I'VE MOVED!!!

I have a new blog, please visit and comment!
http://imadedinner.wordpress.com

It's all about my adventures in cooking dinner...

Losing...

Well, I finally lost weight again. 1.2 lbs this week to be exact! Now, I really have no idea how that may have happened because I don't think I kept very good track of my extra points...but still, I'm not arguing.

In other news, I had a very busy week! Wednesday I went to the Cubs game with my mom and David
We had a lot of fun, and I ate waaaay too many peanuts. Thursday was exciting as well when Adam decided that it would be a good idea to put me on his auto insurance plan. Not only is it saving me money, but it's exciting to have more things combined.

Yesterday, we met with a wedding planner, then spent the afternoon tooling around Oakbrook while we killed time before dinner. The moms finally met last night!!! We had a really good time, and everyone seemed happy. Now, I'm just killing time on a lazy sunday while I figure out what to do with myself today...

Yep, Core is the way for me

I switched my plan last week, and lo and behold, I was down 2.2 lbs this week! I'm so relieved to be losing weight again!

In other news, Lizz and Skylar are coming to play at the pool today! I'm so excited!!

What a great dinner!

I found this recipe on recipezaar and doctored it up a bit. I'd never made a tuna noodle casserole before, but I've always liked them. This one is quite healthy, and very delicious! Adam liked it a lot too.

Tuna Noodle Casserole

1 (8 ounce) package ww noodles, cooked
1 can lf cream of celery soup
1 (12 ounce) can flaked tuna, drained
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can peas, drained
1 tablespoon chopped pimiento
1/3 cup onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup ff milk
1/4 ff mayonnaise
1/4 cup ff sour cream
2 tbsp. dijon mustard
1 cup ff cheddar cheese
sprinkling of plain bread crumbs

Mix together tuna, peas, sour cream, mayo, mustard, seasonings. Mix in a large casserole dish. Heat milk and soup together, then add cheese. Stir until just melted, then pour over noodle mixture. Top with breadcrumbs (optional) and bake at 425* for about 20 min.

I'm sick of it

I've decided that I'm really and truly sick and tired of having to work SO HARD at this whole weight loss thing. I watch some of my friends who have a "healthy" relationship with food decide they want something, eat a small portion of it, and then be done.

Wheres my switch like that? Why do I have to consume EVERYTHING thats put in front of me? Why do I LOATHE exercise?

damn genetics...

argh

am i alone in the fact that i dont like to hang out with many work people outside work? Hell, i see enough of them ALL DAY!!!

I got tagged...

I have been officially tagged by Christie over at What I Ate Yesterday

Here are the Rules:

1. Link back to the person that tagged you

2. Post the rules of tagging on your blog

3. Blog about 6 unspectacular quirks about yourself

4. Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them

5. Leave a comment on the blogs you tag so they know they are “it”

OK, so here goes, 6 things about me.

1. I have an odd obsession with buying shoes. I have waaay too many pairs

2. I used to desperately want to perm my hair, but when I turned 15, it got curly on its own

3. I can make a decent meal from seemingly unrelated ingredients

4. I'm incredibly proud of the fact that I stopped biting my nails.

5. I truly hate exercising.

6. I love painting my nails funky colors, even though everyone and their mother tells me its "tacky"

And for the fun part, I tag:

No one... i don't have any blogger friends besides Christie!!!

Weight loss and shrinkage

I lost .2 lb yesterday, and was absolutely thrilled considering I'd eaten pizza (10 pts. worth) for lunch, soup, salad, steak, shrimp, and bread for dinner, and an inordinate amount of salt.

Then today, I went to get my engagement ring sized. I have no idea what exactly a ring size is measuring, but I do know that my pre-weight-loss size was 9. Today, my ring got sized all the way down to a 6! Hey, I like that at least one part of my body is a size 6...

In other news, camp follies is over, so now we can start relaxing and enjoying camp again. There's a Cubs vs. Brewers game field trip on Thursday, and my birthday party afterward! I CANT believe I'm turning 28...

We're Engaged!!!

Last night, in a surprise move in a tea room at our sushi restaurant, Adam proposed!!! He'd been in with my dad (a jeweler) for months, and he made the ring.

We celebrated with wine, fruit, and cheesecake... and I was up 2 lbs this a.m. at WI...but I DON'T CARE!!!! It'll be gone next week, and I'm too happy to care!! It's been a whirlwind 2 days, including about 20 phone calls, 100 text messages, one mani-pedi, and a drunken soccer game with all my camp friends. Next... the planning... i have no idea where to begin!

Must've done SOMETHING right!

A lot of people on WW dread holiday weekends because of all the food they "just can't" avoid. I used to be one of those people... but what I found this week was that its not one meal, or even one day that will derail me. It's continued "holiday weekend" behavior throughout the week and weekend. I get 28 Points® in a day plus 35 extras in a week. Wednesday, I managed to consume 50 Points®. 50!!!!

Guess what? I lost 1.4 lbs this week.

Thats because I ate 50 Points® in one DAY... not EVERY day.

Can someone explain...

WHAT is the appeal of "salads" full of pudding, marshmallows, whipped topping, and Jell-O? This concoction doesn't even come CLOSE to resembling a salad. It's a jiggling pastel colored mess that tastes so sickeningly sweet, other flavors are completely masked.

Am I a food snob? Probably. But is this still gross? Absolutely.

Doing something WRONG!

I was up .2 at WI last week, so I added lots of veggies, water, and switched to lattes instead of iced coffees to make sure I was getting all my milks. Then this week, I was prepared for a loss of some sort... lo and behold: UP .2 AGAIN!

My leader suggested to up the water again, and to accept that with my change in schedule and activity level with camp starting, there might be an adjustment period where my body goes "WTF IS THIS?!" (Yes, he actually said that, we have a great relationship).

In other news, I'm finally feeling better. I've been diagnosed with environmental allergies that manifest themselves by making my eyes look like a) I have a wicked case of pink eye or b) have smoked so much reefer I shouldn't be able to function. Patanol is my new best friend.

Adam and I went to a wedding last night and we both looked fab, if I say so myself:

Oh, and I went blonde yesterday too.

Words are the best encouragement...

I went to WI early today because I had a camp open house all day, starting during my normal WI time. I lost .2 lbs. That's right POINT TWO. 3.2 measly ounces.

And then I thought about that. Those 3.2 ounces are 3 shots of liquor. Or one stick of butter (almost). I got some reassurance from friends and family that its still a LOSS, and I'm below 200 again!

Then I got to this open house thing, and saw loads of parents and campers I haven't seen since last August. Every last one of them told me how "fantastic" I looked, and how I'm "so much smaller" and that they "didn't recognize" me. That was just the boost I needed!!

I'm a WOMAN, I'm not WEAK!

I almost murdered the toothless Indian woman who bagged my groceries today. I have NOTHING against Indians, nor nothing against people missing teeth. Nothing at all. I do, however, have issues with sheer stupidity. Yes, I was a woman, alone, grocery shopping. Big freaking deal. I do NOT need 2 whole items per bag so that I can, and I quote "handle the bags into the car". I do not need to be asked 5 (yes 5) times if I need help out to the car. 

I also do not need to pay $3.99 per package of whole grain English muffins, but only $.75 for a box of freaking Ho-Hos. 

That gain was WORTH IT!!!

I was up .8 at WI yesterday. I'm officially 200 lbs. again. But you know? I really don't care that much because Friday night we went to a fantastic restaurant and I ate whatever I wanted including:

• Fresh cream of pea soup with black truffles
  
• Stuffed breast of hen with a Door County cherry glaze
• marscapone cheesecake w/caramel
• handmade dark chocolate truffles

So a gain of .8? NO BIG DEAL!!! It'll be gone next week, and it was totally worth it.

Hump Day Bento

The end of the school year is coming up (in 3 days!) and i'm finding it harder and harder to stay OP with all the celebratory breakfasts and various treats that are constantly around. I've decided that rather than avoiding it altogether, I'm going to allow myself ONE small treat per day and count for it. That one treat had better be worth it!!!

Here's my Wednesday's lunch bento, in my new ladybug printed oval box:


The lid is on the right. The top tier contains some cucumber/vinegar salad. The bottom tier contains a roast beef wrap with horseradish ff mayo and sugar snap peas. I'm in LOVE with this bento box because it seals tight without needing an elastic band. This will be perfect for camp!

Another week down...

We talked today in our meeting about where we want to be at the end of the summer, weight-wise. It's 15 weeks from now. My leader asked me what I'd like to accomplish, and being the cynic I am, I said "Well, I'd like to just be smaller than I am now." Then he, being the great leader that he is said, "Come on, you can do better than that. Set a GOAL."

15 pounds.

I'd like to lose 15 pounds between now and Labor Day. That's a pound a week for the next 15 weeks.

.6 down today... only 14.4 to go...

In other news, Skylar, my best friend's daughter/"niece" turns 3 tomorrow. Where has the time gone?!

Guilt?

Something I've been really working on since I switched plans has been trying to NOT feel guilty when I use my extra weekly Points®. I have to keep reminding myself that those Points® are mine to use, and using them will not necessarily make me gain weight. To test myself out, I ate ice cream today. I ended my school day with 4 Points® left for dinner, and anyone who knows me, knows that I cannot eat a 4 Point® dinner and be satisfied. So when we went out for sushi, I went into my weekly Points®. Yep, I feel guilty... but I did eat them, so it's all good.

Here's my bento for tomorrow, 5/30


The left (top) tier contains leftover chicken chilaquiles.
The right (bottom) tier contains baby bell peppers stuffed with Alouette light garlic and herb cheese and a side of low fat sour cream for the chilaquiles.
It's not that pretty of a bento because it's leftover casserole, but it will be delicious!

Insight and a Bento

As I was cooking dinner tonight, I found myself getting oddly nostalgic. There's really nothing all that nostalgic about broccoli in some pasta and turkey smoked sausage... except for me, there is. This is a dinner I grew up eating, turkey sausage and all. I can remember LOVING it, and then my mom telling me it was good for me, and suddenly wanted nothing to do with it. Now, on Weight Watchers, I'm finding myself making so many of my mom's old healthy recipes! Guess she really did know what she was talking about!

And now, my very first bento picture, complete with food (as requested).

The lid is on the left. Bottom tier (top) contains whole wheat egg noodles with broccoli and parmesan, and 3 oz. of turkey smoked sausage (5), and the top tier contains mini sweet peppers filled with Alouette light garlic and herb cheese (1), and cherry tomatoes. This will be my lunch tomorrow, 5/27.

Bento Obsession

After a ton of discussion on the WW message boards about bento box lunches, I've developed a small obsession with the portion controlling adorable boxes. I have a collection of 4 boxes with one more on the way from eBay. I have pictures of 3 of my 4 boxes, as well as the one that's coming.
This was my first box. It has 2 tiers and the cute matching chopsticks.



This was my first "package deal" that I purchased from eBay. I love the cutesiness of it!



This was a "fancy" box I got off eBay too, direct from Japan. It's a little small, so I usually supplement with a baggie of extra veggies or crackers.

This it my summer bento that's on its way from Japan. The top tier is divided, and the bottom one should be big enough for a small salad!

I have one other one-tier box that has removable dividers, but it's in the car and I don't have a picture! It seals really tight though, which will be great for camp.

Does air have Points®???

Seriously, this is what I'm wondering. I follow the plan, as close to the letter as i thought I could, and lo and behold: a .6 gain this week. Air must have Points®. Thats the only thing I can think of.

Honestly though? I could be better about tracking. I could stop estimating serving sizes of my amazing low fat ice cream, not counting my oils, and start working out... that may help, huh? I'm still doing better than I would be if Adam hadn't joined with me, and he got his 20 lb. star this week!


We got Wii Fit, and I'm going to use it daily as soon as we get the protective mat for it. I'm so clumsy, I'd probably end up breaking the damn thing! I did try it out a couple times though, and its fun and I burned well over 200 calories!




In other news, I had a blast last weekend with Lizz at her aunt's wedding reception! Her family is always so warm and welcoming, and excited to see me no matter the situation. We'll get to see them again next weekend when Skylar turns 3! Adam still hasn't met them, and Lizz's mom doesn't believe he exists.
This is a picture of Lizz and I at that reception. Our good pictures are few and far between, and seriously, as vain as this sounds, I love how my legs look here!

"Miss O, why are you emo?"

This is what a student asked me on Friday. I had a bunch of financial stress Thursday and Friday, and it finally just got to me, and I was in a bad mood. BUT the difference between this time and another time is that I didn't throw myself into the boxes of donuts in the lounge, or the trays of cookies in the cafeteria. No. I waited until I got home and made sweet potato fries. have you ever made sweet potato fries?
First you have to peel the sweet potato.
Then you have to cut the sweet potato in half.
Then you have to cut the half into slices.
Then you have to cut the slices into strips.
Then you sprinkle them with oil and ginger and bake them.
Oh yeah, and a raw sweet potato is just about as easy to cut as it is to cut wood with a butter knife.

By the time the sweet potato fries were DONE, I was calmer, and didn't eat BOATLOADS of them. Must remember this the next time I'm stressed.

Oh yeah, and I had a loss on Saturday... another .6 lbs! Go me!

WW LOLz

Pointy soup... not core!









oops out o points











Flex mouse

There she goes again...

Holy crap.
I lost again! I've officially lost 52 lbs. HOLY CRAP!
And yesterday I bought a size 12 pair of pants from Old Navy. 12!!!!! I have not worn a size 12 in pants since, oh, 5 years ago...

Now, onward and downward!

warning, do not tailgate

Apparently I've upped my fiber intake. Not intentionally, but rather inadvertently. I feel truly terrible for anyone who has been walking behind me for the last 3 days. And, I feel just as bad for any of my students I happened to stand near!

Well... it happened...

I BROKE THE 200 MARK!!!
I haven't been this "small" in over 18 months.
I'm so pleased with myself!

In other news: I played video games for 7 hours last night and had fun! I got to blow up virtual people... oddly stress relieving.

See Laurie? I had something to blog about!

It's 10 p.m...

Many things on my mind:

• I am not really hungry. My brain is telling me I'm hungry because I'm bored and/or tired and/or thirsty.
• I really don't understand WHY "The Office" is so funny. Make a satirical TV show about teaching then maybe I'd get that.
• Buying a size 14 pants at Banana Republic is really a big deal for me, considering I couldn't get into that size 6 months ago.
• The random clean spot on our otherwise filthy carpet is bothering me. I may steam clean the rest of it tomorrow just so the clean spot doesn't stick out.
• I love my new Coach bag.
• I'm REALLY hoping that I lose at least 1.2 lbs this week... must work out tomorrow.

That is all for now...

Things that irk me

After some time on the WW boards, there are quite a few things that irk me quite a bit. I'm boycotting posting for now (except my beloved beaches thread!), so I'll list them here.

• People who have yes, lost a bunch of weight, but find it necessary to bash anyone who hasn't.
• I like Splenda. So kill me.
• People with 20K posts (approx) who literally live on the boards. GET A LIFE!
• Sock puppets
• under-nourished, over-exercising, overly sarcastic people who call everyone "dude"
• Stock market traders, ladies in particular
• C.O.W.s
• Post-its
• Being bashed for no reason, other than being me

And I'm done...

Strength in numbers

I had my biggest loss in 2 months yesterday: 2.4 lbs! Was it because I made particularly good choices? Probably. Was it because I measured out my lunches and dinners? Probably. Was it because after all this time, I finally have a partner in all this? ABSOLUTELY! I can't even put into words exactly how much easier it is to stay on plan when Adam is on plan too! We can discuss Points® and how many are in each meal/snack/piece of fruit/ridiculous meal we want. We can help each other make better choices, and that helps both of us. He lost 5.5 lbs in his first week!

What will be a challenge for me will be in 4 or 5 weeks when he's still losing 5 lbs a week and I'll probably be back to .5 lb losses. I'll need to STAY ON TRACK!

I don't want to jinx it...

For the first time since last November, I've lost weight 4 weeks in a row. 4 WEEKS IN A ROW! I'm finally back where I was before the proverbial shit hit the fan last year, but I have another 6 lbs to go to get back to my lowest weight.

I've had some rough food decisions the last couple days, but since I'm following the Flex® Plan this week, I'm still well within my Points®.

I'm going to go back to the gym this week too. I think I'm ready to deal with the gym rats and "resolutioners" that have been overpowering the treadmills and weight machines since Jan. 1. Luckily, my gym isn't full of "perfect" women and men that make me feel like a fat blob among skeletons. I'm just about average really...

Interesting turn of events.

After a long day at work today, I was driving home with a throbbing headache. Rather than coming home and plopping on the couch and eating a snack, I popped in my Leslie Sansone walking video and burned 186 calories off. My head still hurts, but I at least feel better about myself!

&$@##$% You Jack!

Jack, my absolutely fabulous leader, challenged me last week. After 11 months, yes 11 whole MONTHS of being within the same 6 pounds, I crawled on hands and knees to my leader after the getting started session and said "Jack, what should I do?" And he answered me, in all his fabulousness "Honey, I think you need to switch plans and bring me your tracker." Jaw hits floor, ass hits chair, automatic eye roll. "I don't DO tracking." followed by a big sigh. Jack says "And...how's that workin' for ya?" So I did it. One week, I swore, just one week of tracking everything. And what happened?

I LOST 3 POUNDS. So I'm tracking again.


That picture is my best friend and I on new years