Good, Good, Good, Good, BAD! It's like Duck Duck Goose only not as fun...grrrr!

I do so well.  Then I screw up!  Sound familiar?  I know I'm not alone.  I know this happens to everyone on similar journeys.  But it's still so frustrating!

I'll stay on plan for days...many days...then BOOM!  I take a flying leap off the wagon!  Sometimes it's emotional or stress-induced.  Sometimes it's a temptation I just couldn't resist.  Sometimes I seriously think I just say "to heck with it all!" and I eat the chocolate bar, forgo the 5 am workout for extra sleep, and chase down my misery with some chips.

It's really quite pathetic.  Because even as I'm opening the 3 Muskateers bar, which I erroneously convince myself is a healthier option than other candy bars as I am a sucker for all advertising campaigns, I know I'll regret eating it.  I know I'll feel guilty.  I know I'll be so angry with myself when I step on the scale and my weight is up or at best, not down.  

But I convince myself that I don't care.  I want chocolate.  I guess sometimes I want that immediate gratification even more than I want my ultimate happiness.  So apparently I value chocolate more than me.   Am I the only one???

The bright side is this...I now stop there.  I have that bad day and then I go back to Good Tara the next.  I guess that's all part of life, right?  I mean sometimes I seriously NEED chocolate, or ice cream, or salt and vinegar chips.  If I deny myself these things forever...not only would I be miserable but so would every person who ever comes in contact with me!

I've been under a lot of stress lately.  A lot!  Exercise helps me tremendously.  Staying with my eating plan does too.  But maybe I need an occasional "the heck with it" day to keep myself grounded.  Maybe we all do.

Here's a yummy, protein-packed recipe that's great for quick breakfasts:

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray muffin tins with cooking spray.  Fill 2/3 full with scrambled eggs, liquid egg whites, veggies, and a sprinkle of reduced fat cheese.  You could also add crumbled turkey sausage, chopped turkey bacon, or even line the tin with the bacon and add a whole egg!

Bake for about 15 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Each egg muffin is approximately 1 ppv if veggie and 1.5 ppv if it has meat.  The bacon wrapped whole egg version would be 2.5 ppv.

Allow them to cool and portion it baggies to grab from the fridge, heat up or add to a whole grain English muffin!  Yummmmm!

And another favorite, protein-packed goodie...

Chocolate Banana Smoothie:

In a blender, mix 1 ripened banana, 3/4 cup on unsweetened almond milk, 1/2 cup of nonfat plain Greek yogurt, 2 T of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 t vanilla extract, 1 T Splenda or sugar (optional), and 15 ice cubes.

Enjoy!!! 2 ppv!!!!  Like a Frosty, without the guilt...

But if you're having a "the heck with it day", tell the guilt to shut it's mouth.  We all have bad days...just aim for more good ones!!

Send me your ideas!

You all know I'm a HUGE fan of Weight Watchers.  It's so doable!

You also know I had GREAT success with the Advocare 24 Day Challenge and that I think it's a phenomenal plateau-breaker and kick start to a healthy lifestyle.

I've tried some pretty crazy diets, pills, potions and plans in the past.  There are sooooooooo many out there!  It's a multi-million dollar industry for a reason.  So many of us are hoping, praying, dreaming that one day someone will just tell us that eating ice cream will make us skinny!  Lol!  Not gonna happen folks!

BUT...what if there are things that work...even if they are only temporary or a kick start or the boost you need.  What if it's enough to get you back in those jeans.  You know, the ones you claim " the dryer shrunk" that you have to lie on your bed, hold your breath, and use pliers to button!

What if one of these things worked?

What if someone, like yours truly, tried them and could review them for you?

What do YOU want to know about?  What have YOU seen or heard of and were wondering if it would work?

I'd like to try out some of these ideas, plans, products, programs etc.  I'll give them my all and let you know what I honestly think.

Soooo....what would you like to see reviewed?

Here is a very basic and quickly (as I type) brainstormed list:

-Special K diet...u know, eat cereal

and other Special K products 2 meals a day and lose...

-Clean Eating by Tosca Reno (body builder lady)

-Dukan Diet (French Doctor who likes meat but not as much as Atkins, lol)

-Body shrinking wraps (It Works is one product.  They claim to cause you to lose inches in hours...I've read some positive reviews and actually know a person or two who have tried this...wondering if "It" really "Works"!

-Beachbody/Shakeology

-running...should I, could I run enough to lose and or see a difference?  Run Forest Run!!!

-Ali...that would be a big one...this pill has some people running to the bathroom from what I've heard.  But I don't typically have much GI involvement do maybe I'd be alright...

-What else???  What are you wondering about?

Comment here or on Facebook!!!  Let me know what you think or would love to see.  It could be eye opening...and hysterical!

PS---I added a few Advocare products back into my plan.  I'm tracking my progress and will give you an update after 2 solid weeks.  But...so far so good!

If anyone wants more info on Advocare, you know where to find me :-)

Hello friend, it's been a while!!!

The above title could apply to the fact that I haven't posted in over 2 weeks or it could apply to THIS...

Can you read that through the dust on my scale?  Can you see those numbers? Never mind the fact that I should clean more.  If you can't see it...that first number is a 1!!!  Not a 2, nope-definitely not a 2!!!  That reads 199.4!!!

Hello 100's!!!!!!! 

So I'm saying hello to a very old friend, haven't hung out with the 100's in about 23 years!!!  It sure has been a while.  NOW DON'T GO ANYWHERE!!!

I'm thrilled that I'm there.  But I'm still not done.  There's a lot more healthiness and work to come.  I'm not safe in ANY way. One of my kids could eat a French fry and I'll gain the half poundthat'd put me back in the 2's.  Lol!

I'm shooting for around 15 more pounds.  That should keep me safe :-).  I still love food.  I still love to cook and bake and eat and drink ;-)!  I still need "cheat nights" and vacations.  So I still need to lose.  

I truly am thrilled with how far I've come.  Especially when I think back to my 300+ days.  I could stay this size forever and be happy.  I'm eating right...and still eating well.  I'm hitting the gym 4-5 mornings a week.  But not overdoing it.  I use the elliptical.  I use the machines.  I push myself but I'm not a crazy muscle head or neurotic fitness wacko!  I don't have time for that!!

So what do I do at the gym?  Here's a typical 5 day week...

M-W-F: I use my Couch to 5K app (This is about 30-35 minutes of alternating walking and jogging.  It gradually increases the jogging times, getting you to a full 5K in just 9 weeks.  You follow it just 3 days a week.  It starts off very slowly.  Im in week 6 now.)  I do this on the elliptical.  I'm not a fan of running outdoors yet.  Treadmills bore me and you tend to burn more calories on an elliptical so I figure it's got to be better overall.

I then use approximately 10 machines at Planet Fitness.  5 are for my arms...their jiggle alone should count as cardio ;-)! I alternate the others, choosing some for abs and some for legs/butt.  I typically do 2 sets of 12 and 1 set of 8 at a higher weight on each machine.  The weight you set it at should get you to exhaustion by #10-12.  At the higher weight, I'm making ugly faces by 6!!!  That's good...ugly faces mean it's working!!  Haha! 

Total time there...1 hour.

T-TH:  I set the elliptical on "Random".  That means it'll simulate hills and valleys. I've been increasing the level.  I'm up to a 10 (intensity).  I typically move at a speed of about 5.5-6.0 mph for 45 minutes.  Sometimes I go backwards for my 5 minute cool down.  I think it works my big butt a bit more.

That's it.  I take Saturday and Sunday off.  

How about eating?  Here's what yesterday looked like:

B-peanut butter and banana wrap...2T of Better than Peanut Butter, 1/2 banana, Joseph's Lavash bread wrap. (4 points+)

Snack-1 cup of blueberries, 1&1/4 cup of kix cereal, dry (3 points +)

L- 2 cups of homemade turkey sausage minestrone soup, mango pieces, raw carrots and celery, caramel rice cake

 (6 points+)

Snack- single serve bag of microwave popcorn, watermelon. (3 points +)

Snack- babybel cheese and 16 slices of turkey pepperoni (2 points +)...I snacked on this while cooking because I was STARVING!

D- Portobello Parmesan with spaghetti squash and Sneaky Simple Bolognese...recipe to follow!  (6 points+) And about 1/2 cup of the kids' regular pasta...had to taste it to make sure it wasn't too hot or poisonous!  (3 points +)

Snack- Skinny Cow Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream Bar...OMGoodness, soooo good! (4 points +)

Total: 31 points +

My target is 32.  But I typically leave a point, if I have it leftover, just in case something homemade was a smidge higher than calculated.  For example: what if my bowl of soup had a few more pieces of sausage than usual in it...etc.  Of course, had I needed that point at snack time I would've used it.  WW is flexible enough for that.  

Sneaky Simple Bolognese was a thrown together recipe.  Don't tell the kids about the veggies I sneaked in!!

After I puréed the zucchini, 2 carrots, 1 celery, 2 cups of raw spinach, 1/2 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, basil and 1 can of diced tomatoes, it looked like this...

I folded that into my crockpot with 2 large jars of Classico Tomato Basil sauce, 1/2 cup of parmesan and 1 lb of 93% lean ground beef, raw but broken up.  Cooked it on low all day...

Served it on pasta for the kids and spaghetti squash for Matt and I.  Patrick ( my 10 year old had some spaghetti squash too).  It was a hit, simple, ready when we got home.  Nice!!

Pictured above are 3 of my 4 and a friend...they weren't at all suspicious ;-)!

Here was my plate:

 To make the mushroom I just layered on some sauce and 1/4 cup of fat free shredded mozzarella and baked them at 350 for about 15 minutes.  Each mushroom was 2 points +.

Not bad, huh?

In my honest opinion, counting WW points has become a way of life for me.  It keeps me on track.  It's flexible enough to allow for slip ups, special occasions, cake, pizza, beer and wine.  That's all life.

HOWEVER...I am only down 2.5 lbs in the past 2 months since I completed the Advocare 24 Day Challenge.  I'm pretty sure I'm down 5-7 more inches.  I'll measure again tomorrow.  But that's what I noticed when I measured a couple weeks ago.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm impressed that I kept off my challenge weight and even added to that loss.  I was skeptical and wondered what would happen once I stopped all the supplements.

As I stated before, I'm thrilled to be in the 1's.  I'm ecstatic to be wearing 14s and 12s!  

BUT...can I really be at another plateau so soon?  Remember, that was why I did the challenge!  2 months of WW, staying (mostly) within my points and exercising seems like it should warrant more than 2.5 pounds....grrrrrrrr!

Sooooo, as part of my big weight loss experiment I'll move on to phase 3.  Or is it 4?  Who knows?

For this next month I plan to continue following WW plus reintroducing the 2 most popular Advocare supplements, Spark and Catalyst.  Spark was the energy boosting drink, Catalyst was the pill that allows you to maintain muscle while losing fat.  I REALLY missed my Spark so this should be easy.

These are the 2 supplements that many former challengers continue taking for added results.  I'm hoping it'll give me a little boost.  A month's time will tell I guess!!

Any suggestions for what I should try the following month?  Seriously!  I'm willing to test out just about any diet, eating plan, fitness regime...I'd even consider trying those Body Wraps that you stick on with Saran Wrap and they claim to make you lose inches!!  I'm willing to test it and review it...just suggest it!  Lol!  A FB friend is having a Body Wrap Party...wonder if I can get a discount for reviewing it here?  Stacey?  Are you reading this?  Lol!

Thanks for reading!!!!  

Slave to the Scale...and a few good recipes!

I really, truly hate my bathroom scale.  I have been eating right.  Staying within my WW points (with the occasional slip up) and exercising 4-5 days a week.  I've been running, walking, lifting even!  And it's stuck AGAIN!!!!

I HATE THE SCALE!

I know I'm doing the right things.  Deep down I even know I'm still losing something as my clothes (new, smaller clothes) fit better and looser each day.  I wore a size 12 madras plaid skirt on Tuesday that I bought on clearance years ago when I could only ever DREAM of a 12...so glad I have a shopping problem :-)

I understand the whole gaining muscle thing.  I know that ultimately its more important.  I recognize that even if I never lose another pound.  If I never get to ONEderland, I'm making healthy choices and my body and life are better for it.  

BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!!!!

I want that darn scale to show it too!!!  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

2 lbs.  2 measly pounds...that's all I'm asking for.  I used to drop that from Monday to Tuesday.  Heck, I can GAIN 5 lbs. between breakfast and lunch.  I know...I'm scale-obsessed!

Onwards and downwards (or in my case onwards and stay the same blessed weight each day).  I gotta keep on keepin on!

On a positive note, I've made quite a few yummy, healthy recipes this past week. 

Italian Wedding Soup

(recipe from my friend Sue P.)

-1 lb. extra lean ground beef

-1/4 cup egg whites

-1/2 cup 100% whole wheat bread crumbs

-3 T Parm cheese

-2 t onion powder

-2 T dried parsley

-1 t chicken boullion 

-8 to 10 cups of fresh baby spinach, torn

-3 (48 oz) containers of Swanson Chicken Broth...I used reduced sodium

-1 box of acini di pepe pasta, cooked according to box, rinsed and drained

Combine first 7 ingredients and roll into tiny meatballs (pain in the neck but worth it).  Add meatballs, broth and torn spinach to crockpot set to low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.  You could also cook it on the stove in a stock pot.  Bring the broth to a boil.  Add the meatballs and spinach.  Cook till meatballs are done.

You can add the pasta to the soup all at once.  You can even cook it in the soup. I prefer to keep it seperate as I can control how much of the pasta I'm getting in each serving.

Huge pot of yummy soup...easily 24 cups of soup...

Each cup is about 1 WW point + (without pasta)...I served myself 2 cups of soup with 1/2 cup of the pasta for a total of 4.5 WW points +!!!

Caveat...if you are like my husband and fish out extra meatballs, you may want to up the points you counted too!!

I thought I took a picture of it on its own but it's M.I.A.  Here it is with a crockpot Cesar chicken sandwich...this picture does not do this soup justice though!

Ranch-Asparagus Turkey Meatloaf

-20 oz of extra lean ground turkey

-1/2 to 1 pkg of ranch dip/dressing mix.  I thought the full pkg made it a bit too salty.

-1 bag (10.5 oz) frozen asparagus, chopped

-1/2 cup egg whites

-1/2 cup 100% whole wheat bread crumbs

-1/2 cup 0% fat, plain Greek yogurt

Mix all ingredients together. They will seem VERY moist.   Form into a loaf (I hate that word).  Place on a broiling rack on a baking sheet so that excess grease or liquid drains.  Bake at 350 for about 50-55 minutes (internal temp should be 165).

Each 1 oz serving = 1 WW point+

Crockpot Salsa Chicken

-1.5 lbs frozen b/s chicken

-1 jar of salsa

That's it!

Place it in a crockpot set to low for 6-8 hours or high for 3.  It will shred with your fork.  Combine it with the sauce.  Serve over brown rice or in tortillas.  This was RIDICULOUSLY easy and good!

The chicken mixture is 1 WW points + per oz.

We ate it as soft tacos...

I used my new favorite find...these Joseph's Lavash bread things...

They're HUGE and only 2 WW points + each!

That's all for today!  I have a few more recipes I'll post next time.  Hopefully by then I will have seen the scale move...in the right direction, of course!  I think I'll break out my measuring tape again and see if that can boost my self-confidence.

Thanks for reading!!!

Ham and Cheese Biscuit Bake was a HIT!

I'm back on track and LOVING it! I've made it a personal goal to get to the gym 5 mornings a week. I'm on week 2 and so far so good! I still hate mornings. I still come up with a daily excuse to stay home...today was the blister on my toe. But I get there anyway.

I have to. I haven't made it to ONEderland yet. I'm still 2 pounds away. It's so close and sooooo frustrating!

I keep readjusting my goal. I have no idea when I'll be done or happy/content. I guess I'll know when I get there though. My current goal is 185. Why 185? Well...once I get below 200, I NEVER want to go back. I figure 185 gives me some good wiggle room for holidays/vacations, random Tuesdays, etc., when I can easily gain 10 pounds. Of course I will then work off those 10 gained pounds but as I said I NEVER want to be over 200 again. It's been 23 years since I was One Hundred and anything. Wow! If I got there, no---when I get there, WOW!

I made that Ham and Cheese Biscuit Bake last night. It was delicious!!! Here's the recipe:

-12 reduced fat flaky layer biscuits
-3/4 cup of egg whites
-3 T skim milk
-2 tsp of garlic salt or garlic powder
-2 lean ham steaks, diced
-7 oz bag of reduced fat cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Spray 11x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Mix egg whites, milk and garlic salt in a bowl. Cut biscuit dough into 4-6 chunks each. Ross in egg mixture. Pour into baking dish, making sure dough is in one layer only. Sprinkle with ham and cheese, toss to make it even. Bake for about 20-25 minutes till biscuit dough is golden. Cut into 16 equal servings.

1/16 of pan = 5 Pts + (actually its a little less than 5 but I rounded up).

It was delicious! Like ham and cheese monkey bread!! It got the kids' seal of approval!!

One Day at a Time :-)

I met up with good friends last night for dinner. While Olive Garden is not exactly synonymous with healthy eating, they post their nutritional info on their website. Therefore you have every opportunity to make it work for you! I had a delicious meal, yummy salad, breadstick and even an Andes mint for 21 points. I get 32 for the day so obviously planning for that dinner was necessary..but certainly doable! And the company was even better than the meal :-) Dinner pictures below...looks scrumptious, doesn't it?

You have to live a little. You have to be able to eat out, plan for it, not feel guilty. That's the only way I could call something a lifestyle, not a diet.

I said it before (and I'll say it again), Advocare is genuinely a great program. It's research backed. It's a healthy eating plan. The supplements are fantastic. I do think they work. The 24 Day Challenge is a great jump start to a new healthy lifestyle and an excellent plateau breaker. Let's be honest. After 24 days of putting only healthy, wholesome and nutritious foods into your mouth, if you have any desire to continue with being healthy...you'll be thrilled to eat just 1 slice of pizza. You won't need the 3 or 4 you used to eat. But alas, self control (see yesterday's post) must come in to play.

Honestly, I can't wait for August to do a cleanse again. Bring on the sea monkey drink!! Lol!! I felt great and loved watching my weight and size drop to virtually a record low.

But as part of my "experiment", I need to see how Weight Watchers works back into my life. I'm also trying to be realistic in a sense that I don't know that I could do Advocare forever. It's expensive, even with my discount for being a distributor, and it's restrictive. Restrictions can be good...and they even say you only have to be in plan 80% to see results...but if I'm shelling out good money I want THE BEST results, not just good. I'm an all or nothing kind of gal (see yesterday's post again, lol).

So, I'm back to counting points, weighing in at meetings...with an amazingly motivational leader. I've been sporadically making it there for meetings though. The kids' have me running all over creation. I wonder if I could organize a WW meeting at the baseball field, lol! I have to get back. It really does make a difference. There's something about weighing in front of someone (not that they care or judge) and also from the support that I get from the other members. I always take something away from the meeting.

Here's my menu for the day...

Breakfast: 100% whole wheat English muffin (3 Pts) with 1 T natural PB (3 Pts) and 1/2 banana, sliced 0 Pts. Total:6

Snack: fresh fruit salad and 1 hard boiled egg white (0 Pts)

Lunch: tossed salad with one slice of ham wrapped around a low fat string cheese, cut up (2 pts) and 2 T Newman's lite balsamic (1 pt)...maybe an apple and another egg white...total: 3 Pts

Snack: assorted raw veggies and a individual lite ranch dip cup (2 Pts)

Dinner: Ham and Cheese Bisquit Bake...pictured below...
I've adapted the recipe. I'll make sure it works and that it's yummy. If it is, I'll post my own picture and the recipe tomorrow. With my tweaks it should be 5 Pts per serving. I'll eat 2 helpings plus steamed broccoli. Total: 10 Pts

Dessert: Ya gotta have dessert! I'll probably eat a bowl of Kashi Go Lean cereal with some raisins and almond milk...I love it at night!! 1 cup cereal, sprinkle of raisins, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk= 6 Pts.

And I still have 3 points left!!! Maybe I'll treat myself to an individual bag of microwave popcorn too!!!

I have no self control!

Strict plans like the 24 Day Challenge were made for people like me. If you tell me to follow the rules, eat these things, not those...I'll do it. It'll work. It did work!

So does Weight Watchers. I have done Weight Watchers more times than I care to count. I have been VERY successful. I would NEVER knock their program. It is truly a livable, doable, forever way of eating. But here's my problem...you can eat anything. Just count those points and plan for it... but food is my drug of choice. And sometimes if I have a little of it...I have soooo much trouble stopping!!!

Well Friday went well. I ate a healthy and low point breakfast and lunch. I saved my points for a splurge-like dinner of pizza and even a few wings. I worked out. I was good!

Saturday started out ok. We had my daughter's 1st Communion. I was too busy for breakfast, I grabbed a low fat string cheese and an apple and headed out the door. Good choice! At the party, I was under control. I ate veggies and hummus, fresh fruit and small portions of my favorite dishes from the caterer. I had 1 cookie and a teeny tiny piece of cake. I counted...I was very close to my max for the day. We went home.

The wheels fell off the bus! I was tired. I was NOT hungry. I should have bathed the kids and went to bed. Instead, I went to my Mom's to visit with family. Who doesn't love that? But there I should have kept my mouth shut. Remember, I was NOT hungry! But I ate...hoagie pieces and chips. They were good for like a second...but I knew I shouldn't eat them and I had immediate guilt. So I ate another hoagie piece...see where I'm going with this?

Then yesterday was Cinco de Mayo...so there were tacos and chips and guacamole and margaritas....Dios Mio!!!

I could have controlled myself. I should've controlled myself. But I have no self control...especially when I'm tired! I know that. I need to plan better next time.

I'm meeting with some friends for dinner tonight. We're going to Olive Garden, which isn't the most healthy place to eat. But I'm armed with the nutritional facts. Surprisingly, Lobster Cannelloni is only 13 points +...a breadstick 4, salad is almost zero without dressing, I'll have mine on the side and dip my fork into it. I can do this!

I went to the gym at 5:15 am...I am by no means a morning person but I like to get it out of the way, lol! I ate an egg white sandwich for breakfast, a salad and fresh fruit for lunch, I have some veggies with Greek yogurt dip for a snack. I'll enjoy my dinner with friends. I'll be within my points...then I'll promptly go to bed! Wish me luck!!!

No recipe for today but I promise I'll post one soon...I saw a really yummy bisquit bake on Facebook that I'm adapting to make healthier...

Thanks for keeping me honest!!!

Drumroll Please.........

24 Days down! Challenge accepted and completed!!!

Am I happy with my results? Hmmmm, well-my clothes were literally falling off of me. I NEEDED new pants, desperately. I had been wearing 16w or straight 16s. I was pretty happy there. I still remember the not-so-distant time when I wore 26/28!! So 16s, and XLs were a very welcome and comfortable fit.

But they had gotten too big. I figured I'd be in all 16s...saying goodbye to the plus sized "W's" once and for all. Guess what? I am a solid 14 and even most 12s fit!!!!! I was dancing around with tears in my eyes! Me...a 12!?!?! Holy Smokes!!!!!

Let's put this in perspective...the average American woman is a size 14. Many believe Marilyn Monroe was a 12. I'm Marilyn Monroe! (In my mind at least). I'm below average! I've never been so happy to be below average in my life!!!

Over 24 days I managed to break a 3 month plateau. I lost 8 lbs...respectable but not astonishing...a challenge teammate lost 22!. But the big loss was inches for me...21.5 total inches lost!!

Here's where they disappeared from, never to return...
Waist: -6.5
Hips: -4
Neck: -.5 (thank God because I was worried about my fat neck, lol)
Thighs: -2
Arms: -2
Calves: -1.5
Chest: -2.5 (I thought we had an understanding about this weight loss angels?!?)
Shoulders: -1
Forearms:-1

Yep...I'd say I'm pleased. I lost 8 stubborn pounds, 21.5 inches and dropped 2 pants/dress sizes. WOOHOOOOO!!!

I wonder what the BMI charts say about me now. I'll have to check. Maybe I'm just overweight, no longer obese. I'll check tonight!!! OMGoodness...what if I'm close to normal? I'll get there!!!!

So I'm excited for a little splurge tonight. I'll indulge in some real NEPA pizza, maybe even a beer! But...but, I'm not going crazy. I woke up both yesterday and today and realized I am still on a journey to continues health. I counted my WW points yesterday...including the 1/4 of an ice cream cone I ate before it fell to the ground (I think someone was trying to remind me to not celebrate too much). I had egg whites on a 100% whole grain flat for breakfast. I'm having a grilled chicken salad with LOTS of veggies for lunch. And then tonight, with the points that I've saved/allotted for, I'll eat pizza...gooey, cheesy pizza. 2 slices. Not 4.

I've made up my mind to go 100% off supplements this month. I'll follow WW with as much passion and vigor as ever. I think the cleanse/detox and challenge did exactly what I needed it to do. It got rid of the junk in my intestines. It allowed my body and metabolism to work for me, not against me. With this preparation, I believe I have set myself up for continues success on any healthy eating/exercise plan I choose.

I'll complete a challenge again. You need to wait 90 days in between cleanses. You can follow the challenge forever but you need to give your digestive tract time to regenerate it's natural flora...90 days. So I'm thinking that August 1st...I'll be ready for an end of summer challenge!

I have a few friends and family members who are starting challenges this week and next. I'm here to support them all the way. If anyone is interested in learning more about the 24 Day Challenge, the Cleanse etc., let me know. I'll support you too!

I'll continue my blog, discussing my journey with full on Weight Watchers. I'll keep posting recipes. I'll include tips I learn etc. if anyone has any suggestions on things you'd like me to explain, research, even try...I'm open to it all!

This health thing isn't a fad. It's life. This is the one body God gave me. Life means making mistakes but recognizing that you always have another chance, another day. I'll do my best. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for reading! Thanks for holding me accountable!!!

Here are the before and after shots...I'm still not ready to wear that outfit in public. But I know if you are reading this or lolling at these pics you either a.) love me or b.) struggle with weight/health yourself.

Don't gag...

Last Day!!! Wow, that FLEW!

Today is day 24 of my 24 Day Challenge. I wasn't as perfect as I had hoped to be. Stress got the better of me this last week, but that's real life. Overall, I did well...I think...I hope! I guess we'll find out tomorrow with my final weigh in and measure.

I consider myself to be a pretty knowledgeable person when it comes to nutrition and overall health. That doesn't mean I always use that knowledge, lol! But I have it :-). The past 24 days forced me to do what I know is best for my body. To eat what is good for me. To make good choices...fruits and veggies, lean proteins, complex carbs and even healthy fats. In the real world you may need a cookie, or a beer or a greasy chicken wing. But for 24 days I tried to be REALLY good. Can it last forever? Of course not! But it proves I can do it. It forces you to analyze choices, read labels, choose minimally processed foods.

Advocare never expects anyone to live the challenge 100% on plan, 100% forever. If you can be even 80% healthy, you'll succeed. I stuck to about 95% on plan over the 24 days. (This percentage has been pulled out of my now smaller butt and has no scientific or mathematical basis, lol...just my guess).

I know I can continue at 80%. I can read labels, make clean choices. I can do this on any plan I follow or even if I have no real plan at all. I've done it before.

So how much did the supplements affect weight loss, inches lost, overall health? That's my big question. I'm anxious to tally my completed results tomorrow and compare pictures.

I'm still not sure what I'm going to do for round 2. Right now, I'm leaning towards dropping the supplements all together to see how or if I continue losing. I have some soul searching and pondering to do tonight...right after teaching till 4:15, 2 baseball games, shopping for 1st Communion paper products, homework, dinner, baths and bed---lol!

2 recipes for today!!! 1 a success. 1 an epic fail!

Eggplant Lasagna (Success-yummy!)
-1 large eggplant, sliced thinly & lengthwise
-1 lb of 93-95% lean ground beef or turkey
-8oz sliced mushrooms
-2 jars of Classico Tomato Basil Sauce (very clean) or your own sauce
-1 small container (16oz) Fat Free Ricotta
-1/2 cup egg whites
-1 T Italian seasoning
-1 cup Fat Free shredded mozzarella
-1 cup reduced fat shredded mozzarella

Brown ground beef and mushrooms in a pan and drain. Add sauce to meat mix. In a separate bowl, mix ricotta, egg whites and Italian seasoning.
In a 9 x13 pan, spread some sauce to cover the bottom, layer with eggplant, then ricotta, then sauce, then mozzarella mix. Repeat. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Eggplant should be fork tender. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to set and cool slightly before cutting and serving.

This made 12 nice sized portions at 3 points + each!

I ate 3 servings :-). I was sooooo full but it was the comfort food I needed! Not a great habit to indulge in but healthier than doing it with my original lasagna recipe!



Dried Strawberries/Healthy Fruit Snacks (FAIL!)

Not sure if you even want this recipe but I'll post it anyway. Maybe I did something wrong...

-2 lbs of ripe strawberries, quartered...would be better even smaller I think.
-that's it, lol!

Preheat oven to 200. Place strawberries on a baking sheet, seed side down. Bake for 3 hours. At each 30 minute mark, open oven to allow air in (not sure why but this was a suggestion I saw). At the halfway point (1.5 hrs), flip the strawberries.

They're supposed to firm up. Some compared them to Twizzlers. Some said fruit snacks. I thought more along the lines of mushy, baked then cooled strawberries with the occasional edge that seemed almost like candy till you bit into the mushy strawberry part...
Waste of 3 hours and $5. My kids and I LOVE fresh strawberries. We'll stick with the originals. I'm pretty confident I could find a healthy fruit snack at Wegmans, Whole Foods or Trader Joes. I'm also ok with feeding them the occasional pack that's not healthy at all that costs $0.20 a piece for the few times they eat them, lol! Oh well, I tried!

Along with the pics of the strawberries and eggplant lasagna, I've included a picture of some yummy, healthy, crunchy snacks that I found at Wegmans. They were REALLY good...wayyyy better than mine :-). I don't think I posted about them before...if I did, forgive my forgetfulness :-)

See you tomorrow with measurement updates and comparison pictures ...

So Close!!! Stupid Scale...

You may have heard me squealing with delight yesterday as I hopped on the scale and it read 199.0. That's right, under the big 200!! I wanted proof of that milestone. I ran to the bedroom, grabbed my phone, ran back and got back on the scale to take the most beautiful scale picture ever (not really a lot out there for competition).

You also may have heard me screaming and hurling my scale out the window after it then read 202.0 no matter how many times I got off and back on, leaned backward, forward, breathed in or out! How is that possible? Apparently I am able to gain 3 pounds by breathing as I move the 20 feet to my bedroom...that's my super-power. What's yours?

Oh well, it was there briefly. It'll be there again soon. This time for good...well at least until it drops further below 199.0 :-)
I'm really not that obsessed with the number on the scale. It's just that getting below 200 would be such an accomplishment for me. Regardless, I feel great. My clothes are falling off of me. I have more energy. My hair and skin even look healthier. I swear!

I have noticed that since the cleanse portion of this challenge ended I've been hungrier at night. I'm fine during the day but want to snack at night. I'm doing my best to choose wisely or just go to bed! Usually I'll have a few nuts or raisins. Then water and bed. I'm not sure why I'm hungrier at night now or even if it truly is hunger. As women we deal with so many random hormonal fluctuations causing cravings (and mood swings and weight gain and anger and psychotic behaviors-lol). Maybe it's just that. It could also be that I've significantly increased my exercise...as in virtually non existent during the cleanse to almost daily.

I downloaded that Couch to 5K app a few weeks ago. Funny thing about that app is that it doesn't work unless you do what it tells you to do! So I actually started using it last week. Man, I hate that woman telling me "begin running now"...I feel like screaming "are you sure? I don't think I walked long enough.". Grrrrrrr!
But it's working. I've run before on treadmills and the elliptical. Running on the road is totally different. Especially on the hills around my house. Although at points on steep inclines I'm not sure what I'm doing could be called running! Good thing it's early enough that only the paperboy is out to see my seizure-like movements! It is getting easier. I don't love it yet. But it's getting easier.

I've got to say that my entire family is benefitting from our hard work/healthy lifestyle. Not that we weren't healthy before. But I'm really trying to switch out some of our not- so-wonderful food traditions with more nutritious, sneaky versions.

We eat pizza every Friday night. The kids expect it. We love pizza! During the cleanse, the kids ate it...we had something on the grill instead. Not the same. The smell of the pizza almost made me cry. But we made it through. This week we made our own pizzas. I bought whole wheat crusts from Wegmans. Next time I'll make my own as they weren't 100% whole wheat but they were very close to it. Anyway, they were great! The kids didn't even know the difference. And at least one of my 4 picks up on these "switches" pretty regularly.
(pic below)

I also tried baked kale chips. They were ok. My 6 year old liked them. I'll make them again...but I'm not totally sold on them. There's a fine line between burnt and not cooked enough to be crisp.
(pic below)

I made a crock pot full of chili last night. It was a great dinner and I'll eat it for lunch this week too. I significantly cut down in the sodium in this recipe by using a lie sodium chili packet and 1/2 of what I normally would. It was still REALLY good! So simple too:

-1.5 pounds of raw, extra lean ground beef (95%)
-2 large cans of petite diced tomatoes
-1 large can of kidney beans
-1 large onion, diced
-3 large peppers, diced
-1 packet of low sodium chili seasoning

Toss it all in the crock pot on high for 4 hours or low for 8.

WW points + = 2.5 per cup

YUMMMM!

Only 9 more days of the challenge. I'm starting to think of what route I want to take next...as far as this "experiment" goes. Right now I'm thinking I'll continue with the max phase for another few weeks then drop the supplements but follow the eating plan for a few more...then maybe go back to adding in some of my favorites that I miss. Like chocolate. We'll see...it's a plan still in the works. What are your thoughts? What would you like to see me do?

Please God, let this work!

Last night was busy...very busy! My son had his adorable kindergarten musical and we went for ice cream after the show. Well they went for ice cream, I went for water! UGHHHH! It was tough but I resisted. Not even a lick of a spoon or swipe of a cherry...just a glass of ice water! Part of me really wanted to skip the trip entirely but that wouldn't have been fair. Nor would it have been realistic. I'll be faced with temptations again I'm sure...I can't run from them all. And it's only 2 more weeks, then I can plan for things like this as a treat. It's not like I'll never eat ice cream again!

I was exhausted, but after tucking the kids in for bed, I hauled my butt to the gym too (yay me!!). I asked some friends and fellow challengers to motivate me and hold me accountable for exercising regularly. I hadn't been. I'm sure my results in the challenge will be even better if I do and I really want the best results! So it was their texts and voices that I saw and heard as I glanced at my cozy bed, laced up my sneakers and headed to Planet Fitness instead. Thanks guys!

I needed to burn off some stress anyway. Yesterday was Day 10, the last day of the cleanse for myself and most of my family and friends that are joining me on this crazy ride. I was a bit worried, nervous, anxious...what ifs were running through my head all night.

What if this doesn't work? What if I haven't lost any inches? What if it's all in my head that I "feel" great? What if I regained the 7 lbs I noticed I lost when I peeked last week? Maybe it was all water. What if it doesn't work for any of the others? Will they hate me? They spent good money!!

Run on that elliptical...run on that elliptical...

Ok...it'll be alright. We're healthier if nothing else. We're on a good path. We're making good choices. It'll be fine. Now go to sleep.

So I did. And I woke up. And I weighed. And I measured. And it worked!!!

I'm down 7.5 pounds. I've lost 12 inches. 3.5 from my waist alone!!! How cool is that?!?! Belly fat---Be Gone with You!

14 more days to go...and these next 2 weeks are referred to as the "Burn Phase". Woohoooooo! Maybe I'll wear a pair of shorts this summer. It's been a good 10 years since that's happened, lol!

Results are in from most of my family and friends too. No one hates me. Everyone is thrilled!! It's a happy day!

I made a really easy and yummy crock pot dish the other day...here it is...

Chicken and Eggplant Marinara

-2 lbs b/s chicken
-1 medium to large eggplant, sliced
-1 medium onion, diced
-1 T minced garlic
-2 jars of sugar free spaghetti sauce ( I used Classico Tomato Basil

Place all items in the crock pot on low for 6-8 hours. Serve over pasta or spaghetti squash, my favorite!

I sprinkled some low fat mozzarella on my kids' plates and now that I'm not cleansing I could eat it that way as well!

WW points + = 4 per cup plus points for pasta or not...if you eat it over spaghetti squash! So yummmmy!!!

Enjoy!!

Here's a montage of pics that follow along with this post...

What exactly is the challenge?

One week ago yesterday (after much research and a frustrating plateau) I began the 24 Day Challenge. In that time I've seen increased energy, I feel generally healthier and happier. My pants are too big...seriously, I'm stepping on the hems today...I guess my butt and gut are shrinking. Either that or I'm getting shorter!! The scale reads a full 8 lbs lighter. And I'm guessing I'm losing inches too as a bunch of people have noticed that I look different! So what is the 24 Day Challenge?

Here is the basic idea...
Our intestines are coated with a layer of crud from the preservatives, additives and toxins in the foods we eat each day. This buildup prevents full absorption of the vitamins and nutrients that keep our body's systems, and metabolism functioning properly. The good stuff can't all get through...even when you are doing everything right!
The first 10 days of the challenge is an herbal cleanse. It's gentle, more like a detox...not at all like a "Quick! Where's the bathroom and a change of pants?" kind of cleanse, lol!
You eat real food: lean proteins, fruits and veggies, complex carbs, healthy fats. You drink a fiber drink 6 out of 10 of the days which is not tasty...not tasty at all, but not gross enough to make you give up either!
You take some vitamins and minerals. Omega 3 Fatty Acids for overall health, a branched-chain amino acid something or other that allows your body to maintain muscle while losing fat (this is AMAZING stuff), a probiotic to restore the good bacteria in your gut while getting rid of the crud. You feel better. You look better. You get ready for phase 2, days 11-24...the Burn Phase!! Bring it on!!

During the burn phase you continue taking catalyst and omegaplex and also add in a vitamin pack that's designed for your goals...appetite control, energy or overall health and weight management. These packs are filled with the ABCs of vitamins to help your systems work to their potential now that you've cleaned out that layer of yuck!

I mentioned in one of my first posts that I have a few friend's and family members doing the challenge with me. It's so helpful to have the added support! We're in it together...and all doing really well I might add!

I ran into some great friends this weekend at the local BMX track where my son races. A bunch of people noticed that I've lost weight. The only true weight I've lost since I last saw them in December (pre-Christmas cookie pounds) has been lost on the challenge. They wanted to know more. They want to do it too! So many of them are signing up for their own challenges with me as their coach. Yep, I signed on as a distributor. I may as well earn a discount on the products that I'm using as I will likely continue with some of them next month. Being a distributor gets me a decent discount...20%-40% depending on how many people I coach through challenges etc. Sounds good to me.

I'm confident at this point in my challenge...only a little over a week in...that this is legit. It's a healthy lifestyle. It's not a diet. I can still do the challenge alongside WW, which I love. I can use the challenge to break plateaus, restart healthiness, whatever...when I need it.

It's not a quick fix. It's not a magic pill. It's still hard work. But it's hard work that is paying off and keeping me on the right path. I've worked hard and done all the right things before only to see little to no results. I'm a firm believer that we have to keep our bodies guessing. It's clearly confused as it just melted 8 lbs in a week. I'll take it!

So what did I eat yesterday? Pictures at bottom (only way to do it from my phone )

Breakfast (after Spark, vitamins and the "delicious" fiber drink)...:
2 eggs, sautéed spinach and strawberries

Snack:
25 pistachios and some cucumber slices

Lunch:
1/2 a whole wheat pita filled with 3 oz chicken, 2 T hummus, spinach and tomato slices

Snack:
Apple and 2 T natural peanut butter

Dinner:
Big salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, avocado, 6 oz of NY strip, trimmed of fat, light balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Delicious Day!!! Check out the pictures!

WW points plus total...30! I dropped 2 points with my weight loss! 30 is perfect!!


I've compiled a ton of research. If anyone wants to know more, FB message me or send me an email. My email address is:

tarasnydermurphy@msn.com

My Advocare site for ordering is below. I haven't figured out how to set up bundles so you know what you need. It's best to contact me via Facebook or my email and I'll set you up.

www.advocare.com/130347920

I peeked! I'm down! Woohoo...I'm an 8th grader again!! What?!?

I weigh in on Thursdays at WW. As promised, I'm still following WW. I mean, Weight Watchers rocks so why not? I've added a twist of the 24 Day Challenge to my WW Healthy Lifestyle Cocktail.

I was curious as to what would happen tonight. I'm eating within my points so I should be down. But I've been doing that faithfully for a while and some weeks I see results, some not so much and then my all time favorite...the weeks you do everything right and the scale says "Holy hell! Get off of me you gained 2.5 lbs! Switching anything up that you know works, even if slowly at times, can be a bit scary.

So on Monday morning when I weighed in, naked...first thing in the am...after going to the bathroom...I told you I weighed 210 lbs. This morning, after only 3 full days of the challenge, that beautiful scale said 202.8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, you read that correctly! I'm down 7.2 lbs in 3 days!!! CRAZY!!!!

Now I know a ton about losing weight...pun completely intended...so I recognize that a portion of what I lost, possibly even 5 lbs., is likely water weight. But I lost 7.2 in 3 days!!! Even if I only lost 2.2 lbs of actual body fat, that's in just 3 days folks. 3 days. And who doesn't want to get rid of extra water weight anyway? I don't exactly enjoy feeling bloated!

But here's the really exciting thing. The super-duper-holy-cow, shout it from the rooftops thing!!! The last time I weighed 202 lbs was when I was in 8th grade!!!!!
Seriously! I remember. It was traumatic actually. And embarrassing. A classmate saw the nurse's record of my weight and blabbed it all around. So to be at that weight again, full well knowing that I'm going to quickly say goodbye to it...that's like sweet revenge to the teasing and the teasers!

Weight Watchers got me most of the way here. Maybe Advocare will get me further still. Either way, I'm doing it healthily and permanently. So far I am LOVING my WW Healthy Lifestyle Cocktail with a 24 Day Challenge Twist!!


Recipe for tonight...

Roasted Asparagus

-2 lbs of fresh asparagus, ends trimmed
-1 or 2 teaspoons of olive oil
-a sprinkling of sea salt

Preheat oven to 400. Toss the asparagus in the olive oil. Lay in a single layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with a little sea salt. Bake for about 20-25 minutes in the oven. Enjoy! Sooooo good!!!

Day 2 of my Advocare vs. Weight Watcher's Experiment

Day 2 went off without a hitch. I tried my first shake (5 points + on WW) instead of making eggs as it was a CRAZY morning at the Murphy's. Ok, well every morning is kind of crazy at our house but I had no time to cook. The chocolate was delicious, seriously it was! But maybe I'm delusional from 2 days without leftover Easter smidgens.

I had some pistachios and some cucumber spears for a snack. I had about 2 cups of this homemade veggie soup for lunch (I added 4 oz of shredded rotisserie chicken to my bowl)...

Crockpot Veggie Soup
-2 boxes of low sodium, natural chicken broth (Swanson brand)
-1 large can of tomato sauce
-1 small can of petite diced tomatoes
-1 T minced garlic
-2 generous handfuls of fresh baby spinach
-2 small zucchinis, diced
-1 big handful of shredded cole slaw mix (cabbage and carrots...raw, no dressing!)
-1 celery stalk, diced
-1 medium onion, peeled and diced
-1 large carrot, peeled and diced
-1 cup of frozen, French style green beans...because they were lonely in the freezer!

Cook the above in a 7 quart crockpot , on low, for 4-6 hours. You could also cook it on the stove. Use whatever veggies you have and like! This is 0 points + on WW. Picture below...

To make it a more satisfying and complete meal I add diced or shredded chicken, fish, lean ground beef...basically whatever's leftover. I may also add brown rice, whole grain pasta or quinoa as a complex carb. Additional WW points accrue as you add to it :-)

My intention was to eat lunches from this soup all week. It was yummy...was...

Don't be a dope like me and forget to put in away in the fridge. I came home to some sort of nasty, veggie wine fermenting in my crockpot. That wine wouldn't pair well with ANYTHING! YUCK! I'll make round 2 soon.

I ate some celery and natural peanut butter for a snack. See, all normal food!

I had about 6 oz of rotisserie chicken, a big salad with light balsamic dressing and 1/2 a sweet potato for dinner. Nothing fancy but filling and yum!

I wasn't hungry for another snack so I don't have one. I don't know if it's the food I'm eating or the supplements I'm taking but I am rarely hungry!!

So if you add up my shake, my Spark drinks, snacks and meals...my WW points total for the day is :
30 points + on WW...if I ate my nighttime snack it could've been 32 which is my WW target. But I just wasn't hungry! And that's a good thing...a REALLY good thing!
WOAHHH! Hold the presses!! I forgot about my beloved fiber drink! That's 2 points! I'm at 32 WW points +. Victory! Lol!

So I'm eating clean. I'm counting points. I'm making good choices. I'm including some extra vitamins. I'm choking down the fiber drink. So far so good. Let's hope the scale and the measurements say the same on days 11 and 24!!

Get ready, Get set, GO!!

Holy Guacamole! I definitely spent the majority of yesterday grocery shopping, cutting veggies, and bagging up my goodies in preparation for this week. Check out my shopping cart at the local wholesale store...

Don't get me wrong, I have been eating very healthily on WW. But I wanted to have tons of variety so as to not get bored easily on the challenge. Apples and clementines are fine when mixed in there with pretzels and popcorn...but take away my processed snacks and I need to replace them with SOMETHING! Mangoes, strawberries, pistachios and almonds will hopefully keep me from biting people's heads off, lol!!
Now to figure out how I get my chocolate fix!!

Much of my preparation included bagging up my vitamins and supplements for the 1st phase of the challenge. So I have baggies labeled days 1-10 for both myself and my husband (Yay!!! I got him on board!!). This way we just work from one bag each day and don't need to think too much about it all.

I drank my Spark, a vitamin-laden dose of rocket fuel :-). It has the same caffeine as a cup of coffee but it makes you feel like you could take on the world!! My toothbrush was jet propelled today!

After showering and waking the kids I had my first fiber drink...YUMMMM (insert sarcastic grin here). Actually, it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. I drank it with a wide straw and got it down in two sucks. I just had to close my eyes at one point because I kept thinking that the bits of fiber looked an awful lot like the packages of dehydrated sea monkeys we had as kids, hahahahahaha! That was as close to a pet as we ever got :-)

I ate my breakfast, 2 eggs scrambled with 1/4 cup of whites and some chopped spinach. I did this in the car while driving to my carpool. I wouldn't recommend that though! I've been sipping on water all morning. I just ate some snap peas as a snack.

For lunch I'm having a salad of mixed greens and tuna (1 can) made with olive oil mayo (1 T) and some dill. I eat that pretty regularly on WW so it should be much different today.

For dinner, I'm making a chicken fajita bake recipe that someone had posted on Facebook. I adapted it to make it simpler for me. Here's the basic idea...

1.5 lbs of chicken, cut into strips
3 peppers, cut into strips (I'm using red, yellow and orange)
2 medium onions, sliced
1 can (15 oz) of petite diced tomatoes
1/2 packet of low sodium taco or fajita seasoning...or make your own seasoning
1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 400. Spray a 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray. Place veggies and chicken in the pan. Toss with the seasonings and water. Bake for 20-25 minutes till chicken is cooked and veggies are cooked but still crunchy.


I'm eating this in a whole wheat tortilla. My husband will have his without because he's eating his complex carb at lunch today. Here's a picture from FB...not mine but of someone else who made it

I'm sure it'll be delicious! Other snacks for the day include strawberries, rotisserie chicken without the skin and some almonds.

My total WW points for the day: 31
My usual is 32 so not bad at all! And I'm on target with the 24 Day Challenge guidelines. Let's see how this all pans out!!

I took my measurements last night and weighed myself this morning. The following numbers and corresponding before pictures could prove frightening for some. If you have small children near your computer screen you may want to cover their eyes, lol!!

Day 1------
Weight: 210 lbs.
Dress Size: 16 (sometimes 16W, sometimes not)
Waist: 42.5 in.
Hips: 50 in. (AHHHHHHHH!!!!)
Neck: 14 in.
Thigh: 35.5 in.
Upper Arm: 15.5 in.
Calf: 17.5 in
Chest: 42.5 in. (please God, don't make me lose it all here, lol!)
Shoulders: 42.5 in.
Forearm: 11 in.


Trust me...I look much better in less form-fitting clothing!!! But for the experiment's sake I took pictures in my yoga pants and a tank top. I would never, NEVER, go anywhere in that outfit. Not yet at least. Maybe 23 days from now? We shall see...

Getting Excited and a Little Bit of YUMMMM (recipe included!)

Happy Easter Monday!  I ate a bit too much...especially of the chocolate-covered variety...and kielbasa...definitely a few too many points were spent on kielbasa.  But today is a brand new day.  Back to sensibility :-)

Started off my morning with an egg white scramble...here's to hoping my day continues as well :-)
I'm really getting excited to start this challenge.  My supplies are on their way and I begin a week today...Monday the 8th.  I'll still be counting points and following Weight Watchers...even weighing in and attending meetings.  But the 24 Day Challenge will be an extra boost (fingers crossed) to reach my goals.  I'll basically be eating the same way I normally do...fruits, veggies, lean proteins, complex carbs etc.  The biggest difference will be the addition of some key supplements.  I'll also need to dive in hard-core healthy.  I won't be eating pizza and wings even if I have the points for them.  It'll be tough  but I can do it.  It's only 24 days and if it works...WOOOHOOOO!!! 

Plus, my 24 Day Challenge Advisor offered a little bonus incentive, similar to the Biggest Loser.  There are a bunch of people beginning this challenge on April 8th.  I'm lucky that a few are friends and family who will support me :-).  The person who loses the most wins $250!  Bring it on baby!  I'm totally winning that prize, no others need apply!  Of course if you really want to try it along with us, we welcome the healthy competition and of course I'll support you too!  But I'll kick your butt as it (hopefully) gets smaller, lol!


I'm going to try to post a recipe every time I blog...I love to cook (read: I love to eat) and I'm pretty passionate about creating tasty, healthy recipes.  Today I am including my recipe for Oatmeal Muffins.  I make two different and equally delicious versions, Banana Oatmeal Muffins and Apple Pie Oatmeal Muffins.  Either recipe will run you approximately 1 Points+ each.  YUMMMM!!

Here They Are...


And here is the recipe...

Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Ingredients:
-6 medium very ripe bananas
-1.5 cups of skim milk  (or soy milk, rice milk, etc)
-3/4 cup of Splenda (optional)
-4.5 cups of Old Fashioned Oats (not quick oats)
-2 tsp. vanilla extract
-1.5 Tbls. baking powder
-3/4 cup of liquid egg whites

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix ingredients.  Let everything soak for about 10 minutes while you spray paper cupcake liners with coking spray.  Bake for approximately 15 minutes till tops are golden brown and slightly firm or springy to the touch. 

I used my ice cream scooper to divide these.  One level scoop filled each muffin liner about 2/3 full.  Total points of the batch = 38.  It typically makes 32-36 muffins for me at approximately 1 point each!.. 

These are seriously so delicious and filling.  I often eat 2 at breakfast with some tea or coffee or 1 with some eggs as something sweet.  They're so good as a snack too...and I don't feel guilty eating them!

To make the Apple Pie Muffins:

Simply omit the bananas and vanilla and replace them with 1.5 cups of unsweetened applesauce, 3 tsp of cinnamon and 1 medium apple, peeled and diced.


Seriously, TRY THESE!!!!  My whole family loves them!  And did you see how cute they all are (picture at top)?  How could I NOT make these all the time?

Later Alligators!

My Story...What's My Deal?

Ok...so here's my story.  I've been overweight, obese, morbidly obese even since about the age of 10.  I've tried just about everything that I've heard of to get healthier.  Some were crazy, some were sensible.  Some worked temporarily, some not at all.  About 5 years ago I decided "enough was enough."  I dove back into Weight Watchers with passion.  I lost over 100 lbs. in about 2 years.  I started eating healthier, moving more.  It was the best investment I ever made for myself.  Shortly after I lost that weight...still about 25 lbs. from my goal, I became pregnant with my 4th child.  I gained some of the weight back and WW helped me lose it again. 

 

Ok, that brings us just about up to date. I've been at a bit of a plateau for about 3 months now.  That's not a huge chunk of time.  But it's enough that I'm getting frustrated, impatient...annoyed.  Not enough to inhale a bag of oreos, but enough to eat 1 or 2 when I'm feeling down.  And maybe 2 or 3 more when I get annoyed that I just ate the 1 or 2 prior :-)  UGHH!   I feel like I need to shake things up again.  Know what I mean?

 

So I keep hearing about this 24 day challenge from Advocare.  I ignored the Facebook posts for a while from "friends" losing weight and inches, getting healthier, feeling great.  I already know how to do that right?  I mean, I've lost 100+ lbs.!  Some friends started selling it.  Then I started thinking "What's the deal?"  Is is some scam or does it really work?  So I started researching, and researching and researching. 

 

I found success stories and explanations of the programs.  I found people questioning the companies MLM design and the typical complaints that go along with it...OOH it's a gigantic pyramid scheme!  Whatever.  Mary Kay Cosmetics, Avon, Amway, Thirty-One...they all work the same way.  It's a cheap way for companies to grow.  Word of mouth and actual product usage works better than any billboard.  That didn't dissuade me. 

 

I want to know...will it work for me?  Will I break through my plateau?  Will I lose weight and inches in 24 days?  Will I fee great?  Look great?  Possibly see the scale read one-hundred-and-anything for the first time since the 7th grade??? 

 

But I love Weight Watchers.  I owe them a lot.  I count points like my life depends on it.  I believe in WW.  I can't imagine not doing WW forever.  So now what?  I think I want to shake this up and try the 24 Day Challenge.  Scratch that, I know I do. 

 

My plan: Complete the challenge, count the points that I eat during the challenge, staying within my WW goals.  My 24 Day Challenge is on it's way.  I'm almost giddy-excited.  I can't wait to start.  It's like a little experiment.  Fingers crossed that this works!!!  Onederland...HERE I COME!!!