Last night's dinner was as good as I had hoped. It was Peppered Pork Chop Casserole from Day by Day. It's chops and rice, with tomatoes and green peppers. Not quick, because it has to bake for an hour, but I had time last night so that was ok.
Working out has become more of a challenge. I'm in my 3rd 30-day challenge and working on the hard level...and it is hard...much harder than the intermediate level. I do lunges and then squats and then jump lunges or jump squats one after the other until my legs feel like the noodles I ate with the linguine and clams a few nights ago. And then it's a couple of upper body exercises, and then the whole thing starts all over again. That which doesn't kill you makes you strong - literally!
No cooking for me today, we are having dinner at a friend's house. It's another Italian dinner - this time homemade gnocchi - a sabotage opportunity for those calorie gremlins. You know them - they're the sneaky critters that add calories (or WW points) before you know what hit you. It goes like this - "Mary Beth, you have to try this appetizer. It's so tasty, and it's shrimp - not fattening at all." After the fourth shrimp, you find out that it's so tasty because it was marinated in oil and than sauteed in butter! I'll have to be on my guard the rest of the day today just to be prepared for tonight.
Note to self - Don't weigh tomorrow!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Day 10 - Lessons Learned!
5 lbs! After all that agonizing and moaning and fretting and wondering what I was going to do if I gained weight in front of everyone instead of losing, I weighed myself this morning (even though my note to self yesterday was not to weigh everyday) and I lost all the weight I had gained plus a few more ounces! Now I'm at exactly 5 lbs! When I think of how much mental energy I wasted yesterday because I was upset and annoyed at what I was viewing as a major (can you believe it?) setback, I see that I really need to make a change here.
Repeat note to self: Save myself the agony and don't weigh every day! The scale is my enemy! Maybe it's time to have Manny hide the scale again so I can stop this obsessiveness.
I didn't cook at all yesterday because we had leftovers that needed to be devoured. But tonight I have something yummy planned. I wonder if it's a bad thing to be looking forward to dinner at 8:00 in the morning.
Repeat note to self: Save myself the agony and don't weigh every day! The scale is my enemy! Maybe it's time to have Manny hide the scale again so I can stop this obsessiveness.
I didn't cook at all yesterday because we had leftovers that needed to be devoured. But tonight I have something yummy planned. I wonder if it's a bad thing to be looking forward to dinner at 8:00 in the morning.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Day 9 - I Love Clams!
Linguine with clam sauce has always been one of my favorites, so I was especially excited to try last night's recipe - plus I was very hungry. Spicy Linguine and Clams from In a Flash. It was really tasty, but there were a couple of things I would do differently next time. First, I used too much garlic - not surprising, since I used more than what the recipe called for. I love garlic, too. Second, I should have used less red pepper. They didn't lie, it was fairly spicy. I didn't use the optional wine, either. My philosophy - no need to add extra points - I eat enough points as it is!
Disaster! I did the unforgivable and used a metal whisk (briefly) on a nonstick Calphalon pan! Luckily for me, there were no scratches, or I would be buying a new pan today. I'm very lucky Manny even lets me use his pans and all of a sudden he was on the verge of banning me from the kitchen for good, but one whiff of the garlic and clams made him realize on which side his bread was buttered! Whew - that was a close one!
On a different note, we've (this is the queen's we, because Manny does the shopping) have had some difficulty finding some of the ingredients in these recipes. For example, we couldn't find the right size can of clams, so we had to buy two smaller ones. I used both, which added more clams that what was called for, and that turned out to be good, but that's beside the point. Also, we couldn't find the type of sausage the cassoulet required, so we had to improvise there, too. I guess improvising makes them my own recipes, though, so I shouldn't complain. Maybe I should write a cookbook.
On a weight loss note - disappointment again today! I gained a little more, so as of today, I've lost only 3 pounds (give or take a few ounces). The only thing I can attribute it to is that we've eaten very late the last few nights, and that can't be good. I have been very diligent about what I eat and I've been getting my exercise. I would like to think I'm building muscle, but really. What little bit I've gained in muscle mass can't possible weigh anything at all!
Note to self: Stop weighing every day. We all know our weight fluctuates, and the ups are very hard to take!
Tomorrow will be better!
Disaster! I did the unforgivable and used a metal whisk (briefly) on a nonstick Calphalon pan! Luckily for me, there were no scratches, or I would be buying a new pan today. I'm very lucky Manny even lets me use his pans and all of a sudden he was on the verge of banning me from the kitchen for good, but one whiff of the garlic and clams made him realize on which side his bread was buttered! Whew - that was a close one!
On a different note, we've (this is the queen's we, because Manny does the shopping) have had some difficulty finding some of the ingredients in these recipes. For example, we couldn't find the right size can of clams, so we had to buy two smaller ones. I used both, which added more clams that what was called for, and that turned out to be good, but that's beside the point. Also, we couldn't find the type of sausage the cassoulet required, so we had to improvise there, too. I guess improvising makes them my own recipes, though, so I shouldn't complain. Maybe I should write a cookbook.
On a weight loss note - disappointment again today! I gained a little more, so as of today, I've lost only 3 pounds (give or take a few ounces). The only thing I can attribute it to is that we've eaten very late the last few nights, and that can't be good. I have been very diligent about what I eat and I've been getting my exercise. I would like to think I'm building muscle, but really. What little bit I've gained in muscle mass can't possible weigh anything at all!
Note to self: Stop weighing every day. We all know our weight fluctuates, and the ups are very hard to take!
Tomorrow will be better!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Day 8 - Tribute to the Tour
In honor of the last day of the Tour d' France (not really) I cooked Stovetop Cassoulet from In a Flash. It was good, although the breadcrumb topping was a bit much. I think the amount used needs to correspond to the diameter of the pan. Mine must have been narrower than theirs, because the result of mine was a mouthful of dry crumbs. Yuk! If I had used less crumbs, though, it would have been perfect.
Disappointment this morning - I gained 1.5 lbs. How did that happen? Oh well, it's still 3.5 lbs. for the week, and that's not too bad.
I haven't mentioned yet the exercise part of this plan. I've been doing (don't laugh) the Wii Pro Active as my workout. I've done the 30-day challenge on the easy and intermediate levels, and have now started the INTENSE level. Ooohhhh! When you're finished rolling around the floor laughing your head off, remember that exercise is exercise, and it seems to work for me. So, while I may look goofy jumping up and down in front of the TV, I'm burning some calories. Since some magic potion isn't going to take away these extra pounds, it looks like I'll have to do it myself.
Disappointment this morning - I gained 1.5 lbs. How did that happen? Oh well, it's still 3.5 lbs. for the week, and that's not too bad.
I haven't mentioned yet the exercise part of this plan. I've been doing (don't laugh) the Wii Pro Active as my workout. I've done the 30-day challenge on the easy and intermediate levels, and have now started the INTENSE level. Ooohhhh! When you're finished rolling around the floor laughing your head off, remember that exercise is exercise, and it seems to work for me. So, while I may look goofy jumping up and down in front of the TV, I'm burning some calories. Since some magic potion isn't going to take away these extra pounds, it looks like I'll have to do it myself.
Day 7 - A Day of Rest
Yesterday I cooked nothing! The day was far, far too busy for cooking, and we had plenty of leftovers from the other nights.
Weight loss is going well. I'm at almost 5 lbs. now. I'm feeling guardedly optimistic.
Weight loss is going well. I'm at almost 5 lbs. now. I'm feeling guardedly optimistic.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Day 6 - Danger, Danger, Will Robinson!
4 lbs!
Yesterday was Friday, the day I said was so fraught with pitfalls. And in spite of that, I still lost a little more weight! I defeated my enemy with oatmeal for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and then I was able to have pizza for dinner. I saved most of my extra points for the pizza and a glass of wine and boy was it worth it!
My culinary experiments switched to dessert yesterday. Blackberry Cobbler from All Things Sweet. It was delicious! Yes, I even ate a small serving of cobbler and yes, I really did lose a few more ounces!
Note to self:
It really is not necessary to throw empty cans and yogurt tops into the sink while cooking. They can go in the garbage or recycling just as easily, as Manny so kindly pointed out last night while he was cleaning up. It was a comment, which I have to admit, I did not accept all that graciously! Oh well, something else to work on. It's progress, not perfection, right?
Yesterday was Friday, the day I said was so fraught with pitfalls. And in spite of that, I still lost a little more weight! I defeated my enemy with oatmeal for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and then I was able to have pizza for dinner. I saved most of my extra points for the pizza and a glass of wine and boy was it worth it!
My culinary experiments switched to dessert yesterday. Blackberry Cobbler from All Things Sweet. It was delicious! Yes, I even ate a small serving of cobbler and yes, I really did lose a few more ounces!
Note to self:
It really is not necessary to throw empty cans and yogurt tops into the sink while cooking. They can go in the garbage or recycling just as easily, as Manny so kindly pointed out last night while he was cleaning up. It was a comment, which I have to admit, I did not accept all that graciously! Oh well, something else to work on. It's progress, not perfection, right?
Friday, July 24, 2009
Day 5 - I Might Be Liking This!
So far, so good. I haven't burned the house down, ruined any of Manny's pots, or cooked something unedible. There's still time, however...
Last night's dinner was Tortellini in Garlic Broth with White Beans and Greens from In a Flash. So easy even a caveman can do it...har har. I thought it was going to be tortellini cooked in broth, but it was more of a very thick soup, and delicious! My favorite so far.
Minimal mess, good food, a few more ounces lost - things are looking up!
Last night's dinner was Tortellini in Garlic Broth with White Beans and Greens from In a Flash. So easy even a caveman can do it...har har. I thought it was going to be tortellini cooked in broth, but it was more of a very thick soup, and delicious! My favorite so far.
Minimal mess, good food, a few more ounces lost - things are looking up!
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