How Do I Love Thee?

I love vegetables. Well, I'm not particularly fond of beets even though I think they're pretty, but as to the rest I pretty much like them all. This is not the case with 3ft or Husband. 3ft pretty much only likes broccoli so far. He'll eat corn, mushrooms, green beans and choke down carrots if he has too but his go to veggie is broccoli (I don't really count potatoes as a veggie, I tend to place them in the pasta category because they're mostly starch). The husband on the other hand will only eat mushrooms, corn, green beans, and carrots if they're a part of roasted something.

It's annoying.

Well, every once in awhile I'll put a new vegetable in front of 3ft and see what he thinks. Last night it was brussel sprouts. I gave him 5. He ate one, said he liked it, and pretty much kept eating them. I happened to glance at his face while he was chewing the last one.

"Why do you have yuck face?" I asked.

3ft shrugged and looked sad.

"If you don't like them, it's okay. I just want you to try them. If you tell me you like them I'll make them for you again and then you have to eat them again. Do you really like them?"

He swallowed. "I'm so sorry, Mommy, I don't really like them."

"That's okay, I'm just glad you tried them. Next time I'll make you a different vegetable when I make brussel sprouts again."

"Like broccoli?"

And there we have it. He still loves broccoli above all other veggies. Someday, perhaps, he'll like something else too.

So along with the brussel sprounts, I made garlic rubbed steak with sauteed mushrooms and a garlic and herb pasta. It turned out pretty delicious and other than the brussel sprout drama, 3ft cleaned his plate -- and so did I!



I'm totally happy to announce that both winners got their delicious baked goods from my 100 day healthy living giveaway. Janna says of her Chocolate Swirled Banana Muffins, "They are delicious! They have so much flavor." And Susan says of her Honey Cinnamon Swirled Cinnamon Bread, "Holy crap that stuff's good - like crack." I did mini loaves of the bread and I couldn't cut them open to picture them, but Susan, being an awesome girl, took one when she cut them open.



--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise -45 minute power walk, 20 minutes of Wii Fit Strength Training and Yoga, and 20 minutes of jogging around the apartment.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 114

Only Water - Day 109

Total Pounds Lost - 41.7

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Granola Bar
Lunch - Cajun Chicken Sandwich, carrots, and a pickle spear
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich and 1/2 chocolate swirled banana muffin.
Dinner - Garlic Steak w/ Sauteed Mushrooms, brussel sprouts, and garlic pasta.

Total Day Calories - 1084

Did It Again But More So.

I was ever so proud of my fast walking the day before yesterday and getting to 3ft's school on time that I decided to take the "Trail of Tears" forced march route again yesterday.

Except for I left 10 minutes earlier and I went a further distance. Instead of cutting down the one street that got me to the school miraculously on time (that and all my running) I went the long way around and got to 3ft's school with 5 minutes to spare. I jogged some of it just because I can and Mr. Grumpybutt likes it so much.

The only problem I had was it was FREAKING HOT! Naturally, the day I decide I'm going to do 2+ miles is the day it's 101 degrees outside. So here I am jogging, speed walking, bopping a lot and marinating in my own sweat because of the heat. So instead of a wilting flower at the finish I was a drowned rat. (that paints a picture doesn't it?)

I bumped up my push ups and crunches. I also bumped up the reps too. In the morning I did 20 push ups and 75 crunches and then in the evening I did it again. I will get my gut shrunk down enough to breathe in my "skinny jeans" and then shrink it more to get into even skinnier ones! Roar! Flab, live in fear!

So because of the recently bumped up exercise, I think I need to bump my caloric intake too. At my afternoon snack yesterday I was so hungry I couldn't stop eating. At the time I thought I was totally going overboard but really in retrospect it wasn't that bad and I still stayed within my calorie goals. But to tattle on myself, I had my usual 1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich, then I had a Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Marshmallow Creme sandwich (a s'more without the chocolate, basically) and then I had a handful of Cheetos. The salty cheese called to me after the sweet cookie. Then I came to my senses and even though I wanted more, I started chugging A LOT of water to get back under control. Then I balanced out the slight binge with a light dinner.

So to avoid the attack of must-stuff-my-face-with-whatever-I-can-find, I'm going to eat a little more at each meal. Hopefully that will stave off the hunger attacks!

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise -60 minute power walk, 40 push ups, and 150 crunches.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 113

Only Water - Day 108

Total Pounds Lost - 41.7

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Granola Bar
Lunch - Cajun Chicken Sandwich, carrots, and a pickle spear
Mid-Afternoon Snack -Cinnamon Sugar Cookie w/ marshmallow creme, 1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich, a handful of Cheetos.
Dinner - Egg Sandwich with tomatoes and sauteed mushrooms, garlic, and onion.

Total Day Calories - 1084

Never Been More Glad...

I realized yesterday just in how much better shape I am in.

Everyday Mr. Grumpbutt and I leave the apartment about a half an hour before we have to pick 3ft up at school. We go on a 1.5 mile power walk that puts us in front of 3ft's classroom about 5 - 7 minutes before the boy is going to be let out. That way I can get some extra exercise in and Mr. Grumpybutt really loves going for the walks.

Well, yesterday I decided to shake things up a bit and take a different route. Spatial distances are not my thing, obviously, as the route I decided to take was A LOT longer than the one I usually do. I'd figured they'd be about the same and left at the normal time. I realized at 11:20 when I wasn't even halfway to 3ft's school yet that, Oh. My. God, I had a long way to go still. 3ft would've been devastated if I wasn't waiting outside with the rest of the parents to pick him up.

I couldn't let that happen.

So Mr. Grumpybutt and I ran the rest of the way. Mr. Grumpybutt thought this was particularly fun if the giggles coming out of the stroller were any indication. I got to 3ft's school with TWO MINUTES to spare. I was there long enough to just catch my breath and adjust Mr. Grumpybutt in his chair when 3ft came bounding out of the classroom. All I can say is thank god that kid walks slow and gets distracted so I had an easy walk home.

4 months ago that would not have even been possible. Well, I probably wouldn't have been in that position to begin with because honestly exercise was something to seriously be avoided. But had I gotten the notion to go on a forced march, there would've been NO WAY I'd have made it to get 3ft on time. His poor little dejected face would've been waiting for me in the office when I strolled up huffing and puffing.

Just one more benefit my healthy living has done for me. I can do ANYTHING I set my mind to.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise -45 minute power walk, 20 minutes of Wii Fit Strength Training and Yoga, and 20 minutes of jogging around the apartment.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 112

Only Water - Day 107

Total Pounds Lost - 41.7

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Granola Bar
Lunch - Red Lobster 1/2 entree of Wood Grilled Scallops, Shrimp, and Chicken w/ rice pilaf and broccoli.
Mid-Afternoon Snack -Cinnamon Sugar Cookie S'more
Dinner - Oven Roasted Chicken and vegetables

Total Day Calories - 1119 (approximately)

2 Day Catch Up!

I was crazy busy yesterday. I totally spaced blogging completely. Bad, Lisa. Bad.

So to catch up:

On Saturday, I roasted a whole chicken!! I'm so proud of myself. It turned out so beautiful and was so moist and delicious. I stuffed the cavity with a whole bulb of garlic and one whole lemon. Then I did many wrong things to the bird when I separated the skin from the breast and slathered the flesh with rosemary, thyme, basil, and garlic infused olive oil. Then I slathered the skin with the same mixture (my husband loves the skin -- I don't eat it... blech!). I cut up some potatoes, onions, and added baby carrots around the bird, then I popped it in the oven for an hour.
Oven Roasted Rosemary Garlic Chicken and Vegetables


It was a huge hit with the family. 3ft loves to eat meat off the bone and my husband hates to and will only eat white meat but loves the skin. So I was able to slice the breast off w/ skin for the hubs and give my son a chicken leg and everyone was happy!! 3ft even ate all his veggies too. I was so proud. It made enough for us all to have another exact serving as is for dinner and enough left over to make barbecue pulled chicken sandwiches for lunch. I love meals that stretch like that and are versatile!

On Sunday, I made Cinnamon Sugar Cookies. A sugar cookie with a little cinnamon mixed in the dough, then rolled in cinnamon and raw sugar, then baked. I made them for my sister's boyfriend's birthday. He said they tasted like Cinnamon Toast Crunch in milk and he meant that in the most awesome way possible. In other words he LOVED them. Well 3ft wouldn't let me give them all to Daniel, so I kept a few home. And with those we created --

Cinnamon Sugar Cookie S'mores


They are super delicious and take my 84 calorie for 2 cookies and become 128 calories for a sandwich. I used Nutella (I have mentioned how much I love Nutella, right? So much so, it should be illegal) and Marshmallow Creme (which is ambrosia, really) to turn it into a S'more. It's the best thing since sliced bread.

I also went to Red Lobster yesterday for lunch. I was so proud of myself. Instead of getting the all-you-can-eat shrimp (which I could've done some MAJOR damage too), I got Wood Grilled Shrimp, Scallops, and Chicken w/ Rice Pilaf and Broccoli. I only ate 1/2 the entree. I only had ONE cheese biscuit thingy (which I absolutely LOVE), and then a salad w/ their light balsamic vinaigrette. I totally stayed within my calorie range for the day and felt super good about it!

And on to what some of you may have been waiting for. How much weight did I lose last week? I'm sad to report that while the scale only dropped a pound (one pound is better than no pounds), my clothes are much looser and I was able to put on my shorts without unbuttoning and unzipping them. Which was a first for this particular pair.

I'm also stoked to announce: I AM PRE PREGNANCY WEIGHT!!! WAHOOOO!! Now some of the clothes I wore before I got pregnant I can't breathe in when I put them on (thank you very much Mr. Grumpybutt for giving me more work to tone up my gut) but I lost the 42 lbs I gained with my pregnancy!!! I'm totally bouncing on Cloud 9.

Okay I think I caught you up on my weekend. I'm so sorry I spaced blogging yesterday. I'll see you tomorrow.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise -Day Off

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 111

Only Water - Day 106

Total Pounds Lost - 41.7

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - (didn't have)
Lunch - Red Lobster 1/2 entree of Wood Grilled Scallops, Shrimp, and Chicken w/ rice pilaf and broccoli. I had most of one cheese biscuit and a salad with balsamic vinaigrette w/out croutons.
Mid-Afternoon Snack -(didn't need)
Dinner - Grilled Chicken Salad w/out cheese and croutons w/ balsamic vinaigrette

Total Day Calories - 1159 (approximately)

Knead Exercise.

I spent the day baking yesterday -- Cinnamon Honey Swirled Cinnamon Bread. One is filled with cranberries (the one in front) and the other is just swirled. I desperately wanted to cut into them to see how the insides came out and how it swirled but alas they're not for me. My friend, Nunan, who was one of my winners of my giveaway, won this bread. So I can't cut it open because then it won't be awesome for her or easy for me to ship.

I told her my dilemma and she assures me that when she slices into them, she'll take pictures.

I love baking bread. It's fun to knead and watch it rise and the smell of it baking in the house is fabulous. When you make your own bread you know exactly what goes into it and it's healthier, I think, by default. Not to menton baking bread is great arm exercise. After all the hand kneading and mixing -- my arms definitely got a workout.

Cinnamon Honey Swirled Cinnamon Bread

(aren't they pretty?)

I did a full exercise week of Wii. My little balance board character on the Wii is so excited to be seeing me everyday. It tells me so. Then harasses me to tell Husband and 3ft to play because it hasn't seen them in awhile. Well, I'm not going to be the harbinger of harassment to the boys so they remain blissfully unaware the balance board wants them. (Besides if I tell them, then I'll have to share!)

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise -45 minute power walk, 20 minutes of Wii Fit Strength Training and Yoga, and 20 minutes of jogging around the apartment.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 109

Only Water - Day 104

Total Pounds Lost - 40.7

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Granola Bar
Lunch - Egg Muffin Sandwich w/ tomato
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich
Dinner - Rosemary roasted chicken, garlic rice, and asparagus

Total Day Calories - 1054

Stop Yer Crying!

I've been doing push ups and crunches again. Oy, my abs are sore. They especially cry whenever I pick up 20lbs of Grumpybutt off the floor. I tell them to quit their whining, I have to hold a cute baby. They're just going to have to get over it. I have no time for their sissy tears.

15 push ups and 50 crunches aren't a lot. But I thought they were a good starting number, Back in the day I could do a lot more but that was back. in. the. day. I figure I'm going to up the push ups by 5 every week and the crunches by 10. That way I build up to my old big numbers but don't hurt myself doing it.

I made delicious chicken breasts last night. I soaked some chopped garlic, Rosemary, and thyme in a little olive oil and let it set for a couple hours so the flavors all infused with the oil and each other. Then I sprinkled kosher salt and pepper on a couple chicken breasts, put the oil with the chunks of spice on them, stuck them on a broiler pan and threw them in the oven for a half hour. They were so moist and delicious I could've ate more than one. I also had them with asparagus! I know, shock, right? 3ft had broccoli but he also ate some asparagus too. I'm so proud. I served it with some garlic rice. It was totally delicious and even better there's leftovers so we're having it for dinner tonight too!

Rosemary Roasted Chicken


--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise -45 minute power walk, 30 minutes of Wii Fit Aerobics and Games, 15 push ups, and 50 crunches

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 108

Only Water - Day 103

Total Pounds Lost - 40.7

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Granola Bar
Lunch - Pork Medallions in Mushroom Gravy, baguette, and broccoli
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich and chocolate swirled banana muffin
Dinner - Rosemary roasted chicken, garlic rice, and asparagus

Total Day Calories - 1189

On a Streak!

3 days in a row of Wii Fit. That's a streak! Go me.

My new addiction is cooking shows. A lot of them make things I know my boys would never eat or they put so much fat in it, I lust, but know I'll never make. But even still I watch them hoping to be inspired with new ideas or find ways to healthy up the ones that sound really yummy. I'm a sucker for Rachel Rae (it's like you know she could be your best friend, even though you've never met her -- no, I'm not stalking her), Giada (she actually usually cooks more healthy meals and a lot of italian dishes and my husband loves italian food), and Ina Garten a.k.a. The Barefoot Contessa (I'll probably never eat anything she makes, it's pretty fattening stuff, so she provides my lust after food).

Anyways, why I even brought that up, is because on M, W (so far), and F (my plan) I jog around my living room while watching tv. Keeps my mind off the fact I'm jogging (I find that I can jog the whole time if my mind is otherwise engaged). So I lust after food while I huff and puff and sweat. I've only been doing this for the last 3 days, so I've only got two recipes that I'm interested in healthifying up (yes it's a word, I just made it up!). But I'm keeping my eyes peeled.
Oh, and Giada gave me a great idea for a angel food cake topping that I'm going to be trying out soon!!

I tried out a new recipe last night.

Pork Medallions in Mushroom Gravy w/ Baguette


I rubbed the pork medallions with salt, pepper, and 1 TBS chopped garlic (we love garlic in my house) and seared them. Then made a mushroom gravy with, obviously, fresh mushrooms, a little chopped red onion, chicken broth, a little cornstarch (to thicken it up) and a TSP of dry sherry.

I served the mushroom gravy over a baguette because 1.) I didn't want the baguette to go bad before it was used and 2.) (the real reason) I was so involved in cooking the pork I totally spaced a side dish to go with it. So, voila...Instant Side Dish! I served it with broccoli (I noticed a lot of my pictures have broccoli in them) it's not because I don't like other veggies, I do -- they're 3ft's favorite veggie and I found out last night that Mr. Grumpybutt loves them too. So when I'm trying out new things I tend to make broccoli so I know 3ft will get enough to eat.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise -45 minute power walk, 20 minutes of Wii Fit Strength Training and Yoga, and 20 minutes of jogging around the apartment

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 107

Only Water - Day 102

Total Pounds Lost - 40.7

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Granola Bar
Lunch - Egg Mc Muffin sans the Mc. (slice of canadian bacon, one egg, a little mayo, and sliced tomatoes on a light healthy grains english muffin)
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich
Dinner - Pork Medallions in Mushroom Gravy w/ Baguette and broccoli

Total Day Calories - 1035

Why Did I Stop?

Day 2 in a row (woohoo, right?) of getting back into my Wii Fit. I find that if I walk 3ft to school in my workout clothes I'm more apt to do Wii Fit when the Grumpybutt takes his morning nap. All I have to do it lay him down, get out my balance board, and turn on the Wii. Convenience really is MOST of the battle.

Yesterday I did Boxing, Step, Hula Hoop, and some balance games. I can't figure out now why I stopped doing the Wii in the first place. It's totally fun and I absolutely love it. Weird.

I tried a little something different for dinner last night. I had some pork chops and I didn't really know how I wanted them so while I was rooting around in the cupboard/pantry for ideas I ran across maple syrup and figured, what the heck! So I mixed a little maple syrup with chicken broth, yellow mustard (dijon probably would have been more yummy but I don't have any), and some fat free sour cream and reduced it and slapped those chops into it.

They smelled so amazing. And what goes better with pork chops than apple. So I cooked couscous in apple juice to give it a sweet apple-y flavor and it went really well with the chops. It was a definite dinner win because 3ft inhaled his food.

Now I'm bitter. I only made enough for one meal instead of two (which is what I do when I'm inventing so I don't waste food if it turns out nasty) and it was soo good and there were no leftovers.

Maple Glazed Pork Chops and Apple Couscous

Doesn't it look delicious? So much so I couldn't wait til today to post it and already tortured my friends on facebook with it!

It's funny, it seems as if my Sunday fail has given me a fresh burst of incentive and willpower toward my lifestyle change and exercising. So perhaps it was a positive instead of a complete negative.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise -45 minute power walk, 25 minutes of Wii Fit aerobics and games, 15 push ups, and 50 crunches

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 106

Only Water - Day 101

Total Pounds Lost - 40.7

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Granola Bar
Lunch - Cracked Pepper Turkey Sandwich, carrot sticks, and a pickle spear
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich
Dinner - Maple Glazed Pork Chops, Apple Couscous, and broccoli

Total Day Calories - 1087

Sweat and Noms

(My blog title is cracking me up, but I digress...)

Yesterday, I decided it was time to kick my exercise up a notch.

When I got home from dropping 3ft off at school and after I got the Grumpybutt down for his nap, I dusted off the Wii Fit and did 20 minutes of strength training and yoga (Who ever invented the plank needs to boiled in a vat of acid -- just saying) and then I jogged around my apartment for 20 minutes while I watched cooking shows. After Mr. Grumpybutt woke up from his nap, we went for our 45 minute power walk before picking up 3ft from school.

It felt great.

Then in the afternoon I baked chocolate swirled banana muffins (for the lovely Janna Q) and stuck them in the freezer. Of course 3ft and I had to split one to make sure we wouldn't be poisoning the lovely Janna Q. Which means I'll be baking another batch today because Oh. My. God. were they DELICIOUS!! and I have to replace the one in Janna's dozen and then have some for 3ft and I to munch on.



And for those of you keeping score at home (or wondering) I've been making my own almond milk once a week since I started making it. I've yet to mix other flavors in. I like it plain. One of these days I'm going to get around to blending in a banana and seeing how delicious that is but who knows when that'll be. I've also been pimping out the benefits and the recipe for it since I've started drinking it. I love the almond milk. I especially love cooking and baking with it. It cuts out so much fat and calories and doesn't change the integrity of the dish I put it in. Go, Almond Milk!

I'm totally proud of myself. The old Lisa would've had a fail day like Sunday and said, "Screw it!" and had a few more fail days -- or a months worth of fails riding the shame roller coaster before sucking it up and getting back on track. The new Lisa didn't do that. I didn't berate myself. I didn't ride the shame spiral. I just dusted off my pants and got back to work. Which is the major difference between dieting and healthy living. Splurges happen. If you diet, you hate yourself when you slip but when you live healthily you know it happens and you just shrug the slip off and keep on working toward your goals.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise -45 minute power walk, 20 minutes strength training and yoga, and jogged around my apartment for 20 minutes.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 105

Only Water - Day 100

Total Pounds Lost - 40.7

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Granola Bar
Lunch - Cracked Pepper Turkey Sandwich, carrot sticks, and a pickle spear
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich, and 1/2 a chocolate swirled banana muffin
Dinner - Milanese Chicken and Oriental Noodle Salad

Total Day Calories - 1088

Celebration Overload!

I was a bad egg yesterday.

Not a horrible egg but certainly not a good egg. My parents came over to celebrate my dad's birthday and we ended up at Chevy's. I got a burrito (should've had a taco but it's been awhile since I've had a burrito). I got it without cheese and mostly veggies. But I ate the whole thing. I shouldn't have. I was full after half, I'm sure. But I was visiting, throwing food at the baby, paying attention to 3ft, and next thing I knew -- I'd mindlessly ate the entire burrito. (Well -- not really all of it. I didn't eat all the tortilla but I dug out all the insides. I also didn't eat all the rice and beans on the side either) But, I still ate WAY too much.

And then, if that wasn't enough, I shared some fried ice cream with 3ft. I'd never had it before. It was super delicious which was a problem, because I kept having bites. I'm sure I ate more calories yesterday at lunch than I eat in an entire day. Sure, I figured out how to survive barbecues, but you'd have thought I was a willpower novice at Chevy's yesterday.

I wasn't hungry the rest of the day -- which is good in the fact I didn't put more needless calories in my body but bad because you are NOT supposed to just eat one big meal and nothing else! *smacks hand* Bad, Lisa!

I still say I'm on day 104 of healthy living because I could've gotten something without any health consciousness in mind at all, I could've gotten my own ice cream instead of sharing, and I could've eaten more that day. (I have in the past -- killed an entire huge burrito plus all the accompaniments and then kept eating and had dinner whether I was hungry or not)

So while yesterday was basically a fail. I still did better than the old Lisa would've done in that situation. So in that respect a win and I refuse to beat myself up over it anymore. It was yesterday. Today is a new day.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise -Day Off.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 104

Only Water - Day 99

Total Pounds Lost - 40.7

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - (didn't need)
Lunch - Chevy's Burrito and some Fried Ice Cream.
Mid-Afternoon Snack -(didn't need)
Dinner - (didn't need)

Total Day Calories - no idea. A LOT!

Surviving Barbecues.

I went to a family barbecue yesterday and I've gotten pretty good at surviving them with my nutritional goals intact. Here's my secret:

Bring a dish that you know you can eat. Barbecues are all about potato salad (hello mayonnaise), chips and dip (hello fat), and some sort of delicious dessert (hello high calories), along with the meat. You can easily consume your nutritional allotment for the day in ONE barbecue meal! If you bring a dish that you controlled the health factor of, if there's nothing else you can eat you at least have that AND how can someone be mad at you for bringing a contribution for everyone to enjoy?

So with Grandma's delicious potato salad in mind, I threw together an Oriental Noodle Salad to take a long with us to the family get together (that way I could have a side dish with my hamburger and not consume copious amounts of potato salad -- which I LOVE.)



It was a big hit. I know I certainly enjoyed having a healthy serving of it along with a small bite of potato salad and keeping within my goals than gorging on potato deliciousness and gaining back the 2lbs I lost this week. I also brought my own hamburger bun (yes, an Orowheat Thin) because I knew the buns would be ginormous and not only do I not like a lot of bread with my burger it's a lot of unnecessary calories as well.

I've always been an overachiever and since it was a birthday barbecue I knew there would be a dessert involved. So I baked some Snowy Brownies to take as well. That way while everyone else was enjoying a high calorie high fat slice of pie I could munch on my brownie and still feel a part of the party but keeping it on a healthier level.

The brownies were a huge hit too. I didn't get to bring any home because they were all gobbled up.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - walking, crunches and push ups.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 103

Only Water - Day 98

Total Pounds Lost - 40.7

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - (didn't need)
Lunch - Cracked Pepper Turkey Sandwich, carrot sticks, and a pickle spear
Mid-Afternoon Snack -Fiber One Granola Bar
Dinner - Hamburger, Oriental Noodle Salad, Snowy Brownie

Total Day Calories - 1161

The Results Are In!

I don't know how people who do giveaways all the time do it. This was SUPER HARD! I didn't expect so many people to enter my Baked Deliciousness Giveaway. I figured only two would enter and that would make my job A LOT easier. How do you only pick two?

Well...

I didn't!

I made my husband.

It was too much pressure. I couldn't handle it. So, I made him draw the two slips of folded paper out of the hat. I also let him know I was going to tell all of you that he was the one who picked -- so he'd be blamed and not me. So, now you know. It's his fault if you weren't picked. Not mine.

*drum roll* Now what you've all tuned in for.

The Winners of the Baked Deliciousness Giveaway are:

Janna Qualman and Susan Hartman!

So, you lucky ladies, you need to let me know what you want from the list (see below) and where I'm shipping it to.

The List
Banana Almond Bread
Chocolate Swirled Banana Muffins
Snowy Brownies
Cranberry Scones
Honey Cinnamon Swirled Cinnamon Bread
Sugar Cookie S'mores

And don't fret -- as hard as this giveaway was it's going to be totally fun to bake the goodies and ship them out. I'm coming up on 50lbs lost. I think that calls for a giveaway, don't you?

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - walking, crunches and push ups.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 102

Only Water - Day 97

Total Pounds Lost - 38.3

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Granola Bar
Lunch - Leftover Fried Fish on a sandwich (super yummy)
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich and sugar free chocolate pudding
Dinner - Fried Milanese Chicken, french fries, and broccoli

Total Day Calories - 1108

In the Dust!

The Husband stayed home yesterday because we had a myriad of doctor's appointments and errands to run. Well, he walked with me to take 3ft to school but more importantly walked with me to pick him up. I leave a half hour early and walk a mile or better out of the way at a really fast pace to get to 3ft's school. My husband, who weighs a buck thirty (130lbs) soaking wet and after all-you-can-eat pasta at Olive Garden, couldn't keep up with me.

I reveled in it. I savored it. I didn't have the heart to tell him I walk fast when he's not trailing behind me. It was a moment.

And as to celebrating -- Oh yeah, baby. I celebrated. I savored a small slice of no sugar added apple pie last night after dinner. I intentionally got a half sandwich w/ a salad so I could guilt-free eat every last bite of pie. I didn't. I left the crust. It wasn't that great (just the crust the filling was awesome) plus I was full.

I wouldn't say I had an eating win yesterday, though. I missed my morning snack, I missed my afternoon snack due to being crazy busy, and I while I didn't go over my calorie count for the day my calories weren't balanced very well. Between the onion rings and pie I had more fat calories than usual. But hey. I still stayed within my healthy living goals and lunch was only 350 calories and dinner without the pie was about the same.

I'm living. I enjoyed the pie. And now I'm back to my routine eating today.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - walking, crunches and push ups.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 101

Only Water - Day 96

Total Pounds Lost - 38.3

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - (didn't need)
Lunch - Burger King Whopper Jr. w/ orowheat thin instead of bun and no mayo and a value size onion ring
Mid-Afternoon Snack -(missed due to being busy)
Dinner - Shari's Lunch Trio -- 1/2 BLT sandwich, salad with balsamic vinaigrette, and a slice of no sugar added apple pie

Total Day Calories - 1195

Let's Celebrate!!!

DAY 100!!!!! *shakes my money maker*

I've done 100 days in a row of HEALTHY LIVING!!! *dances some more*

LET'S CELEBRATE!!!!

In commemoration of this huge milestone I'm going to do a giveaway! Two lucky winners will receive one delicious baked good choice from this list of my own healthy creations:
Banana Almond Bread
Banana Chocolate Muffins
Snowy Brownies
Cranberry Scones
Honey Cinnamon Swirl Cinnamon Bread
Sugar Cookie S'mores

And it's easy to enter! All you have to do is comment on this blog, my sparkpeople blog, or on this linked blog post at facebook.com. Easy, right? I mean how else will I know you want to enter? All of these items will survive shipping and anyone can enter -- I'll ship anywhere. I'll take comments until tomorrow night, do a random drawing and announce the winners on Saturday's blog.

I'm in the mood to celebrate!!! It's not about the weight (which trust me I love dropping) it's about the living healthy because as long as I keep that up the weight will lose itself.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - crunches and push ups.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 100!!! WAHOOOO!!!!

Only Water - Day 95

Total Pounds Lost - 38.3

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - (didn't need)
Lunch - Hawaiian and Veggie Homemade Pizzas
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich and some popcorn
Dinner - Fried Fish Strips, french fries, and broccoli (274 calories)

Total Day Calories - 1098

Shameless, That's Me!

So, I found out yesterday that the shape of my scones are wrong. My friend, author Gini Koch, happens to be a connoisseur of the scone and tells me that they're round like a cookie. You just drop the dough on a cookie sheet and let it puff up and bake in more interesting shapes then making a big blob like a giant cookie and then slicing it like a pizza. I couldn't have been more shocked to find out she knew how to bake something (She isn't what we'd call someone who likes to cook or bake, but I love her anyway).

And here's a shameless book plug for her. "Touched by an Alien" is an awesome book and "Alien Tango", which releases on December 7th, is even BETTER! It's all about the 'Gators, baby! So get them and read them. *shameless book plug is now over* (Thanks for the scone advice, oh awesome one!)

Now I can't wait to make scones again, which is why they're in my Christmas Baking line-up. Because, yes I am sick, and have already planned out what I'm baking this year. I'm as bad as 3ft when it comes to Christmas excitement.

I'm pleased to report that I did do crunches and push ups yesterday. I was going to break out my Wii but by the time I got 3ft and Mr. Grumpybutt settled down and in bed, I was so exhausted after another early morning, I just sank into the couch and there I stayed until my husband woke me up to go to bed.

Today, the Wii will be used. I promise.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - crunches and push ups.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 99

Only Water - Day 94

Total Pounds Lost - 38.3

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk and a Cranberry Almond Scone (I had to try them after all)
Morning Snack - (was at the doctors)
Lunch - McDonalds Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad w/out cheese
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich
Dinner - Chicken w/ mushrooms and peas over whole wheat spaghetti pasta

Total Day Calories - 1155

Best Laid Plans...

I did NOT get my promised crunches and push ups in yesterday. I've been battling pneumonia with 3ft since probably Saturday. Yesterday was one of his worse days, which sucks cuz it was his first day of antibiotics. My morning started at 4:30 and by the time I got 3ft squared away in bed I pretty much fell asleep on the couch. Today I plan to do much better. I hope. Because 3ft is feeling much better. Hooray for modern medicine.

I made a really great chicken pasta recipe yesterday. With mushrooms, peas, chicken, and whole wheat spaghetti noodles in a really great sauce. Naturally, I forgot to take a picture of it. But never fear I'm having it for dinner tonight as well so I'll remember to give it it's photo op tonight.

I baked Cranberry Almond Scones this morning and THOSE I remembered to take a picture of so here they are:



My husband is stoked because of how popular at work he's going to become since I sent 1/2 the batch with him today. I love baking, the boys love eating what I bake, but we can't eat it fast enough before stuff goes bad. So if I don't freeze it, I send it to work with the Husband.

They were quite an adventure, a lot of work, but they sure turned out delicious. Only 150 calories per scone. Awesome right? Feel free to be jealous.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Carrying 3ft up and down stairs, around the hospital, and around the house (he weighs 50lbs).

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 98

Only Water - Day 93

Total Pounds Lost - 38.3

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - (was at the doctors)
Lunch - Homemade Individual Pizza Thins -- one vegetarian one hawaiian
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich and a slice of honey cinnamon swirl bread
Dinner - Chicken w/ mushrooms and peas over whole wheat spaghetti pasta

Total Day Calories - 1142

Slacker!

I've been slacking.

I've only been doing walking as exercise. I haven't been doing any strength training at all lately. Now some of this I blame on being sick for the past week, some I blame on bad time management, and some I blame on being too tired.

It's got to stop, no more excuses.

Walking is great exercise, don't get me wrong, but I had the dream again last night. My long time readers might remember me mentioning it before. The one where I'm drowning in a sea of loose skin. It's really gross and super disturbing. It always freaks me right out (you would freak out too, trust me).

I'll admit I've been lax and just sitting back and enjoying the number on the scale shrinking. However, this weight last year, I was in smaller size pants. Granted having a baby does all sorts of wonky things to your body (if you haven't experienced it, you'll just have to take my word for it) but it still bothers me that I'm almost pre baby weight and still two sizes bigger than I was last year. I think the major difference is the strength training. I did crunches and push ups religiously last time around. I haven't gotten into the routine of doing them as regularly this time.

So as of today I'm pledging to do crunches and push ups everyday and my Wii Fit Strength Training and Yoga regimen 3 days a week. And then we'll see what my pants have to say next time I try to squeeze into them.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Walking.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 97

Only Water - Day 92

Total Pounds Lost - 38.3

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - (didn't need)
Lunch - Homemade Individual Pizza Thins -- one vegetarian one hawaiian
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich and a slice of honey cinnamon swirl bread
Dinner - Chicken in Garlic Sauce w/ French Baguette and asparagus
Evening Snack -- 3 cups 94% Fat Free Butter Popcorn

Total Day Calories - 1090

Adventures in Recipes

I tried out a new chicken recipe yesterday. The recipe called for dry white wine. I don't drink. I stopped drinking long before I started my healthy lifestyle change. I drank a LOT in my 20's and had to stop and even then I didn't drink anything fancy like wine. If it didn't taste like kool aid or was cheap enough to use for drinking games I didn't drink it. So it's been an adventure building my "cooking alcohol" collection as recipes have called for them.

So I go to Safeway yesterday which has a fancy wine alcohol section -- it takes up an entire corner of the store and they always have people working at the "bar" trying to sample out wines. I'm sure how they have the alcohol arranged makes perfect sense to connoisseurs but I was completely lost. So after I turn down a myriad of wine samples, I say, "I'm just looking for a dry white wine to cook with." Finally one of the women working behind the "bar" takes pity on me and takes me over to the white wine section (that I couldn't find on my own) and suggests a couple wines that have excellent reputations and starts delving into all the wine speak. I listen like I care (which I don't -- I'm just going to dump it on some chicken), grab the cheapest bottle she recommends, and head to the check out with the rest of my groceries.

I get home, put the groceries away, and start cooking dinner. I heat up my olive oil and butter in the pan, prepare my chicken breasts, start browning them and while that's going on, I measure out the chicken stock, the chopped garlic, and peel the wrapper off the wine to measure that out. I'm shocked to find it has a cork. I do not own a corkscrew. It never even occurred to me I'd need one. That shows what a dork I am, I guess. I take the chicken out of the pan, and put in the garlic and start browning that while I desperately think of a way to open the bottle.

The husband says, "I could screw a screw into it and try to pull it out that way."

I scoff, tell him to keep stirring the garlic, our next door neighbor is into cooking and he's and older gentlemen, he's GOT to have one. I run over, ask, and he chuckles, says they're recovering alcoholics so they don't have any anymore but he'll check. He invites me in and I feel totally horrendous that I'm carrying this bottle of wine into their house when they're recovering alcoholics. Alas, they do NOT have a corkscrew, he says the last time he cooked with wine he pounded the cork into the bottle used what he needed and threw the rest away.

That doesn't help me.

I take the bottle back to my husband and tell him, "Whatever MacGyver, just open it."

So he screws in this wall hook thing and then starts prying and groaning and bitching -- trying to get the cork out. After about 5 minutes, he gets the cork out a bit and instead of staying with what works he unscrews the screw wall hook thingy out and gets pliers and totally breaks off a huge chunk of cork. So I give him crap about why didn't he stick with what was working as he's screwing this ginormous wall hook screw thingy back into the cork. He finally gets the cork out (and believe me it's worse for the wear) and I'm able to use the wine in the recipe. All that work for 1/4 cup. The Husband informs me this chicken better be worth it to which I agree.

Then there was the fun of trying to shove the massacred cork back into the bottle. Finally MacGyver got it back in. I guess that's why I keep him around.

Well the recipe was amazing. It was totally delicious and well worth the hassle of the white wine debacle.

Chicken Breasts in Garlic Sauce w/ French Baguette


So you take the garlic sauce and spread it onto slices of Baguette. The garlic is cooked down and really mild and has an almost sweet flavor and compliments the chicken and tastes so delicious on the bread. It's presentation looks like it should be bad for you and it definitely tastes like it should be bad for you but 1 serving of the chicken with a serving size of a french baguette with the sauce was only 259 calories. This recipe will definitely go into our regular line up. If anyone's interested in the recipe give me a holler and I'll send it along.

Today is also weigh in and measuring day. I'm excited to report that I've lost another 3 pounds last week and 7.5 inches off my entire body in the last month.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Walking.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 96

Only Water - Day 91

Total Pounds Lost - 38.3

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - (didn't need)
Lunch - Cracked Pepper Turkey Sandwich, with carrots and a dill pickle spear
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich and a slice of honey cinnamon swirl bread
Dinner - Chicken in Garlic Sauce w/ French Baguette and asparagus

Total Day Calories - 1017

Delicious Bread!

Yesterday my friend, Turkey, gave me a link to a Breakfast Bread Recipe that looked so delicious I had to make it right away. I changed the recipe a little to suit my needs and what I had in my pantry and came up with my version of the bread.

It ended up being like a ginormous cinnamon roll because my apartment was too cold for it really to rise to it's full potential but the flavor was heavenly and 3ft proclaimed it the most delicious cinnamony bread ever. So I figure it was a win. Even the Husband swears he likes it even though I tried to convince him not to eat it because it was gross and he wouldn't like it -- you know, so there'd be more for me. (It didn't work, but I figured it was worth a shot.)

Cinnamon Swirl Bread


Ingredients

2 1/2 cups unbleached bread flour
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp honey
1/4 cup fat free yogurt
1 1/2 tsp instant yeast
2 Tbsp Brummel and Brown Original Spread w/ Yogurt (room temperature)
1 cup water room temperature water
1 1/2 tsp olive oil for bowl
1/4 cup honey to drizzle over bread
1 tbs cinnamon to sprinkle over bread

Directions

In a large bowl mix all of your dry ingredients with a wire whisk.

Make a "well" in your flour mixture and add brummel and brown spread, sour cream, 3 TBS honey, and water. then mix it together with your hands. When the dough forms and there's no flour remaining dump out the bowl onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes. The ball should be slightly tacky and springy.

Oil a bowl and roll dough in the bowl to cover with the oil. Cover the bowl with a damp towel or plastic wrap and allow it to rise for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until doubled in size.

Lightly sprinkle flour on workspace and gently roll out dough. Very carefully pull and shape the dough to form a rectangle about 8 inches by 12 inches. You don’t want to release any of the air trapped in the dough by handling the dough roughly. Drizzle your 1/4 cup honey all over the top of the dough and sprinkle with the cinnamon.

Carefully roll up the rectangle of dough to form the swirls and set inside a prepared bread pan (I used butter flavor baking spray). Cover pan and allow to rise for another hour or until bread rises just past the top of the pan. During the last 20 minutes of rising, set your oven to 350 F.

Bake bread for 30 minutes or until done (mine only took the 30)

When bread is done baking, turn out immediately on a cooling rack. Let cool, then dig in.

Number of Servings: approximately 20 slices

Calories: 132.7
Total Fat: 1.3 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 189.2 mg
Total Carbs: 26.7 g
Dietary Fiber: 0.9 g
Protein: 3.4 g

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Walking.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 95

Only Water - Day 90

Total Pounds Lost - 35.2

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Chocolate and Oats Granola Bar
Lunch - Cracked Pepper Turkey Sandwich, with carrots and a dill pickle spear
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich and a slice of honey cinnamon swirl bread
Dinner - Egg McMuffin w/out the Mc (one egg, canadian bacon, and english muffin sandwich) and hash browns

Total Day Calories - 1114

No Rest for the Wicked.

And ain't that the truth.

Even sick I'm still sticking to my healthy lifestyle, still cooking healthy meals, and still exercising (albeit not as hard -- I haven't done C25K because I can't breathe out my nose and have a bit of a cough, but I WILL get back to it). Besides, I walk very fast (it comes from having long legs as I'm 5'7" which isn't super tall but it is by girl standards)and walking is pretty good exercise anyways.

I think when I start feeling better after I drop 3ft off in the mornings I'm going to see what Mr. Grumpybutt thinks about sitting in his stroller with a bunch of his toys while I workout at the "gym". "The Walker" and "The Sweaty Guy on the Bike" shouldn't be there that early (yes, I too shall miss them -- NOT!) and I should be able to get some elliptical done or treadmill or something a little more sweat worthy than walking (even though walking is great exercise).

Speaking of sweat. I've noticed since I've started drinking nothing but water and so much of it, I sweat a lot more than I used to. Not icky sweaty guy sweat, you know, the ones that just have it drip off them while they are sitting watching TV or something, but when I workout I perspire more. All part and parcel of being well hydrated I guess -- but that old adage, "Real ladies don't sweat," echoes in my brain as I workout and actually have to use the workout towel I brought with me. I guess no one would accuse me of being a real lady anyways, "BURP!" So it doesn't really matter.

I pulled myself off my deathbed last night to make Chicken Cacciatore Pasta for dinner. Traditionally, Cacciatore is made with diced tomatoes instead of pasta sauce but I didn't have enough tomatoes, I had some pasta sauce I didn't want going bad, and my boys like a thicker sauce anyways. However I did put the traditional Cacciatore ingredients in the sauce: red bell pepper, onion, mushrooms, some red wine vinegar, garlic, the chicken (of course), and other hidden veggies (shhh don't tell the boys, they'll stop eating it). Slopped it on some penne rigate noodles and there it is.

Chicken Cacciatore Pasta


--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Walking.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 94

Only Water - Day 89

Total Pounds Lost - 35.2

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Chocolate and Oats Granola Bar
Lunch - Cracked Pepper Turkey Sandwich, with red bell pepper strips, carrots, and a dill pickle spear
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich and split some 94% Fat Free Butter Popcorn w/ 3ft
Dinner - Chicken Cacciatore Pasta

Total Day Calories - 1123

More Challenges.

It's harder to follow a healthy lifestyle when you're sick. You don't want to move let alone exercise and you certainly don't want to cook anything. So it's an act of will to not open up the box of Coco Puffs and eat those for dinner instead and to not have your butt glued to the couch all day long. (not that'd I'd have the glued butt luxury with an 8 month old rolling around the living room getting into everything)

I mention this, because I was even more sick yesterday which made the day entirely too much fun.

Mr. Grumpybutt and I still went on our walk after we dropped 3ft off at school and before we picked him up. I really had to struggle to make myself do it because I felt like such total garbage but I persevered. Besides, Mr. Grumpybutt really enjoys the walks, and we have a lot of neighbors with great yards and we walk by one filled with rose bushes on purpose because it smells so wonderful. (not that I'm smelling anything right now)

There are also a lot of gardens in the front yards and as I walk by and see all the ripe tomatoes, peppers, zucchinis, and other wonderful things I really have to resist to the urge to help myself. Mr. Grumpybutt wouldn't tell on me, but really, what kind of example am I setting (I don't care if he's only 8 months old and would have no idea what I was doing). Besides someone else took the time and effort to grow their vegetables and it would just be wrong. That's what I keep repeating to myself as my hands itch to grab and dash. (I guess that'd be one way of putting my C25K to the test.)

I even forced myself to get up and actually cook last night as well. I made Carne Asada Tacos w/ Black Bean Salsa for dinner. 3ft opted to make his own pizza's again which was fine -- he doesn't really care for red meat unless it's hamburger and covered in cheese and ketchup. I marinated the steak in lime juice, cumin, chili powder, red pepper, and chopped garlic for 24 hours before throwing it in the broiler. Add a little black bean salsa and some fat free sour cream and ta da... you have 2 delicious tacos for approximately 259 calories.

To get that calorie count: We get corn extra thin 6 inch tortillas. Corn is way better for you than flour and the extra thin only have 80 calories per two tortillas. I also suggest Naturally Yours fat free sour cream. Some light or free sour creams you can taste the difference -- they aren't as good. I can't with the Naturally Yours to me and the family it tastes just like regular ol' sour cream. Plus it's all about portions.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Walking.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 93

Only Water - Day 88

Total Pounds Lost - 35.2

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Chocolate and Oats Granola Bar
Lunch - Milanese Chicken, herb pasta, and zucchini
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich
Dinner - Carne Asada Tacos w/ Black Bean Salsa and sour cream, and roasted peppers

Total Day Calories - 1105

Quarantined!

Ugh, there's nothing worse than having sick kids unless of course they infect you with their cooties and make you sick too. The only healthy one is Husband and he's off at work gallivanting around having the time of his life while the rest of us marinate in our own snot and sneezes (that paints a picture, doesn't it?). Well 3ft is coming down the other side of it, I believe, which hopefully he won't catch it again as Mr. Grumpybutt's and my noses run a race to see who can produce the most snot. So far, we're tied.

I'm excited to report that my friend, Anima, said the Tilapia and Black Bean tacos turned out really good and she'd definitely make them again. I'm 3 for 3 now. Not that I'm keeping track or excited or anything. My friend, Nunan, is going to be (probably if she can get off her keister -- her words) making the Mushroom Stroganoff this weekend. She says she'll let me know how it goes but if it kills her I might need to re-evaluate my recipe. Isn't she funny?

I was surfing CookingLight.com yesterday and ran across a Milanese Chicken recipe that sounded promising so with it in mind I did my own take on it. Their recipe was basically chicken breast w/ a little salt and pepper dredged in flour, egg whites, then bread crumbs mixed with Parmesan cheese and fried in some olive oil. Well that sounded too bland to me plus their version had an awful lot of calories that I figured I could cut back on.

I made my own breadcrumbs -- I accidentally over dried the bread (yes I used my Orowheat Sandwich Thins -- my husband says I should try to get endorsement money because I love them so much) when I lost track of time playing with Mr. Grumpybutt -- so by the time I got it all crumbling in my food processor I ended up with a coarser flour than an actual breadcrumb. But I figured what the heck it'll still be good. I mixed into it garlic salt, rosemary, Parmesan cheese, basil, pepper, and a little Italian Seasoning. Then I dredged the chicken breasts in a little flour, the egg whites, and then into the breadcrumb mixture. The breading had a slight crunch and a great flavor after frying it in a teeny bit of olive oil.

Milanese Chicken with Herb Pasta and Broccoli


The best part: an honest to goodness piece of fried chicken -- nothing pseudo about it -- for 150 calories. This recipe is definitely a keeper. My breadcrumb accident turned into a total win and I'll make the "breadcrumbs" the same way when I make it again! 3ft also loved the chicken and wasn't too disappointed he didn't get to make his own pizzas again last night because the chicken turned out so well.

I'm also totally stoked. If 3ft likes almond milk and the only reason I'm buying regular milk is for the Husband then he says he'll make the switch as well. He says he can't taste the difference in anything I cook with the almond milk so what's the point of buying the extra dairy. So now to give 3ft the almond milk without telling him it's not real milk and see what he thinks. Of course when Mr. Grumpybutt is off formula I'll have to buy milk again but that's not for another 4 months.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Walking.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 92

Only Water - Day 87

Total Pounds Lost - 35.2

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Chocolate and Oats Granola Bar
Lunch - Teriyaki steak, pineapple brown rice, and broccoli
Mid-Afternoon Snack -1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich
Dinner - Milanese Chicken, herb pasta, and broccoli

Total Day Calories - 1122

The Turkey Genius!

I got this great idea from my friend Turkey's blog, "Building Character" for Pizza Pitas. I took her idea and ran with it. I didn't have pita bread but I do have a ton of Orowheat Sandwich Thins so instead of pitas I made the individual sized pizzas with the Thins (I have previously mentioned how much I love the Thins haven' t I? Let me take this moment again to say I seriously heart them, a lot). What I especially love about the individual pizzas is we all get to have what we want as all of us really like different things.

3ft loves cheese and pepperoni. Husband loves enough garlic to ward off vampires for 1000 miles, cheese, pepperoni, and mushrooms. And I love vegetarian and Hawaiian. So I chopped up a lot of veggies, we bought some pepperoni, canadian bacon, and mozzarella cheese and then everyone made their own.



I took the Orowheat Sandwich Thins and opened them up so there were two halves. So we each got two pizzas. 3ft especially loved making his. He is still talking about it today. Husband and 3ft made two each of their favorite and after they inhaled them they then split another Thin so they each had 3 individual pizzas. I just made my two: one veggie w/ zucchini, mushrooms, orange and red bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes and one Hawaiian w/ canadian bacon, onions, tomatoes, and pineapple.

Let me just say they were DELICIOUS! We are all looking forward to making them again. We stuck them in the oven at 400 degrees for about 8 - 10 minutes and let all the toppings cook, the cheese melt, and the "dough" to get crispy. The best part. Both my pizzas together = 242 calories.

We used 2% Milk Mozzarella Cheese and Light No Sugar Added Ragu Tomato and Basil spaghetti sauce.

Orowheat Sandwich Thin Individual Pizzas


I've got to say it again: The Turkey is a genius. THANKS!!!

I'm also excited to report that I heard back from my friend, Laura (the one who made the Moroccan Chicken and Almond Couscous recipe), she said her family loved it and her baby (she'll always be a baby to me, the li'l cutie) ate it too. So I'm totally on Cloud 9. However, I'm also nervous again because my friend, Anima, is making the Tilapia and Black Bean Salsa tacos tonight so I'm really hoping she likes it!

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Took it easy (I think I'm coming down with the kids' colds).

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 91

Only Water - Day 86

Total Pounds Lost - 35.2

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Chocolate and Oats Granola Bar
Lunch - Cracked Black Pepper Turkey Sandwich (Hallelujah!!! The Rotisserie is gone!), red bell pepper strips, carrots, and a pickle spear
Mid-Afternoon Snack -Popcorn, chocolate covered almonds, and banana
Dinner - Vegetarian and Hawaiian Individual sized Pizzas

Total Day Calories - 1173

Excited!

I'm totally stoked. My friend, MC Hoo, made my Snowy Brownie recipe and said it turned out really great. I'm going to be honest and say how nervous I was. It's one thing to brag about how delicious I think something turned out and another to pass off the recipe to a friend and hope they find it as delicious too. Taste is such a subjective thing.

I also had another friend, Laura, try out my Moroccan Chicken and Almond Couscous recipe. I haven't heard back from her on what they thought of it. Which could mean they didn't like it and she's too nice to tell me or she's just been busy. Because I'm also nervous about that recipe as well I think it's cuz they don't like it and hoping it's because she's been busy. But I'm really trying not to think of it at all because I'll just drive myself crazy.

So on to other things. I got my hair chopped off yesterday. I'll have to get some pictures of it and post them. Maybe tomorrow. I hate having my picture taken. I cut about 4 inches off. It's funny when it comes to my hair I try all sorts of whacky things because it's hair, it'll grow back. So I'm never nervous to just do a major cut job where they practically take it all. However when 3ft gets his haircut I hover like a vulture and panic with every scissor stroke. One heinous haircut where his poor double cowlick stuck up like Alfalfa for 2 months and I'm majorly neurotic about it. I'm sure hairstylists around the US hate me. Oh well, I can't help it.

I made teriyaki steak for dinner last night and it turned out exceptionally well. Nothing fancy just marinated thin cut steak strips in teriyaki sauce and pineapple juice for 24+ hours and then broiled them. The pineapple juice makes the meat so tender because of the acid. I always add lemon, lime, or pineapple juice to meat marinades because it really tenderizes the meat and makes the toughest cut of meat absolutely wonderful.

Got a really late start today. I've been doing laundry, cleaning house, and having my husband underfoot so this is the first chance I got. See you tomorrow.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Day Off.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 90

Only Water - Day 85

Total Pounds Lost - 35.2

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Chocolate and Oats Granola Bar
Lunch - Mc Donalds Grilled Chicken Southwest Salad
Mid-Afternoon Snack -Popcorn, chocolate covered almonds, 1/2 peanut butter and banana sandwich
Dinner - Teriyaki Steak, brown rice, and broccoli

Total Day Calories - 1125

How Many Calories?

I had a super fun day yesterday. My parents came to visit for the day and naturally the kids were spoiled rotten. We did a lot of running around: Target, Babies R Us, Best Buy, Costco and we had hit a couple restaurants for food: Mimi's Cafe for an early lunch and Red Robin for dinner.

Mimi's Cafe has to have the most unhealthiest breakfasts ever made as well as giving you a ton of it. I settled on some scrambled egg whites and their red potatoes then I split my blueberry muffin with 3ft so I wouldn't eat the whole thing. We're talking approximately 488 calories for that. I didn't drink the juice (gave it to 3ft). But that's crazy calories for little bit I ate. I enjoyed every bite of the potatoes and muffin. The eggs weren't all that fabulous -- a little on the runny side and I HATE that.

Then we walked around a bunch of stores in the outdoor shopping center around Mimi's and did some shopping. Mr. Grumpybutt got a Jeep Walker and 3ft got a new DS game "Despicable Me". (We didn't get to watch the movie yet but we will when it comes out on DVD)

Hours later, I was full for a long time, we hit Red Robin for dinner. I didn't want a heavy greasy burger. Although I'd had one the last time I went as a treat for having been doing so well. I felt like pasta. They had a Grilled Chicken Pesto Pasta that sounded really good so I got that. It was super delicious while it was hot but the minute it started getting cold it wasn't so fabulous. I had no idea of the nutritional content was but I know the ginormous plate was OVERFLOWING with pasta so I figured I probably didn't want to eat it all. Which worked because at about the 1/2 gone point I was full so I got a box to take it home.

When I got home and checked the nutritional value I was shocked it had over 1300 calories! THIRTEEN HUNDRED for pasta? Holy crap. Seriously, I was glad I only ate half. And because of that I might've been on the higher end of my nutritional goals but I didn't go over any of them. So hooray for me!

I'm going to be feeding the leftovers of the calorie pasta from hell to my husband.

I jumped on the scale this morning (Okay, I gingerly stepped on it and crossed my fingers) to see how I did last week. I figured I had to be doing okay because the first thing my mom said when she saw me yesterday was, "Your clothes are hanging off of you. They're huge. Those pants used to be super tight!"

Well, I guess there's a reason for that. The scale said I did fabulous! I lost 4.1 lbs and that puts the grand total up to 35.2 lbs lost since the end of May.

Go me!

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Day Off.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 89

Only Water - Day 84

Total Pounds Lost - 35.2

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Raisin Bran w/ homemade Almond Milk
Lunch - Went to Mimi's Cafe and had egg whites, red potatoes, and 1/2 a blueberry muffin
Mid-Afternoon Snack - still full from lunch
Dinner - Red Robin Grilled Chicken Pesto Pasta (1/2 serving)

Total Day Calories - 1352

Decadence.

Decadence = French Toast for dinner.

3ft's favorite food is breakfast foods. That kid would eat eggs, toast, hash browns, sausage, biscuits, french toast, pancakes, muffins, english muffins, and any combination thereof 24/7 if I'd let him. Vegetables? Who needs them.

Well on occasion, he'll specifically ask for breakfast for dinner, and when it's triple digits hot outside I eagerly acquiesce because it's too flipping hot to cook. And yes, breakfast involves cooking but it doesn't take near as long standing in front of a hot stove to do so.

This is what happened yesterday. And much to 3ft's excitement I made french toast. Now he's a traditionalist and likes syrup and lots of it on his french toast. Syrup is a lot of empty calories and while I like it, I can and do live without it. So I get creative with my french toast toppings.

I made a caramel banana almond topping to plop on my vanilla french toast. Now, caramel is a lot of empty calories as well but if you only use a 1/2 teaspoon of it mixed into mashed banana and almonds, it gives it a little caramel taste for not a lot of calories. It turned out super delicious and another thing I can throw the almond meal from making almond milk into.

I also felt decadent like what I was eating was soooo bad for me because it tasted that way. It tasted like dessert. But the whole dish: including the egg mixture that I dipped the bread in, the 2 slices of bread, and the caramel, banana, almond topping was only 247 calories and only 4 grams of fat. With the majority of the calories coming from the bread.

It was an awesome treat to the end of a long and busy week.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - walking and c25k.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 88

Only Water - Day 83

Total Pounds Lost - 31.1

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Raisin Bran w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Oats and Chocolate Granola Bar
Lunch - Spiced Honey Glazed Chicken Breasts, Garlic Rice, and broccoli (thankfully NOT Rotisserie horribleness)
Mid-Afternoon Snack - 1/2 peanut butter banana sandwich and chocolate covered almonds
Dinner - Caramel Banana Almond French Toast

Total Day Calories - 1176

Ha! Take That!

I'll show you, 101 degree weather -- I'll use my broiler in the morning when you're not that hot yet. And that's just what I did.

Yesterday morning after Mr. Grumpybutt was asleep and 3ft in school, I threw together my Spiced Honey Glazed Chicken Breast recipe and tossed it in the broiler. It didn't make my apartment crazy hot because it was still cool enough outside and when it was crazy hot at 4:30 I didn't have to worry about turning on the oven. I was very smug yesterday at dinner time and all sorts of proud of my ingenious thinking.

It turned out so totally good even though it was reheated for dinner. The husband really liked the spicy bite to it. We really like spicy food. I thought the bite of the chicken meshed really well with the rice and broccoli I served it with. So it's definitely another recipe keeper. I bet it would be great really barbecued instead of pseudo barbecued.


Spiced Honey Glazed Chicken Breasts

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - walking.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 87

Only Water - Day 82

Total Pounds Lost - 31.1

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Raisin Bran w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Oats and Chocolate Granola Bar
Lunch - Rotisserie Chicken (STILL not as good as Cajun and thankfully ALMOST gone!) Sandwich and carrot sticks
Mid-Afternoon Snack - 1/2 peanut butter banana sandwich and chocolate covered almonds
Dinner - Spiced Honey Glazed Chicken Breasts, Garlic Rice, and broccoli

Total Day Calories - 1153

Too Hot.

Ugh. The stupid hot weather ruined my dinner plans last night. I was going to try out a new recipe of Spiced Honey Glazed Chicken. I don't have a barbecue (I desperately want one) so I have to use my broiler if ever I want pseudo barbecue. It was too hot to turn my oven on AT ALL. So I ended up making breakfast for dinner -- eggs and hash browns. It makes a quick last minute meal when it's hotter than hell and you can't even imagine making it hotter by turning on the oven. 3ft couldn't have been happier -- breakfast foods are his favorite foods.

I'm still on Week 3 of the C25K. I want to be able to do it without puffing like a train and wishing I was dead. It's harder pushing Mr. Grumpybutt. Hopefully when my husband's work schedule gets situated and he's not working so much overtime I can get back to the treadmill to do it. But until then I adapt and do what I can with what I have.

I've also got to brag about my willpower for a second. I love Sour Cream and Cheddar Ruffles. They are ambrosia of the gods and I could easily sit and eat a bag until they're gone. My husband also loves Sour Cream and Cheddar Ruffles so we always have a bag in the house. Almost every night when my husband gets home from work he gets the bag and eats on them.

Now, my husband weighs 130lbs, if that, and that's when he's soaking wet and just eaten a huge meal (yeah I hate him too). Thank goodness 3ft gets his metabolism from his daddy and I'm hoping Mr. Grumpybutt does too. So, while he eats total crap food that is so delicious but so not good for you, he knows when to stop and his metabolism burns right through it. (Is it wrong that I can't wait til he hits 40 and that fabulous metabolisms craps out on him?)

I also have an insanely acute sense of smell and as soon as he cracks the bag I can smell the cheddar chip goodness. So it's a double torture -- watching him eat them and smelling them. I'm not going to lie, my mouth waters a little. But it's usually after 9pm, technically I'm not hungry til I smell them, and right before bed shoving greasy cheesy goodness down my throat isn't the smartest thing I could do. So, to make a short story even longer, I have stood (well sat) strong and not eaten them. Every night I battle with the temptation of "Give me just one!" and abstain from having any -- because really there is no eating just one Ruffle. I mean, really.

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - c25k.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 86

Only Water - Day 81

Total Pounds Lost - 31.1

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Raisin Bran w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Oats and Chocolate Granola Bar
Lunch - Rotisserie Chicken (STILL not as good as Cajun) Sandwich using avocado instead of mayo and carrot sticks
Mid-Afternoon Snack - 1/2 peanut butter banana sandwich and chocolate covered almonds
Dinner - Eggs, Hash browns, and a slice of toast

Total Day Calories - 1162

Say What?

Hooray! The children slept like they were supposed to which means I didn't have to wake up before the sun. I even got to sleep in! Well, 'til 6:25, but that's sleeping in for my kids.

I'm still bitter about the lunch meat as I choked down another sandwich yesterday. I put more mustard on it and that drowned out the sub par flavoring of the chicken. Blech. Never again. While I love Rotisserie Chicken normally, this is so not delicious. (Yes, I'm still whining about it. Plan on it being a daily rant until it's gone.)

I had a dinner win last night. Last weekend my husband said, "I love all the stuff you've been making for dinners but could you make some Hamburger Helper?"

Say what? I've been making delicious homemade goodness and you want me to throw a pound of hamburger into some Helper and feed that to you instead? Again, mine is not to reason why but I seriously wonder about that boy.

I said, "Sure, but I'm not eating it. So pick out which one you want."

He said, "Well if you won't eat it, I don't want you to have to make two meals."

"Helper isn't hard and that way I can eat something that you won't eat and have to worry about what it IS you will eat."

So he picked out a box of Lasagna Hamburger Helper and that is what 3ft had for dinner last night and what my husband is going to be eating for lunch for the next three days. I however made Seasoned Tilapia Tacos w/ homemade black bean salsa for dinner. It was super delicious.

I got the idea from my "old" friend, Nunan (and by old I mean OLD -- her birthday is coming up in October. Don't worry Shoe you don't look a day over 52!). She gave me a recipe for Baja Fish Tacos w/ Mango Salsa. The recipe called for cod. I didn't have any. I only have some tilapia fillets and I had a yearning for Black Bean Salsa instead of Mango. So I used the seasonings on the fish from the Baja Fish Taco recipe and then threw together my own black bean salsa to put on them.

Ta da!

Seasoned Tilapia Fish Tacos w/ homemade Black Bean Salsa


Don't they look yummy? Trust me they were! (I really need a new camera... and some fancy square plates or something to really make my food look fancy. Guess what's going on my Christmas List?)

--Previous Day Tracking --

Exercise - Walking.

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 85

Only Water - Day 80

Total Pounds Lost - 31.1

Meals:
Breakfast - bowl of FiberOne Raisin Bran w/ homemade Almond Milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Oats and Chocolate Granola Bar
Lunch - Rotisserie Chicken (STILL not as good as Cajun) Sandwich using avocado instead of mayo and carrot sticks
Mid-Afternoon Snack - 1/2 peanut butter banana sandwich and chocolate covered almonds
Dinner - Tilapia Tacos w/ homemade black bean salsa

Total Day Calories - 1045