Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding

Yum!

Self Talk Keeps Me on the Bandwagon.

So yesterday was a hard day.  Levi was in a strange mood all day.  My kitchen was/is in disaster mode (really it has yet to recover from its perpetual disaster mode), and we have all been fighting this snotty crud.  Add on not as much sleep due to some gas for Ariella at 1am and you've got a recipe for non motivation.  Daryl is working in Roanoke this week which means getting home later than normal and he had a meeting last night. We had leftover mexican burgers he could have but I just wasn't feeling them.

So Daryl came home reheated his dinner, gave me a hug, laughed lovingly when I closed the refrigerator door and slumped my head against it said "but I just want pizza" and was off to his meeting.  I was at a crossroads.  I could give into the boxed mac & cheese, chips, and oreos or choose something better.  So I started talking to myself. 

"There has to be something here that you want to eat thats on plan. I can't do beef again so a chicken breast it is.  Now a veggie...don't want the frozen cauliflower but that fresh brocolli I steamed the other day was really yummy so I will do that.  But that's so boring.  What to go with it...alfredo sauce from laughing cow cheese that was great during week 1.  Oh no, no chicken broth...but I do have heavy cream that's what you make real alfredo sauce with anyway.  Oh boy chicken brocolli alfredo, I love this stuff. It's going to be so good." 

And the chips, oreos, and mac & cheese were spared or maybe more accurately my panceras, liver and adrenals were spared.  Yay for self talk.  Probably have to do more of it today because the house is still in a sad state though Levi is in a better mood. 

It was all about focusing on something I wanted that I could have.  I was very proud of myself as was my husband.  Making new habits requires renewing the mind.  I am greatful for the Lord giving me the self discipline to have sucessful self talk.  I am worth better decisions for myself and I am strong enough to find a way to keep the babies happy for 15 mins to make something good for me.

One meal at a time, one day at a time, for the rest of my life.  Here's to staying focused on the journey to my forever trim and the self talk that keeps me on the bandwagon.

Celebration Monday Weekk 3

As of today I have lost another 1.6 pounds bringing my total weight loss for 3 weeks to 11.6lbs.and my new starting wieght to 194. 

I am a little surprised that it wasn't more but I did have a major cheat meal Sunday for lunch.  Daryl and I got to go on our first real date with out either of the kids since Ariella was born.  Its probably been close to six months or so.  It was very refreshing.  We had a great time and I enjoyed the food.  Even had a Pepsi. Which I will skip next time.  I was up til 1 am because Ariella had horrible gas.  I forget that she doesn't do carbonation well. 

Today I am most thankful for the grace the Lord has given me to stick with this new lifestyle change and the new family of sisters I have gained from it.  I am thankful for my super supportive husband and the way he encourages me.  And I am thankful for the vitality that
is coming back to my life allowing me to enjoy my children more than ever even on the hard days.  For all those reasons, I choose to celebrate today.

I have no idea what I will try new foodwise this week.  My main focus is bringing in the excersize component.  This week's goal is 4 times.

 

If at first you don't succeed...try again

I tried the Fat Stripping Frappe last week.  It was a total failure and led to me cheating the next day because of discouragment.  I figured the issue was our blender but didn't want to wait til we got a better one to try the drink everyone is raving about.  So I tried  again doing the ice in small batches and saving the gluccie til last.  I am very satisfied!

With this plan its always worth trying again.  My taste have changed alot and I often surprise myself.

Zest of Southwest

You have to try Zest of Southwest (pg 294).  We had it last night and loved it so much I made it again times six.

I did 32oz of chicken broth, maybe 2 1/2 cups of salsa (sort eyeball it), 6 frozen chicken breast tenderloins (i use these alot because they cook faster on my Forman with out drying out), 1 can of diced tomatoes, and lentils (just eyeballed these too).  Then I added water to stretch it a bit more. Two or three cups maybe. 

The lentils make this an E so it can be top with greek yogurt and low fast cheese.  The batch last night was really spicy.  This pot is much more balanced.  The kind of salsa used makes a big difference on spice.

I have some low carb wraps in the fridge that I hate, that I going to try baking into tortilla chips seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and a little parmesan cheese. Its so fun to try an find away to use what you've got.

And the star of the show is...

EGGS! These are my THM life savers.  Eggs fried in butter keep me on plan more than any other food.  On mornings where we got in late the night before and Levi decides he doesn't know what sleeping in is (which is pretty much always true in toddler land) this is what I fix.  In fact this morning I didn't even turn on the light in the kitchen while I made them.  It was a long night with Ariella too.  

I used to always eat my eggs with buttered toast and orange juice.  Never thought I would break that habit but I actually like not having the fuss of making toast.  I do miss my orange juice but I don't miss the 10lbs of wieght I have lost.  Plus when I get to S helper territory I will be able to add some fresh orange slices or a piece of sprouted toast to my waistline saving breakfast. 

Have a blessed day. :)

The Proof is in the Pudding

This is my new favorite snack and its Fuel Pull. Its so quick and easy.  This one is dark chocolate/peanut butter with fat free whip cream. Soooooo good. 

Celebration Monday Week 2

I have decided to name my  Monday weigh in post "Celebration Monday" because  that's the attitude I want to have with all my wiegh ins regardless of the numbers.  I am doing what the Lord has called me to do, by His grace and the blessings are many.  I have so many reasons to celebrate and Mondays are a good time to remember that.

So todays weigh in was  195.6.  I am so excited. That's another 4.8lbs for a total of 10lbs in two weeks.  Its great to be out of the 200's and my body is really enjoying not carrying around that 10lbs

This week I would like to post more pictures.  I, like others am guilty of enjoying my treats so quickly that I forget to snap the picture. So stay tuned for that.  There is also an excersize post somewhere in my brain.  It's going to be a great week!

It's not about prefect

Well I haven't posted in awhile.  Its been a very challenging week.  With the passing of our friend Brandon and my cold that didn't get better until yesterday I have been struggling to stay focused or motivated with all the change.  For lunch the other day I had a turkey sandwhich on multigrain bread with baked cheetios.  It was really enjoyable.  I nice break from plan and having to think so much. I tried the big boy smoothie and didn't care for it.  But then I was starving and just didn't want to think about it.  I was on plan the very next meal and felt much less pressure in it. Its nice to be able to cheat and not see it as defeat.

I had a goal of not weighing til  monday.  But I was feeling so discouraged by Thursday that I decided to hop on.  I can't remember the number now but I know it was in the right direction.

Recent successes have been:  Crabbie Patties
Choc. Nut Slab w/peanut butter (I love this stuff)
Skinny Choc. (so much better with EV  coconut oil)

Things I want to try next week:
Egg White Wraps
Loaded Fotato Soup
Chocolate Pudding
Transformer Cheese Sauce
Chicken Alfredo in the Crockpot.

Be back for Celebration Monday weigh in.

Family Photos

Thought I would share some family photos.  Enjoy.

Day Menu

I am still fighting this cold. My go to this morning was leftover pancakes. Lunch will be an E salad with tuna. Hopefully my swanson package will be here by the afternoon so I can do a smoothie.  Snack will chocolate nut slab.

Today is my husbands birthday so it might be off plan for dinner or if I feel better this afternoon I might make Crabby patties.

A close friend of ours past way yesterday after fighting cancer off and on for six years. He was 28, had been married 3 years and has an almost 2 year son.  Between that and this cold I am emotionally and physically drained.  Please pray for the Brinkley family and our church family, Dwelling Place Christian Fellowship.

Celebration Monday Week 1

I am excited for so many reasons today.  I just got off the scale and am very pleased to report I have lost 5.2 pounds.  My new starting weight for this week is 200.4lb.

This is very exciting for me because I haven't added any Fuel Pull items or excerise yet.  I have also been sick since Thursday.  Thankfully though its not strep or a ear infection.  I am not a big fan of antibiotics particularly while nursing. Even sick I feel better at times now then I did as a carboholic.

Other exciting news: I have all sorts of goodies coming!! My mom let me splurge a little for Christmas.  I have NuNaturals stevia, gluccie, peanut flour, almond flour, extra virgin coconut oil and whey protien powder all on the way this week.  Oh the possibilities will be endless.

More later as now its time to help hubby get to work on time.

Saturday Week 1, First THM real world test

My mom came to visit today to cele brate a late Christmas with my sister and I.  We went to Cracker Barrel.  First time I have been to a resturant since starting the plan.  I actually did an E meal because that is what I wanted.

I had the lemon pepper trout, sweet potatoe (medium sized with just cinnamon), side salad with italian, and lima beans.  I resisted the temptation for soda or even lemonade. And skip all bread.

The lima beans were cooked in what appeared to be a generous amount of butter which is an E meal no no. But I was still very proud of myself.  Next time I will take a napkin a soak up some of the grease. It wasn't necessary. I like lima beans enough just plain.

I am still feeling under the weather so I am hoping tomorrow goes well. We need groceries too. Time to rest.

Taken it easy days, on plan

My body is definately fighting off something.  I ran a fever last night but am feeling somewhat better this morning.  My almost debilating headache is gone. Think it was a lousy mix of sugar/caffiene withdrawl and sinus pressure.  I am going low key on plan today.

B- two eggs in butter
S-cake in a mug (s) or Choc nut slab (s), or maybe and apple and peanut butter. (E)
Lunch- (S) salad with beef and creamy dressing or leftover pancakes with turkey sausage (E)
Snack (S) almonds and cheese
Dinner (S) something with beef

Glad this plan isn't complicated.  So doable, even on sick days with 2 wee ones.

Ugh kind of day

So I am still trying to trouble shoot this plan a bit. I can't seem to make it 3 hours from morning snack to lunch so if I do an S breakfast, then its S snack and S lunch.  I find that if I have four S in a row I start to feel crummy.  I need to figure out some E snack I like.  I am sure I will find the right rhythm soon.

I woke up this morning with a sore throat.  Levi seems to be fighting crud too.  This will be a challenge. I usually sugar and carb binge when sick. My body seem s to crave it alot then.   At some point today I am going to do more pancakes. They are yum.

Off to make the cake in a mug to round out breakfast its so good! And now I have whip cream to top it with.  Woo hoo!!

Day 3 Breakfast

Good morning.  Here is my E breakfast, paper plate and all.

Its 1 left over Trim Healthy Pancake with Palmers, 2 Turkey sausage links (heated in the microwave), and an egg white scramble with 1 laughing cow cheese wedge.

I should have only used 1/2 a wedge since I don't have the lite version and a full wedge has 4 grams of fat but since I am only doing one pancake and I am nursing I doubt it will hurt too much.

Good start to a good day.

So I am really doing it.

This plan for me has been like a breath of fresh air.  These last few months since our daughter was born I have been in somewhat of funk.  The last 6 weeks or so have been the hardest.  I have been really unmotivated and overly tired and maybe a little depressed.   But I am so excited I am actually doing it.  I was on plan all day yesterday and today should be all on plan as well.

This is quite a feat considering I don't have any of the speciality ingredients except some truvia and cooking coconut oil.  Plus I have had to wash every dish I have used including utensils.  Our kitchen is a disaster and though I had hoped
to be out of the paper plate stage by 12 weeks post partum it hasn't happened yet.  But I am still doing it. Right where we are. Paper plates and all.   Being successful and having everybody at the forum for support has really helped pull me out of my funk.

Here was yesterdays menu

B- 1 cup of steel cut oats w/1Tbs of palmers fruit and fiber, egg white scramble with 1/2 laughing cow cheese wedge E

Snack -cup of tea

L- Salad with grilled chicken, 2 boiled eggs, parmasean cheese and creamy italian dressing -S

Afternoon snack- skinny chocolate -S

Dinner- Grilled chicken over broccoli with a cream sauce of LCC an chicken broth - S

2am snack- Chocolate Nut Slab.-S

Today:

B - 3 fried eggs with cheese and three slices of Turkey deli meat- S

Morning Snack - Choc. Nut Slab and Tea -S

L- 2 1/2 Trim Healthy Pancakes with Palmers - E

Afternoon Snack- Almonds and Cheese

D-  meatloaf and side salad w/creamy dressing - S

Choc. Nut slab for dessert.

I am going to add a before bed E snack since I am nursing.  Tonight will be a Trim Healthy Pancake with a teaspoon of PB.

Day 1

Well TODAY is the day. Even though I am still missing some key ingredients (whey, gluccie, stevia ect), I have decided to start my journey offically today.  My who mom is coming into town this weekend to celebrate Christmas with me and my sister and love on my beautiful babies has agreed to help me buy my sweetner and gluccie for my Christmas present so that part will be here soon.

I have decided to maintain some flexibility since I am nursing our 4 month old until I get my whey powder.  If I need a non plan snack for now I will do that. I consider it a large victory that I sent the leftover lasnaga with the hubby for lunch, so it wouldn't be an option for snacking.  He needs all the calories he can get.

I bought a scale last night with a Christmas gift card. Thank you God for provision. I have never owned a scale. I used to say it was because the number didn't matter, and in part that was true. But if I am honest, the number "didn't matter" because I didn't want to face the reality.  I bought the scale as a step of faith. I really believe there will be a time in the not too distant future where I will be in crossover territory and be watching to make sure I am not losing too much weight.  I also wanted to be able to watch Ariella's weight.  Don't want my chubby princess to waste away. Lol.

So this morning I weighed in: 205.6lbs

I was surprised to say the least. Apparently nursing is still helping me. :)

This morning I will be having some steel cut oats with Palmers all fruit.

Lunch will probably be an S salad with a creamy dressing.  I will probably need an S snack in the afternoon.  Not sure about dinner yet.

Day 1 here we go.