Merry Day After Christmas!

I had a wonderful Christmas!  However, I have eaten waaaay too much yummy food!  Will have to get back on track this week.  But I have company coming and we eat out a lot, which can derail my efforts.  I will do the best I can to make good choices.

How about you?  Did you make good choices during the Christmas festivities?  Or are you like me and trying to get back into the swing of being healthy this week?

Don't give up and hold off until the new year!  You can start making those good choices right now!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Lisa  :)

Same = Good In December

I finally made it to Weight Watchers to weigh in today!  The last time I was there was right before Thanksgiving.  Had intended to go before now, but missed due to illness, busyness, etc.  My weight was EXACTLY the same!

That is actually a very good thing this time of year!  That means I don't have a weight gain after all the Thanksgiving food, sampling of homemade Christmas goodies, party food, etc!  Now I just need to stay strong for the rest of the month!

If I'm not trying to be healthy, I usually gain at least 5 pounds from Thanksgiving to January.  So to have no gain right now is excellent!

How are you doing?  How about trying to do just one good thing each day - like some exercise, drinking some water, not taking a second helping of something, refusing a cookie?  That's it - just one thing each day until we get to January.  I think we can at least do that!

I will be joining up with a food blogger for a 10-week program with other bloggers to try and lose weight.  It will start in January.  I'll give you more info on that when we get closer and maybe you can join up with me!

Hope you are enjoying your week!

Lisa  :)

Healthy Recipe: Potato Chowder

Winter is alway a great time for soup and I do enjoy trying new soup recipes, especially healthy ones!  This recipe was in a booklet I received at a Weight Watchers meeting.  I did have to make some substitutions according to what I had on hand, but I liked it.  It's a good hearty soup.

Potato Chowder

4 Yukon Gold potatoes

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped onion

4 pieces cooked corn on the cob, kernels removed with knife (I used a combination of frozen and canned corn instead)

1 cup diced red bell pepper

4 oz. diced Canadian-style bacon

2 cups fat-free milk

Salt, pepper, and hot pepper to taste

Pierce potatoes in several places with fork; microwave on high until tender, turning over once, about 10-12 minutes or so.  Allow to cool; peel and mash.  Meanwhile, coat a large saucepan with cooking spray.  Add celery, onion, corn kernels and red pepper; saute over med-high heat, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.  Stir bacon and milk into saucepan; stir in mashed potato and mix well.  Season with salt, pepper, and hot pepper; stir to combine.  Cover and simmer 10 minutes (do not allow to boil).

Makes 4 servings, 6 WW pts per serving

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

If you try it out, let me know what you think!

Have a healthy day!

Lisa  :)

 

Are You Surviving December So Far?

Wow - can't believe it's been so long since I posted!  Thanksgiving kept me very busy and then my family was sick last week.  With all that, I have not begun to get ready for Christmas!  How about you?

As far as weight loss efforts go, I haven't been to a WW meeting in a couple weeks.  My weight was definitely up after Thanksgiving.  It was down after being sick, but I'm not sure now.  I plan to go to a meeting and weigh in this Saturday.  I had really hoped to lose some weight during December, but that isn't seeming very realistic.  At this point - I think I'll just try to maintain.  That would be good too!  When I am not focusing on weight loss/healthy eating at all, I typically gain at least 5 pounds from Thanksgiving to January.  So my goal shall be to keep that from happening this year!

How are you doing this month?  Have you made plans to survive all the holiday treats and dinners?  You can even go with small goals, like drinking more water and getting some activity each day.

I'd love to hear what successes or struggles you're having this month!  We can make it through!

Lisa  :)

Last Minute Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas

Since I already have several healthy recipes on this site, I thought I would give you the links to some that could be used for Thanksgiving.

I don't have any main dishes to share - just have turkey and you'll be fine!  But I do have a few healthy side dishes that you could serve and some meals that can be made with leftover turkey.  Maybe you'll find a healthy idea that you can add to your current Thanksgiving menu!

Healthy Side Dish Ideas:

Apple and Carrot Salad

Squash and Pear Soup

Creamy Potato and Garlic Soup

Green Bean and Tomato Saute

Cranberry Gelatin Salad

Roasted Spring Veggie Medley

Healthy Dessert Ideas:

Sour-Cream Hazelnut Bundt Cake

Baked Pumpkin Bread

Apple Crumb Pie from A Box of Chocolates

Healthy Ideas For Leftover Turkey:

Chicken Tortellini Soup (substitute turkey)

Cranberry Nut Turkey Salad

Chicken Caesar Lasagna (substitute turkey)

Easy Chicken Tetrazzini (substitute turkey)

Parmesan Chicken and Rice (substitute turkey)

Hope you find something you like!  What recipes/ideas are you using to make your Thanksgiving Day a little healthier?

Have a blessed week and a Happy Thanksgiving!

Lisa  :)

It's OK To Maintain

I did weigh in at WW this weekend though I wasn't sure I had lost weight.  I did *not* lose any weight.  But I didn't gain any weight either.  I was disappointed as I thought I did pretty good for the week.  But it's also good to remember that not gaining is a good thing.

This time of the year, just maintaining your weight is a great thing to do.  What would happen if you weren't attempting to be healthier/lose weight?  You would most likely gain quite a lot of weight from now through January.  If you just maintain your weight through the holidays without gaining, then you have done an excellent thing!  You have avoided the normal holiday gain and have less to lose later on!

I'm trying to stay on track as much as possible this week except for Thanksgiving Day.  We'll see where that puts me by next weekend.  But I plan to get back on track after Thanksgiving (and a few leftovers).  What are your plans for Thanksgiving or for getting through the holidays?

Have a wonderful week!
Lisa  :)

Tracking Saves The Day

I went to my WW meeting this week and I lost 1.6 lbs for the week!  Woo Hoo!  And what made the difference?  Why - tracking!  What a concept!  LOL!  Of course, on WW I should be doing my tracking every day.  But I get rebellious and stop tracking.  Funny thing is, when I track daily - I lose weight.  It's amazing how that works.

Even if you're not doing Weight Watchers, you can still track what you're eating and I think you will see a difference.  When you have to write down every single thing you eat, looking at the list can be enough to stop you from getting one more snack.  I did also count points last week, though I went a little over more than once.  And I did go to my fundraising function Friday night.  I did not eat any dessert there; I just enjoyed my nonfat caramel latte and still had a lovely time!  Of course, I made some of the desserts and sampling at home did occur.  :)

I will definitely continue tracking this week.  I really want to lose some more weight this week to motivate me to stay on track during Thanksgiving!

Do you track what you eat?  If not, give it a try! 

Have a healthy day!

Lisa  :)

Healthy Recipe: Pasta Salad With Blue Cheese, Walnuts And Arugula

Yay - Five Point Fridays are back over at Mel's place, so be sure to stop there for more healthy ideas!  That works out perfectly, since this pasta salad recipe is just 5 points per serving!  The recipe was in a booklet that was given to me in a Weight Watchers meeting.  It makes a great lunch, but you could also cut the serving size in half and it would be a good dish side dish for a meal too.

Pasta Salad With Blue Cheese, Walnuts And Arugula

2 tablespoons coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 oz. uncooked bow tie pasta (farfalle)
2 cups baby arugula leaves, stems removed
2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese


Place walnuts in small skillet.  Toast nuts over medium-high heat until lightly browned, 1-2 minutes; remove from skillet and set aside.  Bring 3 quarts of water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to boil in large pot.  Stir in pasta and cook until tender, about 11-13 minutes; remove 1 tablespoon of pasta cooking water and save for dressing below.  Drain pasta and place in large serving bowl; immediately add arugula and toss well.  Cover bowl with a lid or tight-fitting plastic wrap; set aside until arugula is limp, about 5 minutes.  Stir in chives and tomatoes.  In cup, stir together vinegar, oil, reserved tablespoon of pasta cooking water, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper.  Pour dressing over pasta salad and toss well; sprinkle with blue cheese.  About 1 1/4 cups per serving.


5 WW pts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I actually used gorgonzola cheese and had no arugula, so just threw in romaine lettuce.  Spinach would work well too.  Hope you get to try it!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lisa  :)

A Teensy Loss Is Still A Loss

I did make it to my Weight Watcher's meeting this past weekend!  I knew my weight was oh so close - and I did lose weight!  OK - you're gonna laugh because I just lost .2 lb!  But hey - it's a loss anyway!  Anything heading in the right direction is what I need right now.

I actually have been using a tracker the last couple of days - writing down what I eat and counting points.  If I keep it up this week, I'll have to lose something.  The only thing that could ruin it is Friday night.  We have a fundraising function to go to that's featuring desserts (including mine) and specialty coffee drinks.  I'm trying to decide how to handle this since I normally weigh in on Saturday morning.  I could weigh in Friday morning instead or I could have a snack instead of dinner and have a little dessert and try to get a nonfat coffee drink Friday night.  Or I could try not to have any desserts and just enjoy a fancy coffee drink.  Still thinking on that one.  They key is to plan ahead for something like that - decide what to do and how you'll handle the sitation before going.

How have you been doing?  Do you have functions coming up that might derail your weight loss efforts?  How will you handle it?

Have a wonderful week!

Lisa  :)

Healthy Recipe: Kickin' Chicken Chili

This is a nice easy recipe and if you are like me and forget that you planned to make this - you can still throw it in the slow cooker afterschool, put it on high, and it will be done by supper!  Gotta love that!  The flavor is great!  This comes from a cookbook called Cook Once, Eat Twice from BHG.  I have never made the second recipe, but I'll give it to you in case you want to give it a try - it does sound yummy.

Kickin' Chicken Chili
 
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves or thighs, cut into 1-in. pieces
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 16-oz. jar green salsa
1 16-oz. bag frozen pepper stir-fry vegetables (yellow, green, and red sweet peppers and onion)
1 15-oz. can cannellini beans (white kidney beans), rinsed and drained
1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes with onion and garlic

1.  In large bowl toss chicken with cumin and salt to coat.  In a large skillet cook chicken, half at a time, in hot oil over medium heat until lightly browned.  Drain off fat.  Place chicken in a 4 or 5 quart slow cooker.  Stir in salsa, stir-fry vegetables, beans, and undrained tomatoes.

2.  Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 4-5 hours or on high-heat setting for 2-2 1/2 hours.  Reserve 3 cups of mixture; chill in airtight container for up to 3 days. (This part is only if you want to use extra to make the second recipe.) 

3.  Serve remaining chili.  If desired, top with sour cream and cheese.

makes 4 servings (1 1/2 cups each) if you take out 3 cups
makes 6 servings if you don't take out 3 cups
305 cal., 5 g fat, 6 g fiber, 6 WW pts

It's really yummy!  Now, if you reserve 3 cups of chili - you can make the second recipe the next day.  Here it is:

Kickin' Chicken Taco Salad

Reserved Kickin' Chicken Chili
6 cups torn Romaine lettuce
1 large avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and chopped
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved, if desired
1 cup chopped, peeled jicama
1 1/2 cups coarsely crushed lime-flavor or plain tortilla chips
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro

1.  In medium saucepan heat reserved chili over medium-low heat until hot.  In very large bowl combine lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, and jicama.  Add heated chili; toss to combine.  Divide among 4 large salad bowls.  Sprinkle with chips.

2.  In small bowl stir together sour cream and cilantro; spoon evenly onto salads.

4 servings
385 cal., 19 g fat, 9 g fiber, 8 WW pts*
*You could reduce the points by using less avocado, baked tortilla chips, and light sour cream

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now you can have healthy dinners for 2 days!  If you try it. let me know what you think.

Have a great day!

I'm linking this to Crockpot Wednesday at Dining With Debbie - check it out for lots of crockpot recipes!

Lisa  :)

Up Instead of Down

I thought I better let you know that I did actually go to Weight Watchers this past Saturday to weigh in.  I was dreading it because I already knew that my weight was up from the last time I weighed.  But I forced myself and went.

Ugh - yes, I was indeed up - over a pound.  And I was up the last time I weighed - I'm heading in the worng direction!  I'm trying to get back in control this week though I had my anniversary over the weekend.  Of course that means we ate out and had fabulous desserts, etc.  Now I have to try to recover from that and try to lose something...anything!  I've been making healthier food and watching portions the last couple of days, but I still haven't actually tracked my food.  The tracking is what really seems to work - it holds me more accountable.  So, tomorrow the tracker is coming out for the rest of the week.  I'll see what happens!

How have you been doing?  Does it get harder to stay on track as we approach the holidays?  Once I hit Thanksgiving, then I really struggle so I need to work on it now!

If you've been doing great - keep up the good work!!  If you've been struggling - don't give up; start fresh today!!  We can do this!  Let me just remind myself here - I can do this!

Have a healthy day!

Lisa  :)

Healthy Recipe: Meaty Chili Verde

It's the time of year when soups, stews, and chilis sound so good!  This is a chili recipe that my family really likes and it's actually a Weight Watcher's recipe!  I got it out of their magazine a couple of years ago.

Meaty Chili Verde

2 teaspoons canola oil 
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 pound lean ground beef
3 tablespoons chili powder **
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup mild green salsa
1 (4-oz) can chopped mild green chiles
2 (15-oz) cans white hominy, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro


1.  Heat the oil in a large nonstick Dutch oven over medium-high heat.  Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes.  Add the beef, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and salt; cook until browned, stirring with a spoon to break up the pieces, about 6 minutes.


2.  Stir in the broth, salsa, and chiles; bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the flavors are blended and the mixture thickens slightly, about 20 minutes.


3.  Stir in the hominy and return the mixture to a boil.  Reduce the heat and simmer until the chili is heated through, about 2 minutes longer.  Remove the Dutch oven from the heat; stir in the cilantro and serve at once.


** I use half the chili powder called for!  When we used the full amount, it was WAY too spicy for us.
Serves 4.  Per serving (1 1/4 cups): 299 cal., 11 g fat, 8 g fiber, 6 WW pts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I always at least double the recipe and even triple.  I like to have leftovers and freeze some if there's extra.  I hope you give this one a try!

Have a lovely and healthy Fall day!

I'm linking this up to Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam - lots of yummy recipes there!

Lisa  :)

Fitness Friday: Lovin' The Wii Fit Plus

I know it's been a while, but I actually have something to post about fitness! Stop over at Wii Fit Mommies to read more fitness posts!

I hadn't even realized that Wii Fit Plus was coming out. Last month, my 10 yr.-old son (who loves Wii Fit) was searching Amazon for things to buy with a birthday gift card. He happened across a preview of Wii Fit Plus which would release on 10/4. He loved all the fun new games they were showing (flying around in a chicken suit, riding a Segway, skateboarding and more), so he decided to pre-order it.

I am so glad that he bought it - LOL!! It has everything that Wii Fit had, but lots more fun games added in. Also, it now tells you how many calories you have burned. Sometimes I like knowing that and sometimes it depresses me that it's so low!

My favorite part though is that you can use preset routines to accomplish your goals or set up your very own customized routine to save and do again and again. Want to trim your hips? There's a routine for that. Improve your posture? There's a routine for that too. What I like about these routines is that they "force" me to add in more of the yoga and strength moves.

Some other features are that you can challenge another player and that you can quickly switch from one Mii to another. I also think that some of the new games are really entertaining. My faves right now are Rhythm Kung Fu and the hip-bumping game (can't remember the name!). My son's fave is the obstacle course.

Overall, we really like the Wii Fit Plus and the new routines are enough to make me get the board back out and start working out again!

Have you exercised this week? Have you made a workout plan for next week? Remember, it's better to start with small attainable goals (hello - talking to self here!).

Have a great weekend!!

Lisa :)

Healthy Recipe: Crunchy Party Mix

Finally - I'm giving you the recipe I promised!! I found this recipe in Weight Watcher's magazine a couple of years ago. It's a yummy little snack and the portion is surprisingly satisfying. I love that you make this snack in your slow cooker rather than the oven!

Crunchy Party Mix

6 tablespoons light butter
2 tablespoons curry powder
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 cups Rice Chex cereal
5 cups Corn Chex cereal
1 cup tiny pretzel twists
1/3 cup lightly salted peanuts

1. Place the butter in a 5 or 6 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook until melted, about 5 minutes on high. Add the curry powder, soy sauce, sugar, cumin, and salt; mix well. Add the remaining ingredients; mix well.

2. Cook, uncovered, about 45 minutes, stirring well every 15 minutes.

3. Reduce the heat to low. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is crisp and fragrant, 3-4 hours. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool completely. Store in ziploc bags in pantry up to 6 weeks.

1/2 cup serving: 89 cal., 3 g fat, 1 g fiber, 2 WW pts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This has a very strong curry smell. It's a good mix, but we decided that we might like more traditional Chex Mix seasonings. I made it the exact same way, except that after melting the butter, I replaced the curry powder through salt with: 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt, 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder. Yum!!

After it's done, I portion out 1/2 cups into separate snack bags so I know I can grab a 2-pt. snack later! I hope you get to try this - so fun to make in the slow cooker!

I'm linking this to Crockpot Wednesday at Dining With Debbie - yummy ideas!

Lisa :)

You Lose Some, You Gain Some...

Sorry I didn't post like I said I would last week - I do have a recipe to get on here and will post it this weekend!

I went to Weight Watchers this morning! Remember - I said I would go no matter what and one of my readers even said to do it and get it over with. I totally agree with that. No surprise that I had a gain (over 2 lbs - ACK), but it was good to get it on the record so that I can lose it! Why do I keep working within the same 5 lbs and never get beyond?

I want to be good this next week, but I am worried! I have company coming for the week and there's the usual eating, desserts, etc. I am going to try and plan out all the meals - including where and when to eat out. I will also work in walking whenever possible. I've already got a couple of ideas for that.

I hope you have had a good week! If not, plan to make a small change for the better this week. We can do this!!

Lisa :)

Just A Little Note For You ~ Do As I Say, Not As I Do

I HAD to say it! Because guess where I did not go this weekend? To weigh in at WW - that's right! Ugh - so bad! I had another bad week and my weight is up and I just could not bring myself to go log that weight. But really - you should do it so you can start losing it sooner!

So, once again I say - THIS is the week! I'm not making any promises of what things I will do this week. I'll just try to do something great every day - whether it's eating right or exercising or getting through a craving. I do hope that I have a weigh-in and success to report to you this week!

I have some healthy recipes to get posted for you and will see what else I can come up with to help motivate me...and you!

Did you have a good week? Do you do better with healthy eating and exercising in Fall or Summer? Forget about any issues from last week - start fresh! Let's have a great week!!

Lisa :)

No Weigh-In Report

Sorry I have missed posting for a few days! I have no current weight report for you. I wasn't able to weigh in last weekend due to being out-of-town and I confess that I did not go weigh in this morning because my weight is up from the last time I weighed! We ate too much while visiting relatives last weekend - no surprise there. My weight has come down during the week, but not enough yet. I will work hard this week and see what I can do by Saturday. I get so tired of the constant up and down. Why can't it be down all the time? :)

I will keep close track of my points this week and do some Wii Fit. And I will go to WW next Saturday and weigh in no matter what, even if I'm still up (I better not be - LOL!).

How have you been doing? Did you have any Labor Day pinics or visiting that threw you off track? Let's make this the week of success! We can do it!!

Lisa :)

Healthy Recipes: Updated With Pics

I often forget to take pics of the food I make - still not in the habit! I use a lot of food pics on my other blog, but have forgotten many on here. I'm trying to remember as I go, so I thought I would give you 3 of the pics that I've taken recently along with the links to those recipes that are already posted here. Maybe you've tried them, but maybe they're new to you! Enjoy!

Mini-Cinnamon Rolls

Asian Chicken Slaw

Bow Ties, Tuna & Veggies in a Balsamic Vinaigrette

Hope you get a chance to try these! Have a wonderful weekend everybody!! :)

Lisa :)

Lost Again!

I had another successful Saturday weigh-in at WW! I didn't have time to attend the meeting which is too bad because there is so much valuable info shared. I lost...1.6 lbs for last week! Yay!

I didn't do Wii Fit at all like I wanted to. I think the first week of school for my son and me getting back to waking up early threw me off. I'll try again this week! I did drink some water and tried to watch my points though I could do much better. I'm really hoping for a good week this week! I just keep on trying - keep moving forward.

How was your week? Are you on track or are you having trouble even getting started with losing weight or being healthy? This is a good time to start - the first week of September! You have plenty of time to make some big changes before the end of the year! If I can do this, you can too!!

Have a wonderful week!

Lisa :)

Healthy Recipe: Apple and Carrot Salad

Recently at a WW meeting, I was given a booklet that had some great recipes in it. I decided to try some and want to share one with you. This salad is a little different for me, but I really liked the flavor - so refreshing and I do like feta cheese. If you don't like feta, you could experiment with other cheeses.

Apple and Carrot Salad

1 large red apple, cored, thinly sliced and cut into matchsticks
1 large green apple, cored, thinly sliced and cut into matchsticks
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 cups matchstick-cut carrots (can get pre-cut in store)
1/4 cup chopped chives
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

Place apples in a large bowl and toss with lemon juice. Add carrots, chives, oil, sugar, salt, pepper and cheese; toss to mix thoroughly. Yields about 3/4 cup per serving (makes 8 servings).

1 WW pt. per serving

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I need to make it again soon. It makes a great side dish! Hope you get a chance to try it out. Let me know what you think!

Have a wonderful day!

Lisa :)

Saturday Weigh-In

Oh I almost didn't go to my WW meeting this morning! I was afraid my weight was up. I ended up getting there late and had somewhere else to be, so I just weighed and left. I did squeak out a loss! I lost .4 lb! Hey - it's something! A very small something, but something none the less! :)

I did not keep track of points like I should have last week and ate several goodies at the beginning of the week. I did do Wii Fit, but only a couple of days. I drank a little water most days, but still have a lot to do in that area. This week I plan to keep better track, drink some water, and do more Wii Fit. Don't I sound like a broken record? But I say try, try again!!

How was your week? What was your biggest struggle or your biggest success last week?

Have a great week - you can stay on track or get back on track this week! I know that you CAN do it!!

Lisa :)

Healthy Recipe: Chocolate Chip - Orange Scones

I saw this recipe in my Weight Watchers Best Ever Desserts cookbook and really wanted to try it. I love scones, but they usually throw off my healthy eating plans so I save them for special occasions. Now I can have them anytime!

Chocolate Chip - Orange Scones

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 large egg
1 tablespoon grated orange zest (about 1 orange)
1 cup powdered sugar
4 teaspoons fresh orange juice

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick spray.

2. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. With a pastry blender or 2 knives used scissor-fashion, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs with some small pieces of butter remaining. Stir in the chocolate chips. Whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest in a small bowl. Add to the flour mixture and stir just until a dough forms.

3. Gather the dough into a ball and place on a lightly floured surface. Lightly knead 2 times. With a floured rolling pin, roll the dough to 3/4-in. thickness. With a 1 1/2-in. round cookie cutter, cut out rounds, dipping the cutter into flour between cuts to prevent sticking. Place the scones on the baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Gently gather the scraps, reroll and cut out more scones, making a total of 24 scones. Bake until golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet on a rack until warm, about 10 minutes.

4. Stir together the powdered sugar and orange juice in a small bowl until smooth. Place a sheet of wax paper under a rack. Dip the tops of the scones in the glaze; place, glaze side up, on the rack. Let stand until the glaze sets, about 1 hour.

per scone: 104 cal., 3 g fat, 0 g fiber, 2 WW pts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I made these, I must have used a little too much liquid because I had a batter rather than a dough and didn't want to take time trying to add more flour or chill the batter. So I just dropped spoonfuls of scone batter. They spread out and ended up looking more like cookies, but they were still good! They have a cake-like texture and a mild orange flavor. Perfect to go with a cup of tea!

*I made them again and had the same issue with the batter - was not a dough that I could knead.  Just dropped and shaped 24 small scones, but then let them rest on the baking sheet in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.  They definitely rose higher and looked nicer so I put the updated pic above now!

If you try them, let me know what you think!

I'm linking this up to Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam! Stop over there for lots of good recipes, including Jen's Baked Oatmeal!

Lisa :)

Successful WW Weigh-In

I finally got back to a WW meeting this morning and weighed in. I lost 1.4 lbs for the week! Yay! In a week or two, I will be rid of the weight gain from my vacation! I refuse to be discouraged about losing the same pounds over again. The point is that I'm losing them.

I'm feeling a little more in control after last week and as we approach the start of the school year with better routines. I will keep counting points this week and drink water every day. I have such a hard time with the water, but I think I drank some every day last week - not enough though. I plan to do Wii Fit this week to get back into exercising. I want to try for 30 minutes a day Monday-Friday.

Are you feeling in control or out of control right now? How about making a plan for the week right now? Just pick some baby steps that you can do every day this week to get back on track. If I can do it, you can do it!!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lisa :)

Healthy Recipe: Iced Cappuccino Smoothie

I was organizing some recipes the other day (part of Housecleaning Week at my other blog) found this one which I have had for years and forgot about. It came from a WW magazine in early 2001! I like how it makes several servings of a mix and it's so easy to whip up a smoothie!

Iced Cappuccino Smoothie

MIX
1/2 cup fat-free vanilla-flavored powdered coffee creamer
1/3 cup instant regular or decaf coffee granules
1/3 cup instant fat-free milk powder
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder

SINGLE SMOOTHIE
1/2 cup fat-free milk
2 tablespoons smoothie mix
6-8 ice cubes

1. To prepare the mix, combine the coffee creamer, coffee granules, milk powder, sugar, and cocoa in a blender, and pulse several times until finely powdered and well blended.

2. To prepare a smoothie, combine the milk and smoothie mix in blender; whirl until smooth. Add the ice cubes and pulse until thick and creamy.

Mix makes 8 servings
Smoothie serving (1 1/2 cups): 114 cal, 0 g fat, 1 g fiber, 2 WW pts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I actually use 1% milk and it doesn't really make a difference in points. If you don't already have Dutch-process cocoa (it's not your regular Hershey's cocoa powder and has a different flavor) - be sure to compare prices; it can be expensive. Next time I make this, I think I'll try a different flavor of coffee creamer for fun.

This mixture does taste mild when compared to the blended coffee drinks at coffee houses - it's because there's less sugar and salt! If you like more coffee flavor - add more and it won't increase the points. I think it tastes nice and refreshing!

Have a wonderful day!

Lisa :)

No Weigh-In Last Weekend

I didn't go weigh in at WW this past weekend. Sigh - not good, I know! But I am going to WW this coming Saturday to weigh and go to a meeting! Last week my weight stayed the same. I was too focused on getting my house organized and getting ready for my son's birthday (which involved eating out, cake, and strawberry pie - no calories there, right?!).

I am back on track today. I kept track of points and actually drank a glass of water - shocking! :) Yes, I am aware that I should be drinking much more water than that - but that is progress for me! I had hoped to do 30 minutes of Wii Fit today, but some unexpected things came up in the afternoon and I was gone for a few hours. I'll let you know how the rest of the week goes!

How are you doing? Are you back on track? If not, I know you can get there!

Lisa :)

Healthy Recipe: BLT And Chicken Pasta Salad

I was so excited to find a new summer recipe to try in the latest free issue of Something Extra from Raley's/Belair grocery stores! It's perfect for hot weather and it's delicious and healthy too! I hope you get a chance to try it.

BLT And Chicken Pasta Salad

1 1/2 cups orzo pasta (about 2/3 of a 1-lb box)
2 cups cooked, cubed chicken
2 cups halved grape tomatoes
2 cups thinly sliced spinach leaves or green leaf lettuce
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
4 strips bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Cook orzo according to package directions, rinse with cold water to cool; drain. Stir together orzo, chicken, tomatoes, lettuce, onions and bacon in a large bowl. Whisk together remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Makes 4-6 servings.

350 cal, 14 g fat, 2 g fiber, 8 WW points

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enjoy! Hope you're having a good healthy week!

Lisa :)

So I Made The Vacation Weight Gain Official

I did it. I finally got my behind to WW to officially weigh in and get that gain down on paper and in a computer so I can't hide from it! I hadn't weighed in since early July, and it took me a full week after getting back from our trip to force myself to go in there. I'm gonna tell you my vacation weight gain total - it was 5 lbs exactly. Ugh!! That was actually better than I thought and I know that right after I got back, it spiked up much more than that, so I can live with 5.

My theory is - you have to deal with it and log in that gain. If you don't, you'll keep trying to get back to your original number before going back to WW, which will take too long and get discouraging which will cause you to quit. So now that I have the gain, I can start losing it! So if I lose a pound next week - it will show as a loss, not as a- well you still gained 4 lbs. See? We won't dwell on that fact that I already lost that weight once before! :)

So back to weight loss mode again. I won't go and weigh in this Saturday, but will go in the following Saturday. That gives me over a week to get back to being healthy and losing some weight.

How are you doing this summer? Have you had any vacation weight gains and how have you dealt with them? I say, don't beat yourself up about it now - just move forward. You can do it!!

Lisa :)

Better Late Than Never To The Hop

I had already linked my other blog up to the hop and, as usual forgot about linking this one!

Though the Blogher blogging conference is ending now in Chicago, I'm still having fun participating in Blog Hop '09 hosted by Robin at Pensieve and Jo-Lynne at Musings of a Housewife! And another fun one is the BlogNerd Bash hosted by Amanda at Garibay Soup! You can stop by those blogs to "meet" a lot of bloggers and make some new friends!

If you're new to this blog, here's a bit about it. My main blog is Stop and Smell the Chocolates, but I started this one over a year ago to keep my healthy recipes and struggles with weight separate. I wanted it to be a way to work things out for myself through writing, keep track of recipes, share healthy tips, and get and give encouragement. Though my weight is still high, I believe that this blog has been helpful for me!

I'm happily married (for almost 17 years!), have one fantastic son, and a basset hound that's growing on me! You'll mostly hear me talking about weight results, frustrations and struggles, cheering about successes, and sharing healthy recipes. In fact, you can look at the labels on my sidebar for great recipe ideas.

It's nice to meet you and if you like what you see, then I hope you'll be back! Have fun blog hopping!

Lisa :)

The Pounds, Oh The Pounds

Yes, I was supposed to at least attempt to be good during vacation. Other than a couple of small attempts here and there, I ate WAY too much food and a lot of unhealthy food and I did NOT do much in the way of exercise. My best guess according to my Dad's scale is that I have gained...are you ready to be shocked...4+ pounds during this vacation!! UGH. :(

Since I can't go back in time and redo my vacation, I must try to get back on track now and get this weight back off as quickly as possible. We are getting on the road tomorrow to head home and will be home in 2 days. If I could eat nothing for 2 days, I would (not only is that not healthy, but it is not possible for me)! I will try to stay away from the bad foods on our road trip and walk around during our overnight stop. After I get home, I'll only have about 2-3 days until I need to weigh in at WW. We will see what happens!

How are you doing? Do you struggle during vacations? I usually do, though I was doing WW a few years ago and was really on track before vacation. At that time, I weighed in at WW in a different town and actually lost a pound while I was on my trip! So I know it can be done!

I hope all of you have a wonderful week!!

Lisa :)

Guest Post ~ If I Can Become A Runner, You Can Too

Welcome my friend Mel from A Box of Chocolates! Mel's blog is all about her life, including her weight loss journey and even healthy WW recipes on Fridays. We get along well because of our love of chocolate, fun, and our shared weight loss struggles. Mel is almost at her weight loss goal - so close! Something that has really helped her lately has been her running program. I think it's inspiring and hope you enjoy her story! Thanks for sharing with us Mel!

I have never been one to run. Not as a kid, not as a teenager, and surely in adulthood. I just never liked to run. I always played sports like softball and tennis so I moved, but didn't necessarily run any distance or that fast either.

My first experience with a treadmill was only five years ago. Some girlfriends encouraged me to join them at the gym and I gave into the peer pressure, eventually joining. They would all be sprinting away while I huffed and puffed through my walking program. I kept on walking though, increasing my speed every workout, and eventually even jogged a little (and I do mean a little) here and there. It was great having them cheer me on and I must admit that not wanting to fail in front of them gave me more reason to run. But within a few months the gym thing grew old and it became hard to get there with the kids schedules so I eventually stopped going.

My next interaction with the treadmill didn’t occur until 3 years later when I joined Weight Watchers. With two kids and working full time, I knew a gym was out of the question so I bought a treadmill for home. I used it pretty consistently for walking, but wasn’t big on pushing myself so I never jogged.

About a year later, I was 10 pounds away from my goal weight and seemed to have stopped losing. I decided that I was either going to have to step up the exercise or be content where I was. I knew that running burned lots of calories and around here at the beach during the summer, all you see is people running. I would watch them and dream of being able to run...and of having their legs and butts! But, no matter how much I envied them the thought of actually running myself was scary.

Then I discovered the Couch-to-5K (C25K) running plan. Supposedly if you followed this plan you could go from walking to running 5K’s in just a few weeks. I was very skeptical, but figured I didn’t have anything to lose so I downloaded the podcasts from Robert Ullrey. The great thing about the podcast is that each week the intervals are already timed for you so he will tell you when to walk, when to run, and encourage you throughout the workout. There was nothing better than hearing him say “you are halfway finished” or my personal favorite “this is your last run.”

The first week started with intervals of 60 sec runs with 90 sec of walking in between. I just told myself that I could do anything for a minute and by golly I DID. I finished the week successfully and I believe that is what motivated me to keep going. Week 2 then pushed a bit harder with 90 second runs, but 2 1/2 minutes of walking in between. I kept telling myself, "You can walk for 2 1/2 minutes, you just have to run for 90 seconds" over and over. When I finished week 2 successfully, I was ready to take on week 3. By the time I finished week 3, I found myself actually looking forward to running. I was enjoying the challenge and at the end of every run was so proud of myself that it kept me going for the next one!!

I won’t lie and say that it was all absolutely wonderful because let me tell you my first 20 minute straight run was not! It did get easier though as I focused on my breathing and my running mojo. I ran my first 5K race this past April after beginning the C25K program in February. Since then I’ve ran 3 other races and I try to sign up for at least one a month to keep me motivated.

For regular training, I try to run 3-4 times a week and push to get a 5K in during each run. The most important tip for beginning runners is don’t focus on your time. My first goal was to just finish the distance, running the whole time, no matter what the time. Now that I am confident in my abilities to finish the distance I am beginning to focus on my time. I would love to one day be able to run a 5K in under 30 minutes!

So now I call myself a runner!
WOW. I didn't think that word would ever be used to describe me.

If you are like me and have thought about running, but thought you never could, I challenge you to check out the Couch-to-5K program. If I can do it, then you can too!!

Thanks Mel! Running is really working for Mel and it could work for you and me too! Stop by We Are THAT Family for more Works-For-Me-Wednesday!

Lisa :)

Check Out This Cool WW Widget!

Thanks to Mel at A Box of Chocolates, who shared this great WW widget! It helps you choose a better snack when you are craving something that might really throw you off track!

You can get the code for the snack widget to put on your own blog. I did add a smaller version to my sidebar.

Try it out!


Also - be on the lookout for a great guest post from Mel this week right here on my blog!

Lisa :)

On The Road

Well, we're more than halfway to MT now and I was so busy getting ready for the trip that I didn't have time to weigh in at WW! Not only that, but I didn't have time to make any of the WW-friendly snacks that I had planned.

So - not surprising that I didn't start the trip out healthy. I might have had a blended dark chocolate caramel coffee drink and an Entenmann's glazed buttermilk donut for breakfast. It didn't go too well after that either though I kept portions small. I'm not sure that tomorrow will be much better, but I will have to try to make up for it when I get to my destination.

I really have to make an effort to eat healthy while I'm visiting. Help!! Any words of encouragement??

Have a great weekend!

Lisa :)

P.S. I'm in a KOA cabin right now. I just looked at the breakfast menu and I can order 1 egg and maybe get a slice of bacon and/or split an English muffin. So I will do that along with some iced tea and skip the leftover donuts and fancy coffee drinks! I only looked into it because of writing this post! :)

I'm Down - Now Don't Let Me Gain It Back This Weekend

Since WW is closed tomorrow (for the 4th), I had to go and weigh today. I almost didn't get there this morning because I had all kinds of running around to do and had forgotten my monthly pass! I still made it just before they closed the doors after a morning meeting. Officially down 1 lb.!! Woo Hoo!

That means that I actually lost about 2 lbs this week because when I missed WW last week, I would have logged in a gain of about a pound. That means I lost the pound I gained plus an additional pound. I find it really encouraging to turn it around like that so quickly!

Now I need to try and get through this weekend without ruining it all. I've already had trouble today - wasn't my worst, but I could have made some better choices. I am making side dishes from this very blog for our dinner tomorrow and we're having all kinds of barbecued meat, some of which will be chicken, so that should help. I will need to really stay on track this week and do some Wii Fit (only did it twice last week).

Ack - I just realized that I am leaving on Thursday for my MT trip! Either I will have to weigh in on Wednesday or on Thursday morning on our way out of town. That doesn't give me very many days to "make up" for any extra eating this weekend. I am going to have to be better than I was even planning over the next 2 days.

Any encouragement or tips for me? How are you doing?

Have a wonderful and blessed Independence Day!

Lisa :)

Works-For-Me-Wednesday: Healthy Summer Recipes

WFMW today is about the best summer recipes. I already have lots of great healthy recipes that work well in the summer since they don't require any oven use. I hope you find something you like!

Main Dish Salads:

Bow Ties, Tuna, And Vegetables In A Balsamic Vinaigrette

Asian Chicken Slaw

Main Dishes - Stovetop:


Buttery Tarragon Chicken

Skillet Sausages & Peppers

Easy Chicken Tetrazzini

Parmesan Chicken and Rice

Poached Chicken Breasts With Apples

Pan-Glazed Chicken With Basil

Salisbury Steak With Mushrooms

Side Dishes:

Fabulous Fruit Salad

Summer Corn Salad

Vegetable Couscous Salad

Oriental Green Beans

Desserts:

Watermelon & Lime Granita

Cocoa Crispy Bars

Beverage:

Fruity Lemonade Slush

Head over to Works-For-Me-Wednesday at We Are THAT Family for a lot more summer recipes!

Have a great day!

Lisa :)

No WW On Saturday

Oops - I didn't make it to WW this Saturday for my weigh-in! I had every intention of going, but was co-hosting a ladies tea and still had a lot of prep work that morning. By the time I got to Friday night, I realized that I just would not have time to go. And I wasn't too sad because I had a bad week and my weight was up! Ugh!

My scale is usually not too far off from the WW scales, so my best estimate is that I ended up gaining 1 lb for the week. Terrible! But I ate scones and brownies all week and didn't track food or points all week. No surprise! I wasn't the best this weekend either, but I am back on track today. So I need to lose the 1 lb I gained, but I also need to lose beyond that so I can log in a loss at WW for this week! Of course, I have less days to make it happen because Saturday is the 4th and they will be closed. I will have to go do my weigh-in this Friday, so I really only have 4 days from right now to make this happen.

I will be tracking, trying to eat as healthy as possible, and doing some Wii Fit. I'll let you know what happens!

How was your week? Any struggles? Remember - if you fall off track, just get back up, dust yourself off and start again! You can do it! Have a fantastic week and plan ahead to make healthy choices for those 4th of July celebrations!

And that reminds me, I found a new site with great healthy choices, ideas, and information - it's www.skinnyscoopers.com - go check it out!

Lisa :)

Food Finds

When you find good stuff that makes eating healthy a little more fun, you just HAVE to share it! I have a couple of things to share with you today.

One is Reddi Wip Chocolate whipped cream (you know, the aerosol can). For 2 tablespoons, it's 15 calories and 1 gram of fat. On WW, that's 0 points! It's enough to give a nice little shot of whipped cream on top of a cup of coffee or fruit or pudding and it won't throw you off track! It's made with real whipped cream and chocolate and just makes everything a little more fancy. I don't see it in every store, but I always find it in Walmart. Have you tried it?

Another yummy find is Trader Joe's Champagne Pear Vinaigrette with Gorgonzola. For 2 tablespoons, it's 45 calories and 2.5 grams of fat - just 1 WW pt! And that is enough dressing for me on a small salad. It's delicious and has chunks of gorgonzola cheese in it. A friend at church told me about it and I'm so glad! I had some over some baby greens and cut up leftover chicken breast - it was fantastic! You can find it in the refrigerated section at Trader Joe's. It's my new favorite dressing!

Do you have any good food finds?

Have a wonderful day!

Lisa :)

Saturday Weigh In - Whew!

Went to my WW meeting this morning. I really wasn't sure if I would have a loss today! But I did - I lost .8 lbs. Yay!! That puts me at a total of 5.4 lbs lost, so now I will allow myself to go buy a few summer clothes (mainly tops). I really need to have a few cute things that fit while I work on the weight loss.

This week was tough - I didn't remember to track my points every day and I definitely was bad all last weekend. Also, we had an unexpected dinner out to a yummy restaurant to take a couple of BIL's out for dinner. But I was as good as I could be - I chose salmon with rice pilaf and steamed veggies. I only ate half the salmon and a third of the rice and a few veggies. Took the rest home and gave it to hubby to take for lunch the next day. But then Thursday night I made a chocolate cake to post on my other blog and homemade focaccia bread for a guest post and of course I had to sample! Then I was really really good yesterday to make up for it!

I plan to have a better week this week and continue the weight loss. I need to plan out meals for the week and do more Wii Fit this week.

How was your week? What was one thing that went well for you?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lisa :)

Easy Dessert Tip

You may have already tried this dessert, but part of it was new to me!

I had leftover strawberries and decided to slice them up. I lightly sugared them (you could use Splenda, etc.). I realized that we had Nilla Wafers on hand and that they are .5 WW pts each. Also had the canned aerosol whipped real cream - 2 tablespoons is 0 pts actually, but you could also use some fat-free Cool Whip.

I just made a parfait - limiting the number of Nilla Wafers. I used a couple of Nilla Wafers in the bottom (I used them whole but realized after that it would have been better to crumble them), then strawberries, then a little whipped cream. Repeated the layers one more time and YUM!! It turned out so pretty and yummy and was only about 3 WW pts!

What do you like to do with strawberries?

Lisa :)

Another Week, Another Pound

Good news again today at my WW meeting! I lost another pound - yay! I had hoped to lose at least 1.4 so I could hit my first 5 and then go shopping (my incentive to myself). I'll have to wait another week for the summer clothes shopping I guess!

But that means I'm down 4.6 lbs total. I have now lost the weight that I just gained in April during my trip, so now I feel like this is the real starting point. I really hope I can lose at least a pound this next week. I do feel like I have my motivation back right now though so I look forward to the week!

Except for the weekend, I kept really good track of what I ate and stayed mostly within my points. I also did Wii Fit a few times during the week. I will just do more of the same this week, but will try to add in a much-needed glass of water each day and more fruits and veggies.

How was your week? Any struggles or successes to share? Find your motivation and you can do it!!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lisa :)

Works-For-Me Wednesday: Healthy Starbucks Tips

Going to Starbucks to treat myself works for me! But when I am trying to be healthy, I have to plan ahead a little so that I don't blow it while there. It is very possible to have Starbucks - whether on the go or hanging out there with friends - and be healthy at the same time.

Some of my favorite healthy drinks:

Grande Skinny Hazelnut Latte - This is a hot drink with nonfat milk and sugar-free syrup. I get extra pumps of syrup for a little more flavor - a grande usually has 4 pumps of syrup, so I order 6 pumps. On WW, this is 3 pts. Also, I'm getting a serving of milk for the day.

Venti Iced Skinny Hazelnut or Caramel Latte - When I get iced, I order bigger for approximately the same amount of liquid. And a good tip I learned - there is an extra shot in the venti iced compared to the grande hot even though they are similar amounts of liquid - so it packs more of a punch! Also a serving of milk and 3 WW pts.

Grande Caramel Frappuccino Light - Yummy blended drink, no whipped cream. The key is to order it double-blended so it's creamier and doesn't have ice chunks. I JUST found something out this weekend from a barista - you have to request it to be sugar-free, otherwise it's made with regular syrup. I never knew!! So, if you order it as normal it's 3 WW pts, but if you request sugar-free caramel syrup, I think it brings it down to 2 WW pts.

Some of my favorite healthy eats:

Oatmeal - I get the oatmeal with brown sugar and nuts. It's a nice satisfying breakfast. The oatmeal itself is 2 WW pts, the brown sugar adds 1 pt and I use half the nut packet for about 1 more pt.

Petite Vanilla Scone - You get to enjoy a pastry and not feel left out. These are delicious and cute! Order a 3-pack (better deal) and share. Each one is 2 WW pts.

Biscotti - This is the individually wrapped biscotti you can buy. I found different mutritional info for this - looks like it's 2 WW pts for a piece though.

Yogurt Parfaits - These are healthy, but just very high in points for me: 6-7 WW pts. If you have the points or it is your meal, then go for it.

You can look up a lot of nutritional info on the Starbucks site. There are more healthy options at Starbucks - these are just my favorites. What's your favorite?

To see what's working for everybody, stop by Works-For-Me-Wednesday hosted by We Are THAT Family!

Lisa :)

Motivate Me Monday ~ Find Your Motivation

It's Motivate Me Monday with Sarah Mae at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee, though this will be the last time it will be hosted at her place - it's moving. When I do MMM posts, I usually do them on my other blog, but I thought it more appropriate to talk about motivation over here today and then you don't have so much chocolate around to distract you - LOL!

I recently found my motivation to go back to Weight Watchers (WW) and try the process again. Motivation is different from knowing in your head that you need to do something. I already knew that I needed to lose weight to avoid health problems like Type 2 diabetes and other issues. I already knew that losing weight would be a matter of eating healthier, eating smaller amounts, and increasing activity. Knowing those things didn't get me to actually do them. I finally found some motivation in the more immediate want of clothes that fit right and look cute. I am motivated because I am uncomfortable and because my true size does not reflect the size I am in my head. And I am motivated by the knowledge that the Lord can help me do it even when I feel that it is too hard.

There are so many areas of life that we need to find motivation for. For example, I am motivated to get my house all cleaned up if company is coming to stay because I want them to think I keep a nice house. But to do the same tasks day in and day out? That takes finding the right motivation. I know that I need to do these things, but that isn't enough to get me to work on them. I need to find my motivation in the fact that even the littlest of household tasks glorify the Lord and provide a loving home for my husband and son.

Do you know what gives you motivation? Take some time to think about all of the things you want to do and write down what motivates you to do them. And remember that your motivation changes as you go along. Ask the Lord to help you discover what motivates you and to help you succeed.

Have a blessed Monday and whatever it is that you are trying to do - you CAN do it with the Lord's help!

Lisa :)

Another Good Weigh-In

I weighed in for the second week of WW and I lost another 1.8 lbs!! That makes a total loss of 3.6 so far, but who's counting - LOL? Sadly, that is just weight that I put on in April, but let's not focus on that. Let's focus on making healthy changes and keeping the scale moving downward so I can be the me that I am in my mind!

I am keeping to my promise to myself that I can't buy summer clothes until I lose at least 5 lbs. I need to lose 1.4 more lbs to go shopping. I'm hoping to do that this week. Now that school is out and I have very few plans this week, I think it will be a great week.

I did not do any Wii Fit last week because of being too busy, but I will do it this week. I'll also be taking some time to track down some new WW recipes to try out.

How did your week go? Find your motivation and keep up the good work, even if you've had a rough week! If I can do it, you can! What are your plans to make this week a successfully healthy week?

Lisa :)

Healthy Recipe: Watermelon and Lime Granita

I found this recipe in a Cooking Light magazine. I finally decided to give it a try and YUM - very glad I did! It's easy to make and has a nice refreshing flavor. Perfect for dessert after a summer meal. If you serve this to company, they won't even realize that they're eating something healthy. They'll just think it's delicious and *fancy*!

Watermelon and Lime Granita

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
4 cups cubed seedless watermelon
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 5 limes)

1. Place sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Place sugar mixture in a small bowl; cool 10 minutes. Cover and chill at least 30 minutes.

2. Place sugar mixture, watermelon, and lime juice in a blender; process until smooth. Pour watermelon mixture into an 11x7-in. baking dish; cover and freeze at least 2 hours or overnight. Remove mixture from freezer, and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Scrape the entire mixture with a fork until fluffy. Serve with lime wedges, if desired. Yield: 6 servings (1/2 cup each).

100 cal, .2 g fat, .5 g fiber, 2 WW pts

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you do try this - I think you'll really like it! You're even getting a serving of fruit at the same time!

I'm linking this up at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam for Tasty Tuesday - go check out all the delicious recipes there!

Have a blessed day!

Lisa :)

A Good Start

Well, I went to my Weight Watchers (WW) meeting today after my first week back and it was good news! I lost 1.8 lbs!! A loss is soooo nice right now - it helps me to be motivated to really get going. The WW leader talked about motivation today and I have to say that it really is so important. When you are motivated, you are able to be successful, but when you aren't - it is so difficult. It's a good idea to figure out what your motivation is and if you need to change it! What's your motivation?

Now, I did not do perfectly last week - it was rough. We had unexpected company with unexpected grilling and side dishes and desserts over Memorial Day weekend. I did not track or do well with points through Tuesday (last of the leftovers!). However, since I had gone back to WW, I did make better choices and eat smaller portions. Also, I needed to make a dessert and I chose the cake I just posted because it was lighter than the desserts I usually make. Then from mid-week on I tracked my points though I went over almost every day. And I did Wii Fit a bit a few times during the week. Those changes were enough to cause some weight loss.

I haven't made very good food choices today (I tend to "celebrate" and not track points the day of a weigh-in), but I have done Wii Fit today and I plan to get right back on track tomorrow. I think this is going to be a good week so I'm excited to see if I can beat last week's weight loss!!

I desperately need to go shopping. The weather here is hot now and my summer clothes from last year barely fit. I don't like to buy new bigger clothes, but I've got to wear something cute while I lose weight! I have promised myself that I can go shop only after I lose my first 5 pounds. I want to accomplish that very soon!

I hope you are doing well! I'll post another healthy recipe this week and see what else I can come up with.

Have a great weekend! Don't give up on your weight loss journey - you can do it!!

Lisa :)

Healthy Recipe: Sour Cream-Hazelnut Bundt Cake

Now, you wouldn't normally see cakes listed as healthy recipes, but this one is from Cooking Light magazine (November '04). Keep in mind that it's still not as healthy as some other dessert choices, but if you are wanting to make cake - this one would be lighter and a better choice than most of the cakes on my other blog! Since it doesn't have any frosting, that helps keep the fat and calories lower too.

I can vouch that this is a yummy cake! Not too rich, but a nice flavor.

Sour Cream-Hazelnut Bundt Cake

Cooking spray
1 tablespoon dry breadcrumbs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (16-oz) carton fat-free sour cream
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts, toasted
2 tablespoons Nutella
1 teaspoon powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Coat a 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray; dust with breadcrumbs.

3. Place granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 2 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and sour cream; beat until well blended.

4. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk until well combined. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture, stirring just until combined.

5. Spoon half of batter into prepared Bundt pan, sprinkle evenly with hazelnuts. Drop small spoonfuls of Nutella over nuts. Spoon remaining batter over Nutella; swirl batter using the tip of a knife. Bake at 350 for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes; remove cake from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Sprinkle cake with powdered sugar. 14 servings (1 slice each)

293 cal., 9.8 g fat, 1 g fiber, about 6 WW pts
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Depending on why I'm making this cake, I sometimes add more hazelnuts and Nutella and use low fat sour cream instead of fat-free. Of course, that increases the fat and calories!

I hope you get a chance to try out and let me know what you think! I will also be linking this recipe up to my other blog's Cake Week links.

Lisa :)

Time For Another Fresh Start

I'm sorry I have neglected this blog lately. My weight is still up from after my trip. I have been very frustrated and trying to decide what to do. I have not been making very good food choices. I have done a little Wii Fit, but not enough activity.

But today I went to a Weight Watchers meeting and signed up! I was dreading it before I did it, but felt much better afterward! My weight was a horrible number, of course, but I do feel motivated to work on it. I know I can be successful! So my first weight-loss goal is to lose 5% of my weight. I'm so glad that WW added this new goal, as it feels much more doable right now than the 10%.

WW also has the new Momentum program. I got the intro on it and it sounds great. I actually did Wii Fit today and made better food choices!

Since I haven't been around here much and now am starting something new, I decided to just make a sort of fresh start on the blog - a new look and more posting. I have a recipe that I'll be posting here sometime over the weekend. I'll be posting more often beginning next week. Is there anything that you're interested in seeing here? Let me know!

I hope to make a lot of good food and fitness choices this week. And I hope you have a wonderful week! Thanks for "listening"!

Up, Up And Away

That would be what my weight has been doing! Argh!! I knew the trip to MT would be tough for me and I was right. We did a LOT of eating out and fancy coffee drinks and desserts. Sigh. It was good while it lasted.

I did do quite a bit of physical activity but it just wasn't enough to counteract all those calories. Also, I did have to survive 2 snowstorms which may have caused my body to go into hibernating mode - it's a theory.

So, I weighed myself right after coming back - HORRIBLE!! Not even gonna tell ya how many pounds up - very depressing. I weighed again Friday and it had come down 1/2 lb from the worst number. Weighed again Sunday and it was down another 1 lb. So that's good. As of right now though, I am still up and will report my weigh-in results to you this Friday.

Things I will be doing this week - I am in a Wii Fit competition with some friends and I have to work on 3 events at least 3 times this week and report my best scores. We'll do it each week with different events. So that will be a little activity. And I really think I will go restart WW meetings. There are some deals and new programs right now. I have to figure out what day is best and then work up the nerve (hard to go back when they have the records of your previous times there).

I hope YOU are doing well - better than me! You can do it! I know I can too, eventually! :)

Lisa :)