Week 11 Weigh-In

Wow, what a week! I'm so excited, because I lost 2.2 pounds this week.

This is a big deal, since Saturday was our eleventh wedding anniversary. I took the day off dieting, and we went to Red Lobster and A-T-E. I was miserable I ate so much. I needed it, though. It has made me appreciate the healthy way my new way of eating makes me feel.

I've now lost over 10% of my body weight, and am just under a third of the way to my final goal! *does the happy dance all OVER the place*

I'll end this by sharing a new recipe I came up with a little while back. I made it again this past week and was reminded of how good it was, so I figured I'd put it out there for whoever is interested.

Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Pine Nut & Garlic Spinach

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup of feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 of a red bell pepper, diced
1/2 of a small red onion, diced
10 Kalamata olives, chopped
16 oz. package of frozen spinach
1/4 cup pine nuts
4 cloves of garlic, minced
Salt & pepper to taste

1. Preheat your indoor grill (an outdoor grill cooks too slowly, taking away the flavors).
2. Using a meat tenderizer, pound out the chicken to 1/4" thick.
3. Combine the feta cheese, diced red bell pepper and red onion, and Kalamata olives in a bowl.
4. Divide evenly between the chicken breasts, being careful not to overstuff.
5. Fold the chicken up so that the stuffing will stay inside when cooked.
6. Cook the chicken on the indoor grill until cooked through.
7. Combine the frozen spinach, pine nuts, and garlic in a microwave-safe bowl.
8. Cover and microwave according to the package directions.
9. When done, divide the spinach evenly between four plates.
10. Place a stuffed chicken breast on top of the spinach on each plate.

This is an incredibly easy dinner to make that even my picky 9-YO loves! From beginning to end it only takes me about 45 minutes to prepare and cook. Let me know what you think, and more importantly, ENJOY!!

Food Journals - Day 17 & 18

I'm so late posting today that I'm doing a 2-for-1 deal. I'm posting yesterday's food journal AND todays.

Day 17

Breakfast (4)
3 egg whites
1 apple
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar

Lunch (14)
Panera Pick 2:
French Onion Soup
Half Turkey Artichoke on Focaccia
1 apple

Dinner(6)
Weight Watcher's Smart Ones Santa Fe Style Rice & Beans

Evening Snack (2)
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar

Day 18

Breakfast (5)
Oatmeal
3 egg whites
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar

Lunch (6)
Turkey club sandwich
100 Calorie Snack Pack Sun Chips
1 cup Progresso Italian-style Vegetable soup

Afternoon Snack (2)
100 Calorie Snack Pack Fudge Stripes


Dinner (9)
Weight Watcher's Smart Ones Ravioli Florentine
Shrimp salad

Evening Snack (4)
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar
1 banana

Food Journal - Day 5

Breakfast (3)
8 oz. coffee with cream & sugar
1 banana

Lunch (16)
Penn Station Artichoke Sub
Small Fries

Dinner (4)
Weight Watcher's Smart Ones Shrimp Marinara
1 cup cantaloupe

Evening Snack (2)
8 oz. coffee with cream & sugar

I was actually giving myself a "splurge" day today. You know, a day to eat out with the hubby and not worry about going a little over on points. Once I got home and saw that I could stay on track with what I had eaten, however, I changed my mind; so, in the end, I ended up meeting my points, drinking my required amount of water, and getting to treat myself. How's that for a winning situation?

An excellent day...

So earlier this week I made plans to go today to see the new Twilight movie with my mother. It was running at 12:40 PM, and I wouldn't make it home in time to get my 8 year old off of the school bus. Normally, as in every other time since my oldest was born, this would inevitably mean me canceling my plans and being there. It never would have dawned on me to arrange for someone else to get my child off of the bus and keep him until I made it home. This time, however, was different. I was determined to do something for myself. In order to keep myself from chickening out I pre-ordered my non-refundable tickets. I then told my husband to arrange for his parents to get our boy off of the bus on Friday afternoon.

When I woke up this morning I found that it had snowed last night. Not much, just enough that I had to go outside and spend 15 minutes clearing my windshield and sweeping a path on the porch and stairs. My hubby came out as I was finishing to go to work, and offered to go ahead and take my SUV down the hill where I could just walk to it and be on the road. Then possible disaster struck. In just around 10 minutes, the sky opened up and dumped almost an inch of snow on the ground. Not just any snow, either, but that fine powder that ski resorts love because it packs down to ice with the slightest pressure. I made the decision to keep the boys home from school, as it was just too treacherous for them to be on a school bus. I wavered for a moment over my plans for the day, then told myself that my 16 year old was more than capable of taking care of his brother for the day - another first for me!

By the time I needed to leave, the roads had turned from snow covered to almost inch thick ice - and I was going to have to drive at least a mile on the curvy, hilly road to the nearest intersection where the road would be treated. Nervous, unsure, anxious, worried, I crept my way down the hill. At the end of the mile I discovered that the roads were, in fact, treated and that the rest of my journey would be uneventful.

So, I went to brunch with my mother, went to see Twilight (which is OMG! AMAZING!!), stopped in Target to snag some new undershirts for my oldest and a Christmas gift for my youngest, and then decided to run and pick up some pizzas and cheese sticks for dinner so that I didn't have to cook. I called my boys on the way home and had the oldest throw a quick salad together to go with.

Now it's bedtime and as I sit and reflect upon my day I am just so proud of myself! I faced my fears and drove on wintry roads, refused to allow myself to feel bad for having a day out, saw a movie that I've waited anxiously for for quite a while, and more than anything else I can rest assured in the fact that my boys are quite alright without me stressing myself to the max. They want me to be happy. That is a true gift, that knowledge, and I know that it will help me on my way to becoming the me I used to be.