My Healthy Appetite

it rained and a half today, it was so nice! I had this super cosy feeling coming in from outside. I sat for a moment listening to the sound of the car wheels whooshing on the road outside and thought about the best foods for rainy days, my favourite soups and hot chocolate with cookies! I ended up making one of my favorite taste explosion dinners that I grew up with that doesnt say all ‘low cal’ but so much yum.. I had bought new potatoes, and that calls for cauliflower, cheese sauce, bacon and corn on the cob. Will see what the damage is and get back on track for sure tomorrow

Its no biiigy tho I did go off track last night after I realised that I would never be able to make my goal to lose over 1lb by Monday. I’m certain I would be able to under normal circumstances but I had another sneaky weigh in the morning after I’d showered and I was on 11.6.1 I was like- woo!! If I lose that little .1 I’ve gone done to 11.5 in one day, so later after having gone to the bathroom (c’mon, I’m not the ONLY one that does it!) I had gone up to 11.6.8! And then I realised I was due my TOM garr. Needless to say I spent the rest of the day very pms’d… and fiished the day off with a big fat ice cream.. which is why I want need these babies! (If I could only get them here)

Way off! And caugh thats not it all *hides face in shame* I didn’t even bother adding in the sauce on the hot dog and some other crazy pudding thing I ate- I went to the shop pms’y for frozen yogurt/lite ice cream and there wasn’t ANY… and I saw other calorie ladden desserts that took my fancy and STILL had my ice cream! ARGH! Ok, so I will plan better for next month and get some frozen yogurt ready in my freezer.

Earlier this week (I didn’t track the day here oops) I was experimenting for dinner and came up with a really nice meal that reminds me of one my favorite weight watchers frozen meals that I’d buy in the uk, I can’t wait to make it again, even the hubby liked! Primarily consisting of sliced potatoes baked in a slightly cheesy white sauce with some onion, bacon and chicken - I’m sure I could add mushrooms to it too.. hmm hmm!!

Making two servings filled the casserole dish to near overflowing! I will give it a go with bacon bits for less points next time but I think it will take away some of the greatness.. and rather than making a flour and butter rue thicken it up with cornflour for 1 point less. I will be having it again soon. I’ll let you know how that goes and post up the recipe that works best and of course lowest.

Plus 1 cookie- 2.5 points that brings me to exactly 22 points for amazingly the fourth day running or something like it.

I’ve surprised myself with my self discipline recently to stay in my points- I think It’s a motivation too tho, when I am seeing and feeling so many differences.. My goal this week is to lose 2lbs. I had a sneaky weigh half through the week and already I’d lost 1lb so I’m excited that I could make the goal! I’m going to try hard to be good for the rest of the week.

In response to Jackie’s question to if I ever get hungry 1 hour after a good meal…

1. I have sometimes what seems like an endless appetite. I know now certain foods hold me out longer- namely potato’s, rice and pasta. So its good if theres some of that in my meal to start with. I prepare myself for a notion to nibble after dinner and try to keep a few points for that and have a hot chocolate or fruit or something.. maybe a biscuit.
2. If I had no points left and still felt hungry after a meal I’d have a herbal tea, if i needed to really eat then I’d have some point free snacks, carrot and veg sticks, 0 point jello.. I’ve made some pretty interesting ‘fillers’ when I was hungry out of mostly ‘free’ foods One very memorable one that I love now to have in my fridge to scoff on (I know its not everyones taste) a concoction of chopped pickled beetroot, chopped apple, pickled onions and chopped pickled cucumbers! I love it as a big side helping or on its own..
3. I’m a big believer in not suffering any more than necessary, so If I’m really feeling the hunger pains I’ll make up something... but keep it light! like Roni’s 1 egg plus extra egg white omelette packed with veges! Or portabello mushrooms stuffed with tomatoes, bacon sprinkle bits and a little bit of cheese.. a medium size baked potato with some veg.. a cereal snack bar, yogurt… wont do you too much harm.. Its when you eat 5 sugary biscuits or a piece of that cake.. ice cream, chips that take you too far off. I think thats where we go wrong mostly. Eating wisely and being prepared for these hunger bouts could be what makes the difference.

I’m trying to make no more than 2 ’splurges’ over my points per week now because I’ve learned that for me It really stops my weight loss if I use too much of my weekly allowance- but I still use it a little. I hope wisely more often than not! I’m thinking what to make for dinner as I write this. lol

hope some of this helps!

happy solution finding!

This is my favorite yummy sweet low point filler, and it’s so inexpensive!

There’s loads of room to adapt this to your own preferences, I sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, you can add raisins, honey, jam, pears, prunes… chocoolatte…

I made it today because I knew it was going to hit the spot- and hit it good that I wouldn’t need to go back for seconds but that I could have more later cos its low in points anyway and great to make in large batches. I left the raisins out because my DH is not a fan of them.

You can finish cooking it in the oven for that nice crusted top or if nice and creamy straight out the pot!

All in all this baby (with the raisins) totals in at only;

2.5 points per serving

Recipe makes 4 servings

What you need:

1 c. pudding rice

3 c. Water

2 c. 1%milk

2tsp brown sugar or honey- or sweetener to taste

pinch of salt

2 tbsp. raisins

cinnamon to dust

Put water, rice, milk, sweetener of choice and salt together in pan, bring to boil for 5min then reduce heat to low. You may have to stir to prevent sticking. Add raisins and simmer until rice is cooked (about 20min)

Dust with cinnamon or topping of your choice

Enjoy!

If I continue like this I could be reaching my target weight in 9 months

Thats exciting! I visit my home town and family next at Christmas, I’ll be close to my target weight by then, they will get a little surprise from the chubby bride they saw last! I can ask for clothes for Christmas too lol.

*Christmas wish (with legs!)- a Goal is a dream/wish with ‘legs’ (action)

Didn’t go over my points today- woot!

I was sooo good yesterday!

Things would probably speed up a bit if I were always as good as that! I didn’t do much any munching at night (thats a challenge for me) I had a lazy yummy hot dog dinner… oh boy was it good!! haha and after that I felt a little wanting something… I controlled myself and sipped on a mug of lite hot chocolate which i resisted adding any no cal. sweetener to, (I think its nasty chemical stuff.. so I don’t want to have it too much) and I resisted adding sugar too. I would never have done that before, i find it tempting but I know its just not smart to have a sugar loaded drink near bed time. I feel good about making decisions that I know are doing me well on several levels. I think it made a difference too not adding the sugar to my drink, when I went to bed I was out like a light! It was funny when I woke up this morning, i felt like I’d just blinked! and it was morning again.

I’m cooking prawns for dinner tonight, they are my favorite ‘meat’ I’m SO glad that they are so lite in points! I can get a heap of them for just a couple of points. Sometimes it seems that all the tastiest foods are calorie loaded, I am sooo glad prawns aren’t!!! I love these cute prints too of ‘lite’ prawns and more

I am pretty pleased that I am still here doing this one month on. I haven’t been this good at holding out on my healthy eating for a long time. Not lost a great deal of weight, only about 6lbs. I know now that could be down to my thyroid.. which is now being treated so hopefully the weight will budge easier! I don’t mind if I lose weight slowly.. just as long as I’m losing weight I’m happy. 7lbs off is definitely better than 7lb on!

In some ways it feels like such a long time ago I began doing this, I can hardly believe it was just one month- so much has changed.

1 month on..

1. My love handles are noticeably smaller
2. As are my typical pasta portion size’s..
3. I eat more fruit and veg
4. I ‘graze’ and cook my own meals more often
5. I enjoy the smaller meals (breakfast & lunch) more
6. I don’t have chocolate cravings daily!
7. I know off by heart how many points for potatoes, corn, pasta, ketchup…
8. I feel good after meals, not bloated and ill like I always used to
9. I have more energy (this could also be down to my diagnosis) thus the house is tidier than before!

To name a few.