pizza, pigs in a blanket, cookies, meat and cheese. I tried to keep it in check, but Super Bowl Sunday is a tough day to count points and Kyle and I both fell short in our efforts. Luckily, our other eating choices and activity choices balanced it out! I am so relieved after the tough weigh-in we both had last week. I'm also super excited because I'm back in the 270s and less than three pounds away from losing all my Christmas weight! Woo hoo!
Next difficult day will be Mardi Gras, which is coming up next week before the next weigh-in. Hoping we'll keep making good choices and now that I'm feeling better we should be able to exercise a lot more! I keep thinking about what to give up for Lent and right now I'm considering chocolate. Yikes! That would be so hard! We'll see how it goes!
Right now it's time to put dinner in the Crock Pot and then head to class! Keep working everyone!
Until next time,
BK
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
One of "those" entries...
Hey everyone! It's weigh-in day!
Kyle and I both had a tough week this week.
Current weight: 282.9
Kyle's current weight: 246.9
Kyle stayed the same this week and I gained 0.7. We're both pretty disappointed, because we thought we had a great week! Kyle logged in two hours of exercise this week and I logged in six. We counted our points and only splurged into what we thought were within our activity points and weekly points. One of the main reasons (in my opinion) for this disappointing weigh-in is the fact that we got Chinese take-out for dinner last night unexpectedly and we all know how much sodium is in even the healthiest of Chinese menu options. What happened was that we got out of our Body Pump class, realized how starving we were, and knew it would be extremely difficult to wait until we got home and I could cook. Therefore, I'm not sure how much is water retention and how much is actual weight gain. I also have some cycle-related concerns for this week, but that's neither here nor there. The point is, it was a hard weigh-in for both of us. It's difficult to work hard and not see the results on the scale. Luckily, I know that the scale isn't everything. Kyle and I are getting in shape and eating sensibly, so we can't be upset about that! Today I have fortunately had time to prep our dinner tonight to shave off some cooking time after our Zumba class!
If you've followed my blog for a while, you know this isn't the first time I've had this type of entry. Weight loss is hard, as we all know, and some weeks your body just doesn't want to let go of any more weight, no matter what you've done. As I always say, this week is a new week and we're still on track!
Hang in there, guys and gals! The scale might not celebrate with you, but every week you make healthy choices for your body, it's still a roaring success.
Until next time,
BK
Kyle and I both had a tough week this week.
Current weight: 282.9
Kyle's current weight: 246.9
Kyle stayed the same this week and I gained 0.7. We're both pretty disappointed, because we thought we had a great week! Kyle logged in two hours of exercise this week and I logged in six. We counted our points and only splurged into what we thought were within our activity points and weekly points. One of the main reasons (in my opinion) for this disappointing weigh-in is the fact that we got Chinese take-out for dinner last night unexpectedly and we all know how much sodium is in even the healthiest of Chinese menu options. What happened was that we got out of our Body Pump class, realized how starving we were, and knew it would be extremely difficult to wait until we got home and I could cook. Therefore, I'm not sure how much is water retention and how much is actual weight gain. I also have some cycle-related concerns for this week, but that's neither here nor there. The point is, it was a hard weigh-in for both of us. It's difficult to work hard and not see the results on the scale. Luckily, I know that the scale isn't everything. Kyle and I are getting in shape and eating sensibly, so we can't be upset about that! Today I have fortunately had time to prep our dinner tonight to shave off some cooking time after our Zumba class!
If you've followed my blog for a while, you know this isn't the first time I've had this type of entry. Weight loss is hard, as we all know, and some weeks your body just doesn't want to let go of any more weight, no matter what you've done. As I always say, this week is a new week and we're still on track!
Hang in there, guys and gals! The scale might not celebrate with you, but every week you make healthy choices for your body, it's still a roaring success.
Until next time,
BK
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Snack of the Week: Skinny Cow Divine Filled Chocolates
Happy Sunday everyone!
Here's the size of one of the pouches. As you can see, a nice size pouch of peanut butter and chocolatey goodness for only 4 pointsplus! So if you are like me and you have a massive sweet tooth that demands to be satisfied on an almost daily basis, check these out! I found mine at Albertson's grocery store on sale - 2 boxes for $7, but I've also seen them at Wal-Mart and I'd imagine they'd be a bit cheaper there.
Keep snacking smartly! Feel free to share your favorite low points or healthy snacks, as well! I love new suggestions!
Until next time,
BK
Time for a snack of the week post. This week I have found a magically delicious sweet treat (no, it's not Lucky Charms) and couldn't wait to share. I have a bad habit of posting about salty treats more often than sweet ones, but this one is worth the wait!
Skinny Cow Divine Filled Chocolates taste deceptively like Ghiradelli chocolate squares (which I absolutely love). They are brand new and as of now, they come with two types of filling: peanut butter and caramel. I haven't tried to the caramel flavor yet, but the peanut butter ones taste VERY similar to the Ghiradelli chocolates! Right in time for Valentine's Day, which we know is a giant bombardment of chocolate and sweets. They come in pouches of 3 small squares (a bit smaller than the other chocolate squares) and have a points plus value of 4 per pouch.
Keep snacking smartly! Feel free to share your favorite low points or healthy snacks, as well! I love new suggestions!
Until next time,
BK
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Sore, sore, so incredibly sore.
Hey everyone!
It's weigh-in day and I lost weight this week (again!)
Current weight: 282.2
Kyle's current weight: 246.9
I lost 1.3 pounds this week! Kyle gained 0.4, but he lost 1.5 last week, so he's still on the right track! He's lost almost 22 pounds so far, so I'm super proud! :) I was a bit worried about this week... I was not as rigorous with my points counting as I should have been. I am still not eating as much as I did over Christmas (yikes!), but snacking more than I should and eating more sweets than usual. If you aren't from Louisiana, consider yourself lucky to not have to try to lose weight during Mardi Gras king cake season! A king cake (for those of you who don't know) is a giant cake that tastes like a doughnut and is full of sugar. With Mardi Gras coming up, king cakes are EVERYWHERE. Kyle and I bought a specialty chocolate king cake on Saturday and have been eating on it every since. Luckily it's almost gone! While we shouldn't have had it in the house, I'm proud of us for showing at least some restraint. The cake was made for 8 "servings" and we ended up getting 11 servings out of it. It is definitely not Weight Watcher approved and I think I'll avoid buying another one! Kyle and I also tried a specialty burger place this weekend that was also not Weight Watcher approved (haha), but we had both been craving burgers and I'm glad we got the craving out of our systems. Needless to say, my weigh-in could have been much worse today, so I'm happy to have lost over a pound!
Speaking of cravings, my good friend Sara and I had a conversation the other night about the fine line of restriction in dieting. How much is too much? Where do we balance between too restrictive and too indulgent? I've always said you should work what you love (be it baked potatoes, cheeseburgers, pizza, whatever) into your diet by planning ahead and eating super well the rest of the week. I believe that if you indulge yourself occasionally, then you avoid binging because you feel TOO restricted. I wonder what you all think? How do you balance it out?
In other news, I'm getting back on track with exercise as well. I've been attending both Zumba and Body Pump classes and boy, am I sore! My body is still not used to weight lifting regularly, so I am staying pretty stiff and sore, but I know it is for the best! If you had told me a few years ago that I would be exercising this much (more than I ever have in my entire life), then I would have struggled to believe you. It's amazing what our bodies can do when we stop doubting them! Stop telling your body that you "can't" do something (unless, of course, your doctor has told you that you can't. Always listen to your doctor). I know with every grunt, every ache, and every painful step that my body is getting stronger and I'm doing myself a great service. I hope you all are pushing yourselves to get more activity in! I'm a firm believer that the best weight loss pairs both a sensible diet AND a large amount of physical activity.
Until next time,
BK
It's weigh-in day and I lost weight this week (again!)
Current weight: 282.2
Kyle's current weight: 246.9
I lost 1.3 pounds this week! Kyle gained 0.4, but he lost 1.5 last week, so he's still on the right track! He's lost almost 22 pounds so far, so I'm super proud! :) I was a bit worried about this week... I was not as rigorous with my points counting as I should have been. I am still not eating as much as I did over Christmas (yikes!), but snacking more than I should and eating more sweets than usual. If you aren't from Louisiana, consider yourself lucky to not have to try to lose weight during Mardi Gras king cake season! A king cake (for those of you who don't know) is a giant cake that tastes like a doughnut and is full of sugar. With Mardi Gras coming up, king cakes are EVERYWHERE. Kyle and I bought a specialty chocolate king cake on Saturday and have been eating on it every since. Luckily it's almost gone! While we shouldn't have had it in the house, I'm proud of us for showing at least some restraint. The cake was made for 8 "servings" and we ended up getting 11 servings out of it. It is definitely not Weight Watcher approved and I think I'll avoid buying another one! Kyle and I also tried a specialty burger place this weekend that was also not Weight Watcher approved (haha), but we had both been craving burgers and I'm glad we got the craving out of our systems. Needless to say, my weigh-in could have been much worse today, so I'm happy to have lost over a pound!
Speaking of cravings, my good friend Sara and I had a conversation the other night about the fine line of restriction in dieting. How much is too much? Where do we balance between too restrictive and too indulgent? I've always said you should work what you love (be it baked potatoes, cheeseburgers, pizza, whatever) into your diet by planning ahead and eating super well the rest of the week. I believe that if you indulge yourself occasionally, then you avoid binging because you feel TOO restricted. I wonder what you all think? How do you balance it out?
In other news, I'm getting back on track with exercise as well. I've been attending both Zumba and Body Pump classes and boy, am I sore! My body is still not used to weight lifting regularly, so I am staying pretty stiff and sore, but I know it is for the best! If you had told me a few years ago that I would be exercising this much (more than I ever have in my entire life), then I would have struggled to believe you. It's amazing what our bodies can do when we stop doubting them! Stop telling your body that you "can't" do something (unless, of course, your doctor has told you that you can't. Always listen to your doctor). I know with every grunt, every ache, and every painful step that my body is getting stronger and I'm doing myself a great service. I hope you all are pushing yourselves to get more activity in! I'm a firm believer that the best weight loss pairs both a sensible diet AND a large amount of physical activity.
Until next time,
BK
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Back to losing!
Hey everyone!
Today is my first weigh-in day (that I'm writing about) for 2013! Kyle forgot to weigh in so I'll just be reporting on myself!
Current weight: 283.5
I lost over 5 pounds since last week (you can do your own math to determine exactly how much I gained over break, though I don't recommend it!). I'm so pumped to be back on track. All it took was exercising regularly and following the Weight Watchers plan (imagine THAT!). This semester is going to be incredibly busy, so it will be a challenge to continue fitting in the number of workouts that I have been so far, but I'm up for it! Kyle and I are trying new recipes, some of which are turning out great - like black bean chili, some are not turning out so great - super low point, no taste "oreo" pie. Either way, we're pairing new recipes with old favorites to keep ourselves eating the way we should!
Today will be a short entry because I'm swamped with reading and clinic reports already! I hope you all are easing back into your normal routines as well! :)
Until next time,
BK
Today is my first weigh-in day (that I'm writing about) for 2013! Kyle forgot to weigh in so I'll just be reporting on myself!
Current weight: 283.5
I lost over 5 pounds since last week (you can do your own math to determine exactly how much I gained over break, though I don't recommend it!). I'm so pumped to be back on track. All it took was exercising regularly and following the Weight Watchers plan (imagine THAT!). This semester is going to be incredibly busy, so it will be a challenge to continue fitting in the number of workouts that I have been so far, but I'm up for it! Kyle and I are trying new recipes, some of which are turning out great - like black bean chili, some are not turning out so great - super low point, no taste "oreo" pie. Either way, we're pairing new recipes with old favorites to keep ourselves eating the way we should!
Today will be a short entry because I'm swamped with reading and clinic reports already! I hope you all are easing back into your normal routines as well! :)
Until next time,
BK
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Hiatus is Over/Snack of the Week: Pretzel Crisps
Hello everyone!
Well that was quite a hiatus from blogging, wasn't it? I apologize for it being so long, but Christmas/New Year's was quite hectic, as I'm sure it was for you all as well. Truth be told, I didn't blog after Christmas and New Year's because I got off track with my exercise/points counting and gained an embarrassing amount of weight over break. I was ashamed! Then I realized that it was time to call off my pity party and head back to my routine. I'm happy to report that I began attending exercise classes again last Thursday and I have attended 7 classes since then! Kyle and I also began counting Weight Watchers PointsPlus again on Wednesday and getting back into watching what we eat. So we are back on track! My motto has always been: If you get off track, don't beat yourself up! Just get back on track ASAP (not "on Monday" and not "next week") and keep on keeping on! So I'm following my own advice.
Anyway, now that I've reinstated my commitment to health, fitness, weight loss, AND blogging, it's time for our first Snack of the Week post of the new year! This week's snack of the week is.... Pretzel crisps!
Here's what the package looks like! They come in a variety of flavors: this week we are trying Garlic Parmesan, but they also had Jalapeno Jack, Chipotle Cheddar, and some type of regular, salted-only flavor among others. You get 10 pretzel crisps per serving and each serving has a pointsplus value of 3. I had some today with salsa (Pace Restaurant Style - Medium has a pointsplus value of 0 for FOUR tablespoons!) and they were pretty delicious!
Here's a (blurry) picture of what one of the crisps looks like. I feel like they are a pretty good size! I bet they would also be good with Laughing Cow Cheese (1 pointsplus per wedge) or with hummus (varies by brand/type)! So if you are in the mood for something crunchy and oh-so-satisfying. Give these a try this week! If you are like me, you won't be disappointed!
Here's to a brand new year, with renewed weight loss/fitness goals for us all!
Until next time,
BK
Well that was quite a hiatus from blogging, wasn't it? I apologize for it being so long, but Christmas/New Year's was quite hectic, as I'm sure it was for you all as well. Truth be told, I didn't blog after Christmas and New Year's because I got off track with my exercise/points counting and gained an embarrassing amount of weight over break. I was ashamed! Then I realized that it was time to call off my pity party and head back to my routine. I'm happy to report that I began attending exercise classes again last Thursday and I have attended 7 classes since then! Kyle and I also began counting Weight Watchers PointsPlus again on Wednesday and getting back into watching what we eat. So we are back on track! My motto has always been: If you get off track, don't beat yourself up! Just get back on track ASAP (not "on Monday" and not "next week") and keep on keeping on! So I'm following my own advice.
Anyway, now that I've reinstated my commitment to health, fitness, weight loss, AND blogging, it's time for our first Snack of the Week post of the new year! This week's snack of the week is.... Pretzel crisps!
Here's to a brand new year, with renewed weight loss/fitness goals for us all!
Until next time,
BK
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Finals!
Hi everyone! I hope your post-Thanksgiving time has not been as hectic as mine!
Today is weigh-in day and Kyle & I both lost weight!
Current weight: 277.3
Kyle's current weight: 249.6
I lost 3.6 pounds this week and Kyle lost 2.8! I lost all but 0.4 of my terrible Thanksgiving weight gain! Kyle didn't gain any over Thanksgiving, so he's still moving along great! He's lost 18.5 pounds since moving to Baton Rouge in August! :) I'm so proud of him and so thankful to have a partner in this crazy journey!
Today marks the almost end to the fall semester! I have one take-home final left before I have a break until January. All I can say is that this semester has been very stressful and I am so surprised and pleased with how well weight loss has gone for me and Kyle with all this stress going on. It just goes to show that know matter what you have going on in your life and how many "bad weeks" might crop up, you can still set realistic and healthy weight loss goals for yourself and reach them! It certainly won't happen overnight, but if you keep pushing yourself and don't quit, you'll be fine!
Hopefully now that Christmas break is in sight, it'll be easier to blog more often! Good luck to all of you who are in the middle of finals! I don't know about any of you, but I'm officially in the Christmas spirit! :)
Until next time,
BK
Today is weigh-in day and Kyle & I both lost weight!
Current weight: 277.3
Kyle's current weight: 249.6
I lost 3.6 pounds this week and Kyle lost 2.8! I lost all but 0.4 of my terrible Thanksgiving weight gain! Kyle didn't gain any over Thanksgiving, so he's still moving along great! He's lost 18.5 pounds since moving to Baton Rouge in August! :) I'm so proud of him and so thankful to have a partner in this crazy journey!
Today marks the almost end to the fall semester! I have one take-home final left before I have a break until January. All I can say is that this semester has been very stressful and I am so surprised and pleased with how well weight loss has gone for me and Kyle with all this stress going on. It just goes to show that know matter what you have going on in your life and how many "bad weeks" might crop up, you can still set realistic and healthy weight loss goals for yourself and reach them! It certainly won't happen overnight, but if you keep pushing yourself and don't quit, you'll be fine!
Hopefully now that Christmas break is in sight, it'll be easier to blog more often! Good luck to all of you who are in the middle of finals! I don't know about any of you, but I'm officially in the Christmas spirit! :)
Until next time,
BK
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Post-Thanksgiving Weight Gain
Hi everyone!
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were able to spend time with the people you love! It's weigh-in day and let me just say: Thanksgiving leftovers are evil! :)
Current weight: 280.9
Kyle's current weight: 252.4
That's right, Kyle LOST 0.2! Wow! I admire him because as you can tell if you glance at the previous entry, I gained four pounds this week. It's a combination of eating Thanksgiving leftovers for five days (they WERE delicious) and hormones/water retention from my monthly cycle. I'm disappointed over the gain as I am disappointed over every gain, but it's a new week and Kyle and I are both counting points and staying on program. I'm also excited to get back on track with our exercise! Holidays, as wonderful as they are, have a way of wreaking havoc on weight loss plans. Could I have made better eating choices? Yes. Could I have worked out more than the three hours I did this week? Sure. But the point is, the past is over and today is a new day! Luckily, I have some time to recover before we head home for Christmas!
I should probably also mention that my first attempt at cooking a big Thanksgiving dinner (and our first married Thanksgiving dinner) was a roaring success!
With a lot of help from Kyle, we fixed a roast turkey, homemade dressing, homemade mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, homemade gravy, peas, green beans, the famous Kreiger broccoli casserole, yeast rolls, cranberry sauce, and a homemade pumpkin cheesecake! We did it! As you can remember from my last post, I was VERY nervous about cooking this big meal for our first Thanksgiving away from home, but we nailed it! :) They were very delicious leftovers, too! I do, however, think my body is finished with rich food for a while and looking forward to turkey sandwiches, fish, and brown rice!
I hope your weigh-ins have been smoother post-Thanksgiving than mine! If you did happen to gain, don't give up! A weight gain, no matter how disappointing, does not undo all the hard work you've put in! Get back on track and remember that it's not a sprint, it's a marathon!
If you are like me and finals are heading your way, good luck! If not, enjoy the approaching holidays! :)
Until next time,
BK
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were able to spend time with the people you love! It's weigh-in day and let me just say: Thanksgiving leftovers are evil! :)
Current weight: 280.9
Kyle's current weight: 252.4
That's right, Kyle LOST 0.2! Wow! I admire him because as you can tell if you glance at the previous entry, I gained four pounds this week. It's a combination of eating Thanksgiving leftovers for five days (they WERE delicious) and hormones/water retention from my monthly cycle. I'm disappointed over the gain as I am disappointed over every gain, but it's a new week and Kyle and I are both counting points and staying on program. I'm also excited to get back on track with our exercise! Holidays, as wonderful as they are, have a way of wreaking havoc on weight loss plans. Could I have made better eating choices? Yes. Could I have worked out more than the three hours I did this week? Sure. But the point is, the past is over and today is a new day! Luckily, I have some time to recover before we head home for Christmas!
I should probably also mention that my first attempt at cooking a big Thanksgiving dinner (and our first married Thanksgiving dinner) was a roaring success!
I hope your weigh-ins have been smoother post-Thanksgiving than mine! If you did happen to gain, don't give up! A weight gain, no matter how disappointing, does not undo all the hard work you've put in! Get back on track and remember that it's not a sprint, it's a marathon!
If you are like me and finals are heading your way, good luck! If not, enjoy the approaching holidays! :)
Until next time,
BK
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
The 75-pound mark!
Happy (early) Thanksgiving everyone!
It's weigh-in day and Kyle and I both lost weight!
Current weight: 276.9
Kyle's current weight: 252.6
I lost 2.2 pounds and Kyle lost 1.1! Kyle has lost 15.5 pounds since moving down to Baton Rouge almost 3 months ago. I'm celebrating big today because I've reached the 75-pound goal in my whole weight loss journey! In fact I've lost 76.1 pounds since my heaviest weight of 353 pounds in 2009 (as you can see, I got a couple years head start on Kyle!).
Here's a picture of me I found when I weighed my heaviest:
That's my gorgeous husband in the second picture, in case you can't tell! It helps me to look at pictures like these, because I've found that when you are losing weight day by day, it's hard to tell if there has been a big change. Sometimes I still feel like that girl in the first picture! I find myself turning sideways to fit in places and then realizing, "Oh, I'm smaller now." It's definitely a huge cognitive shift.
I had a big accomplishment this week! In going to the gym with my favorite gym buddy, Valerie, I first pushed myself to go 50 consecutive minutes on the elliptical machine, then the next day was able to push myself to a full 60 minutes! When I called to share the new with my sweet Momma, she reminded me when it was difficult for me to go even 5 or 10 minutes without having to stop (see first picture). I always wanted to be "one of those girls" who could just get on a elliptical for an hour and not feel like you are going to die afterward... and I did it! I was really proud of myself and very surprised. I find that I constantly underestimate my body and that it continues to prove me wrong!
Thanksgiving is coming and I'm not going to lie, I'm not counting points on Thanksgiving Day. Now, mind you, I not going to eat an entire cheesecake and three servings of stuffing, but I'm not going to stress about points on the day of. And honestly, I don't feel bad about that either. BUT, the thing to remember is something the esteemed Miranda from Sex and the City told me, "You get a day, NOT A WEEK." That's the truth! Take the day off on Thanksgiving, but don't let yourself take the whole week off and end up with an awful gain. I say this now and we'll see how I handle all the leftovers, but my goal is to get back on track on Friday and get back to the gym when it opens on Saturday.
I'm nervous about cooking this HUGE holiday meal for the first time. Hopefully it will turn out well and I won't ruin a turkey and send Kyle out for Chinese tomorrow! I'll be sure to let you know! Now I'm off to go shopping for new (smaller) clothes, brine a turkey, and bake a pumpkin cheesecake for tomorrow.
I hope everyone has an amazing holiday! Don't forget to share what you are thankful for, because if you are like me, it is QUITE a list!
Until next time,
BK
It's weigh-in day and Kyle and I both lost weight!
Current weight: 276.9
Kyle's current weight: 252.6
I lost 2.2 pounds and Kyle lost 1.1! Kyle has lost 15.5 pounds since moving down to Baton Rouge almost 3 months ago. I'm celebrating big today because I've reached the 75-pound goal in my whole weight loss journey! In fact I've lost 76.1 pounds since my heaviest weight of 353 pounds in 2009 (as you can see, I got a couple years head start on Kyle!).
Here's a picture of me I found when I weighed my heaviest:
For comparison, here's a picture of me from this weekend!
I had a big accomplishment this week! In going to the gym with my favorite gym buddy, Valerie, I first pushed myself to go 50 consecutive minutes on the elliptical machine, then the next day was able to push myself to a full 60 minutes! When I called to share the new with my sweet Momma, she reminded me when it was difficult for me to go even 5 or 10 minutes without having to stop (see first picture). I always wanted to be "one of those girls" who could just get on a elliptical for an hour and not feel like you are going to die afterward... and I did it! I was really proud of myself and very surprised. I find that I constantly underestimate my body and that it continues to prove me wrong!
Thanksgiving is coming and I'm not going to lie, I'm not counting points on Thanksgiving Day. Now, mind you, I not going to eat an entire cheesecake and three servings of stuffing, but I'm not going to stress about points on the day of. And honestly, I don't feel bad about that either. BUT, the thing to remember is something the esteemed Miranda from Sex and the City told me, "You get a day, NOT A WEEK." That's the truth! Take the day off on Thanksgiving, but don't let yourself take the whole week off and end up with an awful gain. I say this now and we'll see how I handle all the leftovers, but my goal is to get back on track on Friday and get back to the gym when it opens on Saturday.
I'm nervous about cooking this HUGE holiday meal for the first time. Hopefully it will turn out well and I won't ruin a turkey and send Kyle out for Chinese tomorrow! I'll be sure to let you know! Now I'm off to go shopping for new (smaller) clothes, brine a turkey, and bake a pumpkin cheesecake for tomorrow.
I hope everyone has an amazing holiday! Don't forget to share what you are thankful for, because if you are like me, it is QUITE a list!
Until next time,
BK
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Hellllllooooo 270s!
Hi everyone!
Today is weigh-in day and Kyle and I both lost weight!
Current weight: 279.1
Kyle's current weight: 253.7
Kyle lost 0.3, which isn't bad considering he lost 3.5 pounds last week. So far he's lost almost 15 pounds since moving to Baton Rouge. Pretty exciting! I lost 2.9 this week, which is the 2 pounds I gained last week plus 0.9 of new weight! I am thrilled and even more thrilling is the fact that I am in the 270s! The last time I was in that weight range was probably sometime during my time at Wofford College during undergrad (I graduated in 2008 if that tells you anything)! This was a boost that I needed after my disappointing weigh-in last week. I've also been a little sick this week (standard run-of-the-mill cold/sore throat mess) so I was worried about how that would affect the weigh-in, considering I did not get as many workouts in as I would have liked and I may have indulged in (a reasonable amount of) Ben and Jerry's ice cream to soothe my sore throat.
This week was also awesome because I pushed myself with my fitness routine. I increased my weight in my Body Pump class and surprised myself by almost being able to complete the work-out with more weight. I'm still lifting the least amount of weight in the class, but I can only go up from here! :) On Saturday, I met my good friend Valerie for a work-out and between the 2.3 miles on the elliptical and the almost 2 miles we walked afterwards, I did almost 4 miles in one day! That's a personal best for me! My feet were sorely upset (pun intended) afterwards, but overall I felt great and I was proud of myself.
We have one more weigh-in before Thanksgiving!! I can't believe the holiday season is almost upon us. I'm trying not to worry too much about Thanksgiving. I've already told myself that on Thanksgiving Day, I'm giving myself a little bit of leeway. All the days before and after Thanksgiving, I'll be counting points, but on Thanksgiving proper I'm taking the day off from worrying. It IS Thanksgiving after all. :) I hope you all are able to cut yourself some slack for this holiday without gorging yourself to discomfort or going too far off program!
Until next time,
BK
Today is weigh-in day and Kyle and I both lost weight!
Current weight: 279.1
Kyle's current weight: 253.7
Kyle lost 0.3, which isn't bad considering he lost 3.5 pounds last week. So far he's lost almost 15 pounds since moving to Baton Rouge. Pretty exciting! I lost 2.9 this week, which is the 2 pounds I gained last week plus 0.9 of new weight! I am thrilled and even more thrilling is the fact that I am in the 270s! The last time I was in that weight range was probably sometime during my time at Wofford College during undergrad (I graduated in 2008 if that tells you anything)! This was a boost that I needed after my disappointing weigh-in last week. I've also been a little sick this week (standard run-of-the-mill cold/sore throat mess) so I was worried about how that would affect the weigh-in, considering I did not get as many workouts in as I would have liked and I may have indulged in (a reasonable amount of) Ben and Jerry's ice cream to soothe my sore throat.
This week was also awesome because I pushed myself with my fitness routine. I increased my weight in my Body Pump class and surprised myself by almost being able to complete the work-out with more weight. I'm still lifting the least amount of weight in the class, but I can only go up from here! :) On Saturday, I met my good friend Valerie for a work-out and between the 2.3 miles on the elliptical and the almost 2 miles we walked afterwards, I did almost 4 miles in one day! That's a personal best for me! My feet were sorely upset (pun intended) afterwards, but overall I felt great and I was proud of myself.
We have one more weigh-in before Thanksgiving!! I can't believe the holiday season is almost upon us. I'm trying not to worry too much about Thanksgiving. I've already told myself that on Thanksgiving Day, I'm giving myself a little bit of leeway. All the days before and after Thanksgiving, I'll be counting points, but on Thanksgiving proper I'm taking the day off from worrying. It IS Thanksgiving after all. :) I hope you all are able to cut yourself some slack for this holiday without gorging yourself to discomfort or going too far off program!
Until next time,
BK
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Recipe Time: Farmhouse Chicken and Dressing
Hey everyone!
I've been promising you this recipe for a while and it's become a favorite in the Kreiger house, so I thought I'd share it today: Farmhouse Chicken and Dressing. This is a Weight Watchers recipe and I take no credit for it whatsoever! I hope you enjoy this delicious comfort food that won't steal all your points. We usually serve it with peas or sauteed zucchini and squash. It may seem steep at 12 points plus a serving, BUT it's both your meat and your carb for the meal! I love keeping it simple!
Until next time,
BK
I've been promising you this recipe for a while and it's become a favorite in the Kreiger house, so I thought I'd share it today: Farmhouse Chicken and Dressing. This is a Weight Watchers recipe and I take no credit for it whatsoever! I hope you enjoy this delicious comfort food that won't steal all your points. We usually serve it with peas or sauteed zucchini and squash. It may seem steep at 12 points plus a serving, BUT it's both your meat and your carb for the meal! I love keeping it simple!
Farmhouse Chicken and Dressing (12 points plus per serving)
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup sliced celery
2 cups water
2 tablespoons yogurt-based spread (we use Brummel and Brown)
1 10-ounce can of reduced fat-reduced sodium cream of chicken soup
1 8-ounce package cornbread stuffing (we use Pepperidge Farm brand)
3 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
Pepper to taste
Cooking Spray
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- I start with cooking the chicken (I find that breast tenderloins or breast strips cook faster) in a pan with a little bit of olive oil. Once you cook it, chop it up, measure 3 cups out and set aside.
- Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and sliced celery; saute for 4 minutes or until the onion is golden.
- Increase the heat to high and add the 2 cups of water. Let it come to boil and cook for 4 minutes or until the celery is soft. Stir in the Brummel and Brown until it is good and melted.
- Add the can of soup, the stuffing mix, and the pepper.
- Remove it from the burner and stir in your chopped chicken.
- Coat your baking dish with cooking spray (we use small casserole dish pictured above, but you can use any 2 quart baking dish) and then place the stuffing and chicken mixture in.
- Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until the top is golden.
Until next time,
BK
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Weight gain. BOO.
Hello everyone!
It's Wednesday and it has been a stressful week so far! Luckily the stressful part is over and now I can (hopefully) relax for a few weeks. Well, folks, it's weigh-in day and I gained weight. :(
Current weight: 282.0
Kyle didn't weigh in this morning, but he will tomorrow. A weight gain of TWO POUNDS? that's a direct result of stress eating, which is shameful, I know. I had two weeks in a row of big weight losses, then this stressful, low activity week came along and this is what happens. I'm disappointed in some of the eating choices I've made, but today is a new day and best of all, it's the start of a new week! :) Time to get back on track. What are your best tips for getting back on track after having an "off" week?
Criminal Minds is on and since I don't have any school assignments in the imminent future, I'm going to go veg out and relax a little bit! Who knows, I may even take a hot bath before bed! I know my sore Zumba muscles would enjoy that after tonight's workout.
If you've had an off week like me, don't give up! Giving up will do nothing but put you closer to where you started. And if you're like me, you don't ever want to go back to that starting point again. Keep it up!
Until next time,
BK
It's Wednesday and it has been a stressful week so far! Luckily the stressful part is over and now I can (hopefully) relax for a few weeks. Well, folks, it's weigh-in day and I gained weight. :(
Current weight: 282.0
Kyle didn't weigh in this morning, but he will tomorrow. A weight gain of TWO POUNDS? that's a direct result of stress eating, which is shameful, I know. I had two weeks in a row of big weight losses, then this stressful, low activity week came along and this is what happens. I'm disappointed in some of the eating choices I've made, but today is a new day and best of all, it's the start of a new week! :) Time to get back on track. What are your best tips for getting back on track after having an "off" week?
Criminal Minds is on and since I don't have any school assignments in the imminent future, I'm going to go veg out and relax a little bit! Who knows, I may even take a hot bath before bed! I know my sore Zumba muscles would enjoy that after tonight's workout.
If you've had an off week like me, don't give up! Giving up will do nothing but put you closer to where you started. And if you're like me, you don't ever want to go back to that starting point again. Keep it up!
Until next time,
BK
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Happy (Late) Halloween: Weigh-in Post!
Welcome to November everybody!
Yesterday was weigh-in day and Kyle and I both lost weight!
Current weight: 280.0
Kyle's current weight: 257.5
I lost 2.4 and Kyle lost 1.5! We survived Halloween! I'm excited for both of us because we're making awesome choices and the results are so sweet.
I've been trying to up my exercise over the past week and I'm glad the scale is showing it. I recently posted on my Facebook page that I got up to 35 consecutive minutes on the elliptical machine, which is a personal record for me! My previous record was 20-25 minutes and that was a big struggle. I'm still absolutely loving Zumba and Body Pump, but I'm looking for activity to do on my "days off" when my fave teachers aren't teaching or there aren't any classes that I like. Gotta keep it fresh!
Also on another happy note, I found RANCH flavored Veggie Straws at Wal-Mart! They are sooo good and still 3 pointsplus per serving! Kyle and I keep trying out new recipes (our latest have been crock pot beef stew and crock pot potato and bacon chowder!).
I hope everybody had an awesome Halloween, enjoyed a healthy amount of candy, and is as excited about the holidays as I am! :)
Until next time,
BK
Yesterday was weigh-in day and Kyle and I both lost weight!
Current weight: 280.0
Kyle's current weight: 257.5
I lost 2.4 and Kyle lost 1.5! We survived Halloween! I'm excited for both of us because we're making awesome choices and the results are so sweet.
I've been trying to up my exercise over the past week and I'm glad the scale is showing it. I recently posted on my Facebook page that I got up to 35 consecutive minutes on the elliptical machine, which is a personal record for me! My previous record was 20-25 minutes and that was a big struggle. I'm still absolutely loving Zumba and Body Pump, but I'm looking for activity to do on my "days off" when my fave teachers aren't teaching or there aren't any classes that I like. Gotta keep it fresh!
Also on another happy note, I found RANCH flavored Veggie Straws at Wal-Mart! They are sooo good and still 3 pointsplus per serving! Kyle and I keep trying out new recipes (our latest have been crock pot beef stew and crock pot potato and bacon chowder!).
I hope everybody had an awesome Halloween, enjoyed a healthy amount of candy, and is as excited about the holidays as I am! :)
Until next time,
BK
Monday, October 29, 2012
Snack of the Week: Veggie Straws
Hello all!
I'm hoping to get back in the swing of things with Snack of the Week posts. This week's snack has been one of my favorites for a few years and I mentioned it briefly when I began blogging back in 2010.
Veggie straws!
These snacks are super delicious and super low points! The serving size is 38 straws (yes, I said it 38!). The points plus value is 3 points plus! That's insane! There must be something magical about this delicious snack!
Just for reference, here's a serving size of 38 straws! Supposedly all natural and made from veggies, these crunchy, salty treats get an A+ from this girl! They are a bit hard to find. I got these at Albertson's here in Louisiana, but I've seen them at Sam's Club and sometimes Bi-Lo (up in SC). If you can find them, give them a shot! If you are like me, you won't be disappointed!
Halloween is quickly approaching and candy season is upon us. I just wanted to take a minute to give a little friendly advice. In my opinion, it is not wise to deprive yourself of something you are craving when you are dieting, but instead to eat it in moderation. With that being said, don't feel like you have to deprive yourself of candy on Halloween for the sake of your waistline. On the other hand, don't feel like you have to eat an entire bag of Reese's miniatures either (your waistline WILL HATE you). Instead, find a happy compromise so that you don't miss out on the sweet memories (pun intended) of Halloween without sacrificing your hard work for the week. Kyle and I have gotten only tiny candy bars for our Halloween celebrations. When we bought candy for our church's Trunk or Treat we followed 2 instructions: (1) Get candy WE wouldn't mind eating leftovers of and (2) don't have too many leftovers! As a result we have about 25% of a candy bucket full of these little guys:
It's little teeny Snickers, Reese's, KitKats, Twix and the like. I call them fun fun size (because they are the smallest you can get). These bad boys are 1 pointplus per piece, so Kyle and I can have a couple every day if we want to and still not carry around a ton of guilt.
Happy Halloween everyone! Snack smart!
Until next time,
BK
I'm hoping to get back in the swing of things with Snack of the Week posts. This week's snack has been one of my favorites for a few years and I mentioned it briefly when I began blogging back in 2010.
Veggie straws!
Halloween is quickly approaching and candy season is upon us. I just wanted to take a minute to give a little friendly advice. In my opinion, it is not wise to deprive yourself of something you are craving when you are dieting, but instead to eat it in moderation. With that being said, don't feel like you have to deprive yourself of candy on Halloween for the sake of your waistline. On the other hand, don't feel like you have to eat an entire bag of Reese's miniatures either (your waistline WILL HATE you). Instead, find a happy compromise so that you don't miss out on the sweet memories (pun intended) of Halloween without sacrificing your hard work for the week. Kyle and I have gotten only tiny candy bars for our Halloween celebrations. When we bought candy for our church's Trunk or Treat we followed 2 instructions: (1) Get candy WE wouldn't mind eating leftovers of and (2) don't have too many leftovers! As a result we have about 25% of a candy bucket full of these little guys:
Happy Halloween everyone! Snack smart!
Until next time,
BK
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