Back on the Wagon... Miss Me?

Not that I ever technically left the wagon. I just didn't pay as much attention as I usually do to how much I ate. So, I didn't lose any weight but more importantly I didn't really gain any either -- a couple ounces. I'm not worried about it.

I had a fabulous Thanksgiving. I ate what I wanted, how much I wanted, and whenever I wanted. I had some of everything. But I have to tattle on myself and confess it just wasn't Thursday. I also ate what I wanted, how much I wanted, whenever I wanted of leftovers til Sunday.

With the holiday, 3ft out of school, and my husband having nearly a week off of work my routine got all sorts of jacked up. So instead of stressing, I just let it go. I'm living. Life does that. So now it's Monday and the world is running the way it should: 3ft went to school and husband went to work. I was able to jog this morning, which was awesome. And tonight after I get the kids in bed I plan on playing some Wii, either Just Dance 2 or The Michael Jackson Experience (which is like Just Dance just with MJ songs -- old school, oh yeah).

I also returned to my normal eating habits and feel better for having done so. I ate a lot of chips and other things not quite fabulous for me and it's amazing the difference it makes in the way I feel. No chips today, no baked treats today, just lots of veggies, fruits, and a Turkey Pot Pie creation for dinner.

I took about 2 cups of chopped leftover turkey, with 1/2 cup chopped carrots, 1/2 cup chopped celery, 1/4 chopped onion, and about 3 cloves of chopped garlic. Sauteed them in a pan and then added a cup of leftover turkey gravy. Cooked it until simmering and then put it in a square baking dish. Topped it with about a cup of leftover mashed potatoes mixed with 1/2 cup 2% cheddar cheese and then tossed it in the oven at 350 until it was all bubbly and the potatoes were crusty. Turned out so good. Serves about 4 and around 300 calories a serving. It was a great and healthy use of leftovers. Tomorrow I'm making Turkey Noodle Soup and then the turkey will be all used up.

What are some of your favorite ways to use Thanksgiving leftovers?

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 173

Total Pounds Lost - 58.3

Meals:
Breakfast - FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade almond milk
Morning Snack - FiberOne Granola Bar
Lunch - Leftover Challah Roast Beef Sandwich, cucumbers, carrots, and grapes
Mid-Afternoon Snack - 1/2 a banana
Dinner - Turkey Pot Pie creation

I Know It's Late.

Ack! I'm running late tonight. I have a good excuse. I had to go last minute shopping. I ran out of eggs and needed whole nutmeg so I had to run out and get some. Of course I had to go to two stores because the first store didn't have the nutmeg. Then of course I found a bunch of things I couldn't live without so it took that much longer.

I took another stab at Eggnog. It was bothering me that it wasn't the right color. So I got whole vanilla beans, whole nutmeg, and cinnamon extract which is clear. I used a little less condensed milk and less flour (bring the calories down) and was able to use less egg yolks too. So I'm hoping this batch is good. It looks right which is important.

I also baked gingerbread people today (yes I'm getting ready to do my Christmas baking) because gingerbread is an awesome cookie, lasts forever in airtight containers, and freezes really well. So what the heck, I had my gingerbread out to make gingerbread bears to take to a play date and figured it wouldn't hurt to bust out some people while I was rolling and cutting dough. So I baked 3 dozen people.

I also baked my Pecan Tart w/ chocolate drizzle for Thanksgiving. It turned out so pretty and smelled so good (and I got some on the spatula when I moved it to a cake container so naturally I had to eat it and it tasted amazing). I'm really hoping it makes it to Thanksgiving (cuz you know I might eat it before hand -- but that's okay I have all the ingredients to make another one).

I exercised. Did Wii Fit Free Step for a half hour. I hit over 3000 steps but I don't remember the exact number. Then 3ft and I went on a walk, not too mention all the housework, laundry, baking, cooking, and chasing the ever busy Grumpybutt around the house. I'd say I got enough exercise.

Before I forget, I had a fabulous moment today. It was pouring down rain when 3ft and I took the Grumpybutt over to my friend, Riana's, house for a play date. I was able to fit comfortably in my husband's size L jacket. Oh yeah. I'm loving it. :)

Healthy Lifestyle - Day 167

Total Pounds Lost - 58.3

Meals:
Breakfast - FiberOne Honey Clusters w/ homemade almond milk
Morning Snack - (early lunch)
Lunch - spaghetti sandwich
Mid-Afternoon Snack - (still full from lunch)
Dinner - roasted pork and cheese quesadillas

The Weekend After...

It’s the Sunday after a major holiday -- time to get on the scale. Wait, let me rephrase that. It’s the Sunday after a major EATING holiday -- do I have to get on the scale?

*Cue suspenseful music*

I have to be honest. While it’s funnier to say I was filled with trepidation as I pulled out the scale and gingerly stepped on, it wouldn’t be the truth. I wasn’t worried. No, really, I wasn’t, for a few reasons.

Reason one: The mindset. I’m making a life change -- I’m not on a diet. So as the holidays come around, even the eating ones, I’m going to enjoy them. Sure, I didn’t eat the pie nor did I gorge out on the food -- not only was it a conscious choice but something I was incapable of doing without getting sick (it’s amazing how much your stomach shrinks when you lose a bunch of weight).

Reason two: I cooked the Thanksgiving Feast and the way I prepared the food -- using healthy choices that still taste delicious -- cut the calories in half for the entire meal. So while I ate a little more than I normally would’ve, I knew I wasn’t doing the damage that I normally could’ve.

Reason three: I worked out every day -- and I didn’t miss a day just because it was a holiday.

So armed with those three reasons, I pulled out the scale and happily hopped right on. Now I assumed I’d see that I’d maintained this week as I wasn’t on my best eating behavior, or even gone up a couple ounces. I looked at the numbers to find…

*booty shake*

…I lost 3.3 pounds over Thanksgiving! Now THAT is something to be thankful for.