Healthy You Check In, Weigh in and BIG NEWS!!

Okay, just can't contain it.. I'll get the big news out of the way first. Check this out!!



Yep, it's official! Mike has asked me to marry him at least 5 times in the last few months but yesterday he finally did it up right with a ring and all :) I'm so so so so happy!! Unfortunately, I still have no pics of us together as he gave it to me in the car leaving the West Edmonton Mall parking lot (real romantic, I know) and the only witness was my 2 year old daughter. But hey, at least he has good taste in rings!

Anyways, after being away all weekend (we just got home late last night), I wasn't sure how the weigh in would go as I was staying at Mike's parent's house and not in control of the food, etc. BUT I'm down 5 lbs so I must have made some good choices (and I think more importantly, had good portion control and very little snacking). Only two more pounds until I'm at virgin weight!! LOL

I had originally planned to get in a great workout today as I have no classes but the desire to trek all the way down to school just for a work out has sort of dwindled. I have to unpack, do laundry and just do some overall catch up after being away the last 4 days and having a busy week of exams last week. But tomorrow, I promise, will be a good workout day.

Hope you all have a great week!!

I'm afraid I've joined the dark side...

I just bought my first pair of pants from Lulu Lemon. In get this: a size 10!! I normally wear a size 16 pant! I've been wanting to buy some forever but have always felt intimidated by that store. But, after reading discussions months ago on the WW boards that there are certain styles that run big, etc, I was pretty sure I could find some that would fit me. I originally set it as my goal to buy a pair after I reached the 200 lb mark... but I just couldn't wait any longer!! It's been a stresssssssssful week with all of the exams (3 down, 1 to go tomorrow) and at least I didn't eat a bunch of bad food, right?

Update: For those inquiring minds, these are the pants I bought in black. Can I tell you how much I LOVE the fact they have pockets?!?!

Healthy You Check In & Weigh In

Ahhhh it's Tuesday once again. I've been a day ahead of myself the last two days (thinking yesterday was Tuesday and that today is Wednesday). Maybe that just shows how badly I want this week over and how much I'm looking forward to the coming weekend? I have three finals and a midterm this week... well, one final is down already (had it this morning). It was done online so I already have my mark. I got 93% on the final, which makes my final mark for the class about a 96%. I think I can be happy with that :)

Anyhow.. on to this morning's weigh in. I was down 2.8 lbs so that's definitly in the right direction. Honestly though, I didn't do well with eating on the weekend at all so I'm glad I still had a loss but can't really feel super proud of myself or anything. Plus it's a portion of these same stupid 5lbs that I've lost about 5 times now in the last few months. But I am determined to make this be the final time. The day I reach "virgin" weight and weigh in under 220, I'll be thrilled! Then I'll feel like I'm making actual progress again. Seven pounds to go for that..

The one thing that I CAN feel proud about doing is getting back into the whole routine of working out. I ventured down to the gym on campus last Tuesday and have been there 4 times since then. My friend also twisted my arm into going swimming and I found that I love it! I think part of the reason that I'd been dragging my butt about going back to the gym was that I was bored with it. After accomplishing running a 5K and a 10K this summer, I was sick of running too. So, swimming may just be the new thing for me, or at least a combination of gym and swim.

Anyways, gotta keep it on the short side for now.. got a ton of homework to do. Just keeping my eye on the prize (so to speak) - I'm going up to Edmonton Friday after school to spend the weekend with my man! Hurray!

I had good intentions..

And just to clarify, I'm not talking about my workout today. I did go to the gym and worked up a decent sweat. No, I'm referring to the yummy salad dinner I had planned last night. I'd been thinking of it all day... chicken breast cooked in terryaki sauce with onion, on top of lettuce with toasted almonds and feta cheese. Okay, this may sound like an odd combination to some but it really is yummy. So, I'm cooking the chicken and onions... all goes well. I put the sliced almonds under the broiler to be toasted. Children start demanding things... K needs a diaper change... T wants to listen to "princess" music... all of a sudden, what's that awful smell? Oh no! It's the almonds! I run up to the kitchen and see what was once to be my delicious, nicely toasted almonds in flames. My oven was literally on fire! Holy crap. Seriously! Children are now screaming and freaking out. I'm frozen.. what do I do? DAAAAAAAD! Yep, my dad was upstairs watching TV. He came down to the rescue and threw the flaming dish out into the grass, which fortunately was still wet from the frost we had yesterday. The house is pretty much blue with smoke which I can still smell today. But no one was hurt, nothing was terrible damaged.. except my almonds and the poor pie plate I had used. So, we continue on with dinner, sans almonds, with every window and door open, trying to air the place out. I just didn't have the heart to try and toast some more. All is well though.. I put the chicken on the lettuce, get out the feta cheese, weigh it and crumble it over top. I sneak a little pinch, as I usually do.. I love that stuff! OMG! GROSSSSS! It had gone bad and had this awful bitter, icky, gross taste. And it's now all over my otherwise yummy food. *sigh* I recover the chicken and toss the rest. So much for my planned healthy salad meal...

Healthy You Check In & Weigh In

Well, there's good news and bad news this week....

Bad first: I'm up 5lbs in the last two weeks. It's no surprise. I've been drastically off track, especially the last week or so with Thanksgiving in there. No excuses, it's been a conscious decision.

Good news: I'm on track today AND (drum roll please) I actually found the gym at school today! It's pathetic but it was my first gym workout in nearly two months. I did 40 min on the elliptical and 25 on the treadmill (ran 15, walked 10). I'm thinking of going back to good ol' Couch to 5K, not starting at the beginning but part way through.

Things to help me stay on track this time:
- I have a friend lined up to work out with me tomorrow and Friday
- I have a container full of yummy, filling, healthy soup in the fridge
- I have a bunch of fresh fruit and veggies to munch on

I'm trying to use up the food we have this week, instead of blowing a bunch of money when there is still plenty here. I'm trying to make a deal with myself of no eating out (including no coffee) and no new groceries other than the stuff we go through more quickly like milk, fruit, etc. With Christmas coming soon, I need to keep myself in check a little more and not spend when I don't need to. Don't we all know that story... LOL

Anyways, here's to a good week!

Yummy Yummy Soup

In my attempt to keep food interesting, I'm always on the look out for appealing and healthy recipes. When reading the blog of Sara (Trisaratops) from the Healthy You Challenge, she mentioned a delicious black bean soup that I just had to try. And I'm glad I did! I've never tried anything with black beans before, but I'm a huge fan of cilantro so that sealed it for me. And it was sooooo good. Here's the recipe. I soaked my beans overnight, didn't use or sweet potato but followed everything else pretty exactly. Oh, I also added smoked paprika as suggested in some of the great comments. Anyways, it was a hit as everyone in my house loved it (which meant no leftovers, unfortunately!). I forgot to calculate the points for my version, but I think it is roughly around 4-5 per serving. Not bad at all as it is quite filling. I served it with a warmed pita bread on the side.

What's your fave soup recipe?