hey y'all

Good morning folks.

Can't weigh in today cos no batteries in the wii remote and I couldn't find any to replace the dead ones! Also my poor baby has a really high temp so I'm concentrating on looking after her.

Monday....Let's weigh!

Hi ladies,

Debs, I hope you don't mind that posted the weigh in today.

Report the numbers.

Sorry it's late..

Hey y'all, sorry I didn't post yesterday. Took M to the dentist and he had teeth out, so I had two people to look after for the rest of the day!

How's it going? Things slowed down a bit for me. I think it's more the fact that I'm actually able to eat again, having hardly eaten anything last weekend cos of the sore throat.

Monday Monday, it's here again

I am one poorly Mama. Started off thinking it was flu, now I'm thinking tonsillitis. Whatever it is, it's nasty.
How are y'all?

New year, new resolve

Good morning folks!

I think I've found my weigh-loss mojo again. Hurrah! On New Years Eve I decided, right that's it, and it's going well. You can do it too!

(I'm blogging day by day at my weightloss blog, so you can go and see how I'm doing if you want!)

Post Christmas Weigh-in

Do you dare?!

Wishing you all...

... a very Happy Christmas

And see you on Monday for our next weigh in! (And this week I will weigh. I will. I will!)

oh goodness

Monday's here again.
Oh dear, I am so out of my 'weigh on a Monday morning' routine. Anyone else weigh? I will try to remember for tomorrow morning.

Monday weigh-in

Good Monday all!

It seems like the site is starting to slow a bit again. I know this is a busy time of year, but I am going to try to remember to post, even through the holidays. Don't feel obligated to respond, if you don't have time. I just need to accountability of the blog to stay on track.

My numbers today are 153/153/125/ No change.

That is actually a good thing for me. I have been to a couple of Christmas parties over the past few days and there was LOTS of "off-limits" foods. I managed to stay on track anyway! Now, that's a big deal. Anyway, happy Monday to you all.

Hello!

So, it looks like I was not the only one to miss Monday's weigh-in. I've been traveling for work and did not have a scale. However, I officially started back on phase one of South Beach yesterday. Not sure if I will go for the full two weeks before starting phase two, but we will see. Hope you all are well. I have a post I would like to get out soon. It's been a really tough year. Major life happenings. For some reason, I've been unable to get the words out. Soon.

Going lower?

Hey y'all.


GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!


That's my frustration at myself for not only failing to lose weight, but putting some back on. I know what I have to do, and yet I don't do it. I don't know how to stop sabotaging myself :(

Looks like a Tuesday weigh-in

Hi all- I know everyone is busy with Thanksgiving coming up. Monday came and went with me totally forgetting to weigh-in. So here's to Tuesday! Have a great week!!

Yuckity Yuck

How was your week?

Around here I think we have finally throw off the germ cloud (although Sophia's been snott-ing lots the last couple of days, but I'm putting that down to reaction to injections on Friday). Anyway, we got out in the sunshine for a walk today. It was crisp, but beautiful. I'm planning for the to bethe start of a lot more exercise around here.

I also need to get it together with my eating. When I prepare ahead and make a batch of something like veggie curry or sausage casserole to eat for breakfasts or lunch I find it so much easier to steer clear of carbs. On the other hand, if I'm not prepared, I end up eating carbs all day long!

And cos of that I was up 2lb (if not a bit more) this week. I DO NOT like that. Although I know it was my own fault

The plan continued

Well, I'm still working on getting better. Will we ever stop being ill here at chez Debs? The plus side of it is that apparently I haven't had much of an appetite this last week and have finally lost more than that one pound I've been losing and gaining for the last few weeks.
My chest is still pretty tight and I'm coughing lots, so I'm not really ready for exercise as such yet, but when I can, I'll be deliberate about trying to fit exercise into my day.

How about you?

Debbie, if you're not already, get back to logging your food (and please, I'd love to read a post about that). And keep drinking that water.

ChristyF, how are you managing with smaller portion sizes? And have you got that regular gym habit down now?

Happy New Month

How do you plan to make November an effective month for you with regards to weight loss and exercise?
Weigh in, and let us know if you have a plan. I've realised I need a plan, and thus, I will attempt to create one!

Autumn is here

Good morning folks
How are things going for you?
I've got my thinking cap on to try to work out
a) How to make myself fit exercise into my life
and
b) What would get people around here more excited, or if we're just flogging a dead horse around here.

Any thoughts on either would be gratefully received.

Hey y'all

What's happening round your way?

step by step, we'll get there

Well, we better get the big news out the way.... Sophia's started walking! (hence the title of this post)

I'm happy this morning cos I'm back down 2lb (taking me to 291lb), which is where I was two weeks ago, but more importantly, it's despite this! Actually, the remembrance of the nasty headaches that sugar give me has been a pretty good deterrent. I had one small piece of cake on the day, and then cut it up and sent it off with family, just leaving a small bit here for Menard. I have to get through her party today, but I think it'll be ok. I'm making homemade pizza, with wholemeal flour and lots of veg and then salad to go with it (and I'll load up with that and the veggies for the dip) and mini cakes, but I'll either have one or none of those.

How are things with you?

Hello October

Sorry folks, didn't get a chance to post this earlier.
How's it going?
I've had a pretty crappy week with regards to eating, and as such am up two pounds. Yuck. Need to get on track. I've also noticed that eating any sugar is giving me a headache, so that's another reason to get back on track and cut out those headaches.
Any one got some ideas how to get things buzzing around here again?

Grab some tissues . . .

In case you missed it while it circulated around Facebook last week, here's a bit of inspiration for you . . .

Shake, Rattle and Roll

What exciting exercise do you have planned for the week ahead? I know that sometimes I get bored with the same old same old, so I think it's time to mix things up, shake our booties and get movin'.
And while we're here, let's share some numbers.

not a happy PWF

Here I am again, at the end of another day when I've fallen off the healthy eating wagon big time. :(

Today started well enough - cereal and fruit for breakfast, soup for lunch. Then I discovered the open box of chocolates and things went down hill. I'll have just one, then one turns into 5, then into a handful. I keep coming back to the open box through the afternoon, and eating a few more. By dinner time, I've eaten my daily calorie allowance in chocolate and still can't stop.

Why do I do this? It makes me hate myself. I don't really understand why. I'm bored, I suppose. I haven't really done anything today beyond waiting in for a delivery. Yesterday when I planned things to do and did them was better, though not much.
I like food. I like eating chocolate. It's comforting and pleasurable at the time. But afterwards I just want more.

I want to lose weight. I need to lose weight. I hate how long it takes. I hate denying myself. I hate how I look right now and the clothes that don't fit and the lumps and bumps I try and fail to disguise. I remember the summer I was slim (2007) and wonder if I'll ever get back there again. I don't understand how I had the will power to lose weight then.

What can I do?

I'm addicted... to my slow cooker

I have a copy of 'Fix it and forget it lightly' and I decided that I wanted to start using my crock pot more, this is apparently a match made in heaven!
Last week I made bolognaise sauce and then on Sunday I tried a recipe from my cookbook, and this is the one I made and loved...

Lemon Garlic Chicken
(makes 4 servings, ideal slow-cooker size 3 1/2 quart)

1 tsp Oregano
1/2 tsp seasoned salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 chicken breasts (I used turkey breast steaks cos that's what I had!)
2 Tbsp butter or margarine
1/4 cup water (I put more like 1/2 cup)
3 Tbsp lemon juice (I put about half a lemon, but didn't really measure!)
2 garlic cloves, crushed (I used 3 cos Menard loves garlic)
1 tsp low sodium chicken bouillon granules (I used vegetable)
1 tsp minced fresh parsley

(can you tell I'm one of those people who uses a recipe just as a basis?!)

1. Combine oregano, salt and pepper. Rub the mixture all over the chicken. Brown chicken in the butter (or margarine) in a skillet. Transfer to slow cooker.

2. Place water, lemon juice, garlic, and bouillon in skillet. Bring to the boil, loosening browned bits from the skillet. Pour over the chicken.

3. Cover. Cook on high 2 - 2 1/2 hours or low 4 - 5 hours.

4. Add parsley and baste chicken. Cover. Cook on high 15 - 30 minutes, until chicken is tender.

Per serving 180 calories

(Also posted at It's my Life)

Get ready, get set, GO!

So, what are your numbers this week?

Things are too quiet around here, it needs some shaking up. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

I have a yummy crock pot recipe to share, but it'll have to be later cos I have to get us ready to go out and, are you ready for this? GET SOME EXERCISE!
Yes, I've decided my ankle is up to the Monday morning walk that I had been doing before things went a bit wonky. It's taken me a while cos it's not on proper paths, but lots of uneven ground, and I really didn't want to trip and go through all that pain again. But I've decided it's time to bite the bullet (esp given my track record the past two weeks. Yuck :( I have not been good, but now I'm back on track)

Quickie post

This will be written in the period of time between putting a sweet potato in the microwave for Sophia and it being ready!
So, there you go, why not weigh in?!

What are you putting in your trolley*?

Now it may not be totally obvious, but in this photo Miss Sophia is sat in a shopping trolley with a book. Throughout that shopping trip she tried to drop the book into the trolley (and out), and then insisted that I give it back to her.

Anyway, when you go shopping, what are you putting in your trolley? Are you setting yourself up for success or failure?
(Also, now I think about it, any products that you're currently buying/using/eating that you'd like to recommend?)


* aka cart

*insert witty weigh-in title here*

Good morning. Well actually it's afternoon for me, but since several of you are in the US, it'll still be morning for you.

We're back from holiday and I'm back to the computer and raring to go! How are you?
Oh well, raring to go, but doing it gently. I'm still wearing the ankle support bandage and taking it easy. Hopefully I can begin to build up with exercise a bit more.

Phase 1 recipes

Good morning all,

I recently bought another South Beach cookbook and have a couple recipes to share. Both are really yummy! Surprisingly yummy. ;) The Creamed Spinach is really good and of course you feel like you've done well just because you had spinach. The brownies are good too. Now if you made real- full fat brownies and compared the two, there is a slight difference. But when you are watching your calories and carbs, this swap is AWESOME! Don't let the black bean part deter you.

Quick Creamed Spinach(makes 4 servings)

16 oz frozen spinach, thawed
3/4 cup fat free milk
4 oz reduced-fat cream cheese cut into chunks and softened
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion
pinch nutmeg
salt and pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese(1ounce)

Place the thawed spinach in a colander set over large bowl; squeeze to extract juice. Pour 2 tbsp of the juice into cup and reserve. Discard remaining juice. In medium saucepan, combine the spinach juice, mile, and cream cheese. Bring to simmer over low heat, stirring and pushing cheese against the pan to break up. (mixture should be well combined, but will not be smooth) Remove pan from heat. In large non stick skillet heat oil over med heat, add onions and stir frequently , until softened(about 3 minutes). Add spinach, stirring to coat. Stir in milk mixture and cook until bubbling(about 3 minutes). Season spinach with nutmeg and salt/pepper to taste. Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve hot.

Good stuff!!

Per serving: 152 calories- 9 g fat-4 g sat fat- 10 g protein- 11g carbs- 4 g fiber- 313 sodium.


Black Bean Brownies(makes 36 brownies- 3 brownie per serving)

1 can black beans(15.5 oz) drained and rinsed
4 large eggs
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup granular sugar substitute
3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder(preferably dark)
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
36 small pecan halves or walnut pieces(about 1.5 oz)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat 8x8 inch baking pan with cooking spray. In a blender or food processor, combine the beans, eggs, oil, sugar substitute, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Process until smooth. Scrape batter into pan and arrange nuts in even rows, 6 across and 6 down. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cut into 36 squares with a nut in the center of each.

Per brownie- 34 calories-2 grams fat- 0.4 sat fat- 1 g protein- 2 g carbs- 1 g fiber- 66 mg sodium.

YUMMY!

Good morning!

It's time to share those numbers. Tell us what you've got...

Sometwit happened . . .

Yup, I finally joined twitter.  Mainly to keep up w/ friends who have migrated over from FB or blogging.  And it's silly b/c I don't even have a mobile phone that could update my twitter status on the go.  Oh well.  Leave a comment if you tweet, twit, twattle, or twhatever.  I'll follow you if you follow me!  ;o)