Belly be gone!

i’m making mini cheesecakes right now!  dinner is at MIL’s house tomorrow night, and i wanted to try these cheesecakes.  so i told MIL i would bring a “surprise” dessert.  and since i told her i wanted to make something, and since i bought the ingredients, then i had to make them.  even though i didn’t sleep enough last night.  even though i went to the gym at 6 this morning (30 min elliptical).  and i went back tonight to do weights with the trainer.  ok…i’m just trying to say that i’m ti-urd!!!

oh, back to my cheesecakes.  the first batch has been made!  it’s cooling.  then i can start on the next batch!!!  it’s gonna be a long night. 

alright…the bad with the eating…ok, not so bad, but not so good….

nf yogurt with sf/nf pudding mix mixed in & strawberries - core

4 hershey’s dark chocolate - 2 pts

leftover stir fry & brown rice - core

lite cool whip - 1 pt

hershey’s dark chocolate kissables - 1 pt

tomato mozarella salad - core

chicken parm - lots of points

couple pieces of garlic bread - more points

AP - 3 earned

ok…whoosh…i posted my eating.  tomorrow isn’t going to be that great - i think pizza is for lunch, and i’m out of my yogurt. 

i’m going to try to swim tomorrow.  i’ll see how i feel - i’m sure i’m going to be exhausted.  that, and i might be really sore from tonights weight workout (i didn’t weights on tuesday night since i was out of town).

ok…i’m just babbling, while watching grey’s, and waiting for the first batch of cheesecakes to cool!!! 

went to dermatologist this morning for what they call “full body scan”. just checking to make sure nothing looks suspicious…i’m probably a prime candidate for skin cancer - light skin, freckles…and other attributes that say “burn, skin, burn!!!” anyhow - they said that everything looks a-ok! which is what i expected!!! not that i ever worshipped the sun (oh, ok…maybe there was that summer after high school)…and even for someone w/my coloring, i can get a decent tan (again, for my coloring - thanks dad!) with time and sunscreen. anyhow…i’m just rambling…

so, i told myself to start tracking food. i think knowing i have to write it down will prevent me from eating too many kissables at work!

no fancy chart - as nice as they are, i got lazy about trying to fill it out. oh, and i’m trying to do core.

oh…and i may not be consistent until next week, as i go out of town this weekend for a couple of days…and as of now, my parents only have dial-up! hello, 1995!

B - 1/2 banana (the other 1/2 was bruised and i don’t like eating bruised fruit! )
B - fiber one bar — 2 pts
B - some nibbles of “roasted” hominy (still working on this one)
S - coffee w/splenda & skim milk

so far, so good…

L - tack soup w/ff sour cream & soy cheese

L - flan - guessing 2 pts

Exercise - 30 minutes of running on treadmill = 3 AP pts.

more later…

 the rest of the day

S - 100 cal popcorn (w/some splenda on it - yum, my own kettle corn!)

S - 2 hershey’s dark chocolate kisses - 1 point

D - sauteed peppers, onion, garlic, & tomato over shiritaki noodles - 0 points for noodles

D - apple

work out with trainer - has to be good for 1 AP

and i’m still hungry!!!  :(  and i don’t know what i want to eat!!!  i know i should be good and find something that is core, but nothing sounds good…or rather, i don’t necessarily have the energy to prepare it.

summary…

4 points earned through exercise

5 points eaten

i finally tried the recipe where you mix cake mix w/pumpkin (canned) & 2/3 c water. i liked it. dh didn’t. his comments - not sweet enough (uh oh…i may have ruined him…before me, he wasn’t a big dessert eater…and not a big chocolate eater!) and not cooked enough. granted, we tasted them while they were still warm. i liked it. i had a nibble this morning, and it still tasted good to me. it does taste a little undercooked, but it’s still yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

my big plans for yesterday didn’t materialize. i had a good workout at the gym - yeah! i was on the treadmill and i did interval running - 4 minutes at one speed, then 1 minute at a faster speed. i did this for 25 minutes! we took puppy to the dog park and she had a blast. after i while, i wasn’t feeling so hot b/c i don’t like being outside standing around when i’m cold…and i get cold easily. so we left. dh & i then grabbed some lunch - oh, that was evil. went to a deli and i had a salami sandwich on rye. that was probably a bajillion points, but i don’t care. it tasted SO GOOD!!! he always brings up the deli, and i almost always say no, since i almost only order the salami sandwich (since i don’t eat it that often). but i gave in yesterday. and after that first bite, i even told him how good it tasted. we saw everyone & their child there, too!!! there were a bunch of people dh went to college with who were there w/their families. then on to the grocery store. and that was about my day. i didn’t get to clean out another area of the house! oh, and we went to sil’s house for dinner - it’s their anniversary. and that was my sunday…ok…of to start monday…make it a good one!

so far, so good, i think. being that it’s the weekend, i did eat out quite a bit. but i did my best to eat salads, chicken that is only spiced, baked potato. i made a quinoa salad for lunch tomorrow. i made a spaghetti squash for tonight. these are all new foods for me!!! as i said, i think the biggest challege is going to be prepping.

today’s menu:

b — oatmeal w/SF applesauce, splenda, & cinnamon

l — jason’s deli: baked potato w/chicken & pico (whatever the mexican potato is w/o the sour cream & butter & cheese…) (i probably ate about half of it)
s — ww smoothie (caramel latte) made w/milk — this was YUMMY. this might be my favorite WW shake

d — spaghetti squash w/sauteed onions, mushrooms, bell peppers (red & green), & garlic. seasoned w/red pepper flakes & italian herbs. used a point on parmesan cheese. pretty yummy!!!

oh, the other challenge, i think, is going to be about using points. i want to use them for things that i want as low fat or regular, instead of fat free.

so…why did i switch to core? well…i guess it started when i read the maintenance material and saw that you could switch daily instead of weekly. and i just started thinking about it and thought i could probably do a day or two at a time. so i decided to switch for a week, esp since i’m still trying to lose. i also think i was a little tired of counting points. that, and my points went down to 18 (if i’m still going to lose)!!! and, i don’t know how well i’m losing. and they say to try switching plans if you think you’re in a plateau. so…that’s the basic reason i’m trying core….

the scale was not my friend this morning. it said i was up more than a couple of pounds. and i stepped on it SEVERAL times throughout the morning. damn brie from last night!!! that, and i had (canned) soup for lunch yesterday!!!!!!! i hope tomorrow is better…and i hope i’m not sabotaging myself. just b/c i made WW goal, i hope i don’t keep up with it to get to my personal goal. i don’t think my personal goal is a # on the scale…it’s totally a vain one - i want to be comfortable in a 2 piece without a shirt on. so, we’ll see…my body may not be cut out for a 2 piece, though, given the shape i’ve lived with for the past 30 years or so!!!

meanwhile - here’s daily menu so far…
dannon light yogurt - 1 pt
1 low carb tortilla - 1 pt
homemade black bean salsa - 1 pt
coffee w/cream - 1 pt

so that’s 4 points so far. lunch is either a salad from McD’s, or a sub from subway. with that, i’m gonna eat b/c i’m getting hungry!!!

udpate - went to subway b/c i thought i was going out for mexican tonight and i wanted to keep lunch low(er).  i forgot to add that i earned 2 AP this morning w/a 40 min walk. 

lunch was a turkey sub w/apples — 5 pts, for a total of 9 pts

i think i sometimes eat out of boredom, esp at 3PM.  don’t know why that is the magical time for me, but it is.  so i’m trying to be better about having healthier snacks, and not something that is so empty, even if it is low in points.  i may have found my new favorite snack.  i had an apple, with a laughing cow lite swiss wedge.  YUM!!!  almost as yummy has having brie w/cheese, but probably a lot less fattening than brie!!!  i may have it for breakfast tomorrow on top of an english muffin.

total pts eaten after snack - 11 pts (1 for apple, 1 for LC wedge)

i had bunko at a neighbor’s tonight.  so DH had poker at our house.  they’re still playing, so i snuck upstairs to do some things, like blog.  even though i’m tired & could probably go to bed now since puppy decided to bark for an hour in the middle of the night last night.  but i digress…so i’m glad DH is having poker.  i go out once a month for bunko, and occasionally for mah jong.  so he needs to have the guys over & play some poker.

today’s jog wasn’t all that bad!  yeah me!  and i called & talked to the fitness director at my gym to discuss working with a trainer.  he was supposed to pass my name on to one of the trainers.  i haven’t heard from the trainer yet…hopefully tomorrow.

i tried to be OP today.  and really count points.  did ok until the evening when i was at bunko.   then everything went out the window, esp b/c there was baked brie.  i LOVE baked brie w/apples, which they had.  i probably over did the brie.  ugh…

so, before bunko, here’s my food…

1 sliver (and i mean sliver) of pumpkin bundt cake  -  1 pt

WW chocolate shake made w/skim milk   -  3 pts

coffee w/creamer  -  1 pt

progresso soup (whole can)  -  2.5 pts

veggie burger on english muffin w/relish & mustard  -  3.5 pts

13 hershey’s kissables  -  1 pt

2 hershey’s dark chocolate kisses  - 1 pt

which brings me to 13 points.   i get 18 points, not counting AP or FP.  i got 2 AP today.  and i know i ate poorly at bunko.

tomorrow is mexican for dinner, i think.  ugh…i just need to get mentally motivated to be back on track of counting points.  i think it’ll be good for me!

ok, hit the fading point.  good night y’all…

here’s yesterday’s menu.  yesterday i was going to start my training / toning routine.  totally forgot about it!!!  OOPS!!!!!!!!!!  he he he  uh, maybe tomorrow!  need to start doing abs & arms.  almost there…mentally!!!  been up since 4:30 this morning.  don’t think i’m making the run, but i will go for a walk.  need to get dressed & get going…

Sunday’s food:

Sunday - Daily Points Target 19
Food	Points	Balance
B-2 waffles w/SF syrup	2.5	16.5
L - black bean soup & salad from Panera	4	12.5
S - carrots	0	12.5
S - fiberful bar	0	12.5
S - pretzel slims	.5	12
D - hotdog (guessing)	4	8
D - zucchini bread	4	4
D - blt’s of bbq food	2	2
D - brownies @ bbq	3	-1
Total	20	-1
Day 2 - in Week - Flex Points Remaining: 35
Fruits & Vegetables: XXX
Water: XXXX
Milk:Â
Daily Activity Log	AP Earned	Earned/ unused week
31min jog	3	3/2

trying to wake up to go running…i’ve just been tired this weekend…b/c of the craziness of yesterday (including the weather) i didn’t get my walk in. 

wasn’t that successful at the mall, which was ok.  i was really going to see one or two things.  however, i realized i am now excited to shop again because i’m feeling better about myself — image wise, that is.  for a while there, i didn’t realize that i really didn’t like to shop because i a) didn’t like how the clothes looked on me or b) i didn’t like the sizes that they were.  it was more A than B.  however, now that i’m feeling better about my self & my body, watch out american express - i’m ready to shop!!!!!!!!!!!! 

while at the mall yesterday - i ran into a friend i hadn’t seen in YEARS!  it was good to catch up w/her.

i also introduced myself to a family…i know it’s weird, but i contemplated about this the last time i was at the mall b/c i saw them there, too!!!  apparently the wife & i have the same taste in clothes!  he he he  anyhow…it’s a young couple w/a little girl…and…ok - let me back up a second.  i’m usually really good w/names and faces.  and i’ll remember the most random things about a person - and it freaks people out!!!  even DH is still amazed at this crazy ability i have (long story short - i put 2+2 together about this guy he works with and realized that i had interviewed w/the guy 5 years ago out of grad school and the guy is good friends w/a former co-worker of mine…this was all just based on DH telling me the guy’s first name, one attribute about the guy, and what the guy does at DH’s company…and i still haven’t re-met the guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)  there’s more…but i’ll just leave it at that.

so…back to this couple.  i have seen them at various events over the past year.  i never had the opportunity to meet them, but i just recognized them.  and this is the 2nd time i’ve seen them at the mall w/the baby.  and i know i’ll continue to see them in the future.  and when i’ve seen them at the mall - i feel like they might recognize me, but wasn’t sure.   so i just introduced myself to them…

ok…i’m rambling now…that’s another trait of mine…my head is just about awake enough to go running.  my body - not so sure!  but my head…almost there!  :)  have a good sunday!

 Saturday’s menu:

Saturday - Daily Points Target 20
Food	Points	Balance
B- light mocha frappaccino	2	18
L - subway turkey sub + baked lays	7	11
S - flat out w/laughing cow	2	9
D - salad w/dressingÂ	1	8
D - 1 slice veggie pizza (guessing on points)	5	3
Total	17	3
Day 1 - in Week - Flex Points Remaining: 35
Fruits & Vegetables:  XXXXX
Water: XXXX
Milk: barely…whatever was on pizza
Daily Activity Log	AP Earned	Total unused week
nadaÂ	0	0

so…we didn’t go to THE restaurant that gave me the dilemma.  instead we went somewhere that was just ok…and we’re not going to THE restuarant - DH talked us out of it, which is fine by me.  i would’ve gone, but i don’t mind not going, also.

oh…i forgot about my NSV this morning!!!  i can get into my skinny jeans!!!  woo hoo!!!  i had a pair of jeans that kept getting tighter & tighter & i’d still shove my tush into them, when i shouldn’t have.  so they’ve been on my floor for a while, and every now & then i’d try to pull ‘em on, but it was tough & i didn’t want to fight it.  (yes - i’d break a sweat trying to shove my thighs into these jeans!!!)  so last week for kicks, i tried them on, and they pulled up no problem!!!  i thought it might’ve been a fluke - you know how jeans stretch as you wear them, right?!  well…i thought that maybe after all those times of trying to pull ‘em over my thighs that they might have stretched.  so i did laundry last week and hung the jeans up.  since it’s unofficial casual friday, i pulled these jeans out of the closet - and they still fit, no problem!!!  yeah!!!  :)  i still have a ’shroom top to get rid of, but i’m getting there.  now here’s why i’m excited…i bought these jeans 3-4 years ago, when low rise was the IN thing.  now, these aren’t low rise, but they aren’t high rise, either.  i’d say the button is in the place between my belly button & my hips - right where my stomach is the biggest.  and i was able to put the jeans on & button them, around my belly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  now…if only i’d start doing some ab work, the belly would tone up some more…

we’re finally going to get our wedding album done!!!  it’s only been 1.5 years…and it’s all my fault…we’re just going to let the photographer pick out the pix & lay out the pix…ha ha ha.  so that’s tomorrow’s activity.  i’m hoping it’s not too hot when we get home for me to go for a walk.  heck - even if it is hot, i’ll still get at least a short walk in…