Aimee's 7th Week Update

I got onto the scale this morning and was a little surprised! Another 1.3 pounds loss this week...3.1 pounds until I've reached my first goal! Yes, I've loss 11.8 pounds over the last 7 weeks! With the tea party this week, there were lots of temptations all week long...I just tried to treat myself to a little something once a day and then wait patiently for tomorrow for another little taste! That and indulge on healthier options! Not easy, but these last few weeks of Weight Loss has lead me to becoming a huge believer of the old saying, a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips, or for me a lifetime on the belly (my trouble spot)! As I eat I try to remind myself that I don't want that sweet something sitting on my belly as an extra layer of cushion, ya know! Afterall, its almost swim season and my kids are at the perfect age to frequent the pool lots this year! You're more than welcome to join us...be sure to give us a call...we love swimming with friends! (Can you tell I'm ready for winter to be done with!?!? Is it really suppose to snow next week!?!? Seriously!)

Deal For a Little Something

Victoria Secret has a swim suit (perhaps that's using the word too loosely) for $5.99 on clearance. Here's the site if you're interested, swim suit. If you use these two codes you get free shipping and a free tote ($25 value). BSEXY and SP89829. I ordered one in Khaki and a separate order for one in Turquoise...that way I can get two totes! Perhaps Lonnie and I will have to go on a little trip to an island in the next couple years...there's not a chance I'm wearing this at our neighborhood pool.

Aimee's 6th Week Update

Today was a really fun weigh in! After traveling I felt swollen and had not paid close attention to what I was eating so I didn't know what to anticipate! I got onto the scale and had lost 2.1 pounds this week! After a couple slower weeks I loved to see the progress continuing! I am now at 10.5 total pounds lost!!! Bennett & Brady's baby weight is gone...Belle to go! After losing 4.4 pounds more pounds I'll reevaluate to see what I feel would be my ideal weight! It's really happening though, I would have committed to this years ago if I knew it was so manageable!

Aimee's 5th Week Update

Unfortunately, the 13th is a while back! A lot has happened since then so I can't think of much more than the fact I was a bit disappointed that I loss less than a pound this week. Especially since I even turned down all the delicious treats at Cameron and Jordan's Tea Party...and everything looked incredible so that was no easy feat! I am thankful for my decimal scale that continues to give me hope that I am still losing...encouraging me to continue making healthy choices! This week's weigh in, I was down 0.7 for the week, a total loss of 8.4!

Aimee's 4th Week Update

I was pleasantly surprised when I got onto the scale this morning! I've lost 1.7 more pounds! That puts me at 7.7 total weight loss so far! I'm now a bit over half way there! Leaving me with 7.3 pounds left to loose! So many questions run through my head this week! Will I continue to loose over a pound a week for the duration of my weight loss program!? Is my goal weight attainable!?!? Will I need to loose more once I hit my goal weight?!? How many pounds does one need to loose for the weight loss to look noticeable!?!? I've been more hungry this week...is it because I'm not having a lot of other outlets due to being stuck at home STILL with sick babies - or- should I eat more?!!? What happens when/if I reach my goal weight!?!? In reality is this the way I should eat for the rest of my life with exception to a few splurges here and there!?!? Any thoughts or suggestions?!?

Cheated!

Saturday was a day of play for me! A much needed day of fresh air, girl talk, shopping, and yummy food! We had a baby shower for one of my baby sisters and then afterward, my older sister and I shopped at uppity shops, had lunch at ChickFilA...then waited entirely too long before arriving for dinner at Pappasitos Cantina! There was a 30 minute wait and the hostesses offered an appetizer of chicken taquitos! I had one of those then a couple chips with salsa once we sat down. I was thinking oh well, that's alright! Then when the fajitas came out I thought I could resist that incredibly good garlic butter...but nope! Sprinkled a good teaspoon on both fajitas! Oops!
I'm such a hypocrite! Last night as I watched The Biggest Loser (love that show) I was shocked at the dessert that the blue team made...they used 2-3 tablespoons of butter and it was suppose to be a healthy dish! The judge commented on how many calories it had because of the butter! I was like, "HELLO, what were they thinking!?!?" Silly me...I know what they were thinking...sounds good!
A couple weeks ago my sister-in-law told me that at the month mark it does seem to get tougher! Right she was! And I thought being stuck home had been real tough on my diet but perhaps its been some sort of strange blessing since there are very few things here that tempt me! I mean, I guess I could attempt to make the garlic butter for my fajitas but its not already prepared...staring at me, ya know! Hmm, we'll see how the weigh in goes tomorrow! Every since Saturday's cheat I feel like I'm slipping a little here and a little there! I have to remember how badly I want to get that 15 pounds off of this body and refocus what it will take to get there! Any other suggestions!?!?

Aimee's 3rd Week Update

I can't believe I am at the end of my 3rd week of dieting for the first time in my life! Truthfully, I have felt deprived very little and have enjoyed working towards getting back to a healthier me! I know at some point I am going to have to incorporate more exercise to keep losing pounds, but hopefully that can wait until we get to some nicer weather! The wind today was CRAZY ~ felt like Lubbock, Texas during my college days! But for now, my weigh in was successful! Another 1.9 down ~ that is a total loss of 5.9.

Snacking

Aimee here:
Losing weight while stuck at home for a week with a sick baby girl...throw in two stir-crazy boys...and a bunch of whining is a real challenge! My little belly was screaming isn't there something sweet around here!!? Something to keep me smiling!?!!? Thankfully I stuck to my plan and haven't ate more than my daily portion! I've been trying to pick low cal snacks so I can eat a bit at a time all day long...like...8 wheat thins with 1 section of laughing cow cheese (there's a new garlic and herb flavor that's awesome)- 2 points, garden vegetable soup- 0 points, skinny cow ice cream sandwiches- 2 points, ww yogurt- 1 point, 2 cups of almost fat free popcorn- 0 points, etc. I even had nachos one evening...baked tostitos (17 chips for 2 points and 1/4 cup low-fat cheese for 3 points and my homemade salsa for 0 points). Those were so good! Thankfully my little Belle is on the mend so eventually our days will pick up the pace.

Yummy Fruit Cobbler

Hey girls,

I got a new recipe for fruit cobbler at WW today that looks easy and yummy. We all need a treat now and then. This one is big enough to share with the whole fam.

Fruit Cobbler
3 C Fresh or Frozen Fruit (3pts)
1 Jiffy yellowcake mix (20pts)
1 C Fresca or diet Sprite (0pts)

Place fruit in a 8" square pan sprayed with baking spray. Sprinkle cake mix over fruit evenly. Pour soda over dry mix. Cover with foil and bake @350 for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Serves 6. 4 pts each serving.

Enjoy

Love, mom

Lonnie's Banned...

Aimee here:
The first day that I decided to follow this weight watcher stuff Lonnie was so excited to join along! He's the one who always ruins the fun of splurge type food by reading the nutritional information aloud! Far into pregnancy number two I stopped him from sharing the scoop with me, but something about someone smiling as they research online the fat and calories in a large Braum's reeses peanut butter treat speaks loudly, ya know! Needless to say, he was thrilled to join with me on my health kick...or as he called it...support me!
Brandi (my neighbor and good friend) was shocked that I was letting him. Little did I know that he'd lose about 3 pounds the first week...this on a guy who is already skin and bones, very uncool! Then week two another 3 plus pounds! Seriously though when he hit the 160s (he's 6 feet tall), I banned him! Yep, put him back on 32 ounces of Dr. Pepper a day and started enforcing seconds during every meal!


You know how I got my weight watcher material from my freecycle group, well it wasn't the most up to date information so the points were alotted through how much you weigh rather than a calculated formula. Lonnie was only eating 4 points more than me each day. Finally the other night when Ali, Mom and I were at Chili's before catching our movie, they got to the bottom of it! There's a new formula and Lonnie was suppose to be eating 10 points more than me! (My personal opinion was that he needs 20 points more than me). Regardless, no wonder he was shrinking like crazy!


He's insisted now on eating the same foods as me, but is being much more purposeful about his portions!

Men and weight loss!?!?! So unfair!

Aimee's 2nd Week Update

This weeks weigh in was again a success! 2.6 pounds loss this week for a total of 4.0 pounds down 10 pounds to go! The last day or two I've craved pizza in a major way but know one slice for 7 points wouldn't really satisfy! So I reverted to a childhood favorite of mine...English Muffin Pizzas! I had two halves and they were so filling and so GREAT!

English Muffin Pizzas

1. Cut an English Muffin in half. Spray each side with nonstick cooking spray, sprinkle with Italian Seasoning, then broil on high for 2 minutes.

2. Top each muffin with 1/4 cup of my favorite spaghetti sauce warmed in microwave, Prego traditional, a bit more Italian Seasoning, a slice of tomato, and a slice of skim-milk mozzarella cheese.

3. Return to oven and broil until the cheese boils. Remove and Enjoy!

Helpful Tips

I switched to the Saturday meetings...there seem to be more creative ideas shared and I like the speaker a lot. I wanted to share some of the comments with you....1 point chili is good (I'll share the recipe later) and so is SmartOne quesadillas, a weight watchers frozen meal.

Also, keep your eyes open for Pillsbury dinner rolls, whole wheat -- healthy heart. Nature's Own double fiber bread, 0 pts.

Love, Nana (Pam)

Chicken Alieca

Serves 5
1-15 oz. can black beans, rinsed & drained
2-c. frozen corn
1-clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. cumin
1-1/2 c. salsa
1 lb. uncooked chicken breast
8 oz. fat free cream cheese
Combine beans, corn, garlic, cumin and 1/2 of the salsa in a crockpot. Arrange chicken on top. Pour remaining salsa over top. Cover and cook on high 2-3 hours or on low 4-6 hours. Stir in cream cheese until it melts. Can serve over rice or in a wrap--add points accordingly.
5 pts per serving (1-1/4 c.)

Chocolate Pudding

Aimee here:
My new favorite sweet treat was found by mistake! Thankfully Lonnie accidently brought home the cook and serve fat free/sugar free chocolate pudding instead of the instant type I've always bought in the past! The cook part involves mixing 2 cups of skim milk with the chocolate pudding powder and then microwaving for 6 minutes or until a boil is reached. They do suggest you stir it briefly every 2 minutes as it cooks. When its been combined and cooked we toss it in the fridge for about a half hour and then serve it warm topped with fat free / sugar free cool whip! Can you say DIVINE!

1/4 of package with a scoop of cool whip: 1 Points

Aimee's 1st Week Update

One week of tracking points! 1.4 pounds loss! I'm hesitant to say it, but its been easy and I've felt really GREAT about what I'm putting into my body! What's made it easy!?!? Having Garden Vegetable Soup in the fridge, writing down everything I eat, my new scale that shows to the decimal (this is just a picture of the scale that I found on the internet...not my actual weight), and settling down for the evening with a delicious vanilla skinny cow!

Garden Vegetable Soup

• 2/3 cup sliced carrot
• 1/2 cup diced onion
  
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
  
• 3 cups fat free chicken broth
  
• 1/2 cups diced green cabbage
  
• 1/2 cup green beans
  
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
  
• 1/2 cup diced zucchini

1. In large saucepan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, saute the carrot, onion, and garlic over low heat until softened, about 5 minutes.

2. Add broth, cabbage, beans, tomato paste, basil, oregano, and salt; bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, covered about 15 minutes or until beans are tender.

3. Stir in zucchini and heat 3-4 minutes. Serve hot.

Per serving: 42 calories, 0 g fat, 2 g fiber.

Point value per serving: 0

It's Official for Aimee!

My first diet! Well, unless you count the 3 days that one of my sisters and I decided to try metabolife but it made us so jittery that we took the company up on the 30 day money back offer! Or the weekend in college that I decided I'd do a s'more diet and ate only foods used to make a s'more: marshmellows, chocolate and graham crackers. Hmm...what was I thinking?!?!? It was fun for a bit though! I also tried Slim Fast for 1 day but I felt like I was going to pass out from hunger...that and I was a total grump so of course that was a no go!
This time I'm real optimistic! I've only heard great things about weight watchers, so...I emailed my yahoo group called Freecycle (click on the word to see what the nationwide group is all about). One of my freecycle buddies had all of the weight watcher material and said I could have it since they weren't using it. They even had a calculater that I could try out and a really funny bracelet to keep track of points...hmm?!?! That wasn't quite my style so I tossed it. In my pile of new material was the eating out guide with all the points already calculated for most restraunts. A food companion guide that had all the points to the food in my pantry and fridge. A log for me to record my points consumed. And a bunch of recipes!
So here we go...I'm hoping to lose 5 pounds per kid...that's a total of 15 pounds for this Mommy!