1st weigh in since returning from Paris

Well, Paris wasn't a bust with my weight. I am down 2 pounds this week. I feel great. I love it when my youngest daughter comes and puts her arms around me and asks me where's the rest of me. I feel good in the fact that I didn't over do it that I actually maintained while away. Gives me a tad bit of hope that when I do further travels that I will be able to make good choices. Having Rigatoni and Pork tonight. YUUUUMMMM

Did I gain?

Well, back from my Paris/Amstredam adventure. I stayed away from lots of things should have and I did give into temptation. I actually had a brownie explosion with my family at haagan daaz (sp) in Paris. I, for the most part didn't eat many sweet things. Even resisted the free samples in teh many candy/cookie shops we visited.

The amount of walking and steps that I climbed helped me (Notre Dame had over 400 steps and Arc de Trimuph had over 250 steps). I don't feel as if I have gained. I actually feel that I did well on this trip. Afterall this is a part of life and the choices we maqke. I can't wait till Friday so I can see just what the end result will be.

As soon as I got home I returned to weight watchers. I do want to be healthy. Let me see if I can stay on target.

1 month

I have been on this round of Weight Watchers for one month. I lost today 1.5 making my total to I think 11 pounds gone. 11 pounds in a month is nothing to shy about. I am happy with the result. I am 153.5 and now have some pep in my step. This will be the last weigh in I do until I get back from Paris. I know I will gain as I have stated in previous blogs. But the goal is not to gain too much. I am hoping all the walking I do will counter it.

Lastnight I made what was supposed to be a Cincinatti Chicken Chili for 5 points. But, the comissary didn't have the ground chicken where I could find it so I used lean beef. I up'ed the points to 7 just because I wasn't sure what it was. So I still was way within my range yesterday. I even did the Wii fit too. My legs are sore today and I did the sit-ups with my hubby as well. I hadn't done any exercise in almost a week. He made sure I knew that too.

Well, I am cooking a big breakfast for my family today. And I shall stick to my fiberone and a banana and lets not forget my coffee...

Temptation

Temptation is everywhere. No matter what you do it is. From the simple things to the hard ones. For a person like me, who is counting virtually everything their mouth, it is food. Plain and simple. Today I had temptation knock on my door not once but all day.

It started out thi morning with breakfast. I made myself coffee and Chris made cinnamon rolls for him and the kids. I was offered but turned them down because I was in love with my coffee and I really didn't want any. They didn't eat them all and they were there. Sitting, staring at me as if they were calling out to me in this language that demanded I eat one. I refused. I am happy to report that I didn't touch one. As a matter of fact there is still one sitting in the pan waiting on someone to eat it.

But no, as if that was hard enough for me to turn down. I brought my landlord dinner as I always do since he is living alone with his dog and happens to live two houses down from me. He wanted to walk out and get some coffee. So we went. There in the Ponderosa as soon as you walk in the door is the desert case. He called me over and pointed. He knows I am trying to lose weight but did that stop him from offering me anything? Nope. He ordered two pieces of this yummy goodness that resembled cheese cake. He got it to go (thank God). Well after our coffee we walked home and he asked me inside like he always does. Went straight for the kitchen and pulled out two spoons and really tried to talk me into tasting it. I turned him down. I can't believe I am getting a tad stronger in that area.

I know that some things when they come up it is hard to say no. And if it's really that bad, then you just have to do it and not beat yourself up for it. Move on and stay on task from that point on. Bad days will happen. Heck, we are only human on that note. I know when we go to Paris that I will be eating things that I know I shouldn't just because I am in a part of the world that I may never go again and I need to taste and enjoy it fully. Will I beat myself up for it? Honestly I just might. But I know that I am making a lifestyle choice and that challenges will come and I will just have to deal with it.

Tonight for dinner it was a high point one. I made Barbeque pizza from off of the Weight Watchers site. It was 9 points for one piece. I made a salad and had my piece which was rather filling and well worth it. I will definetly make that one again.

Texas-Style Casserole

My day yesterday was a tad bit more organized point wise. I had my coffee because my loving husband walked and got me spanish coffee. He always is thinking about me. Anyway, I had coffee for 2. I ate some shrimp and pasta stuff for 5 points. Popcorn 6, and dinner was Texas-style casserole for 5 oh, and a glass of wine for 2.

I went one point over I know. I shouldn't have had that second glass of wine. I only drank half of it so technically it was only 1 point but I count it as 2 due to the fact that was what the serving was.

This casserole was supposed to be for breakfast. But if you are like me, and enjoy a good breakfast for dinner, then this is the recipie for you. The only downside to this is that it really wasn't that "filling". So, you may want to add a low-point side to go with it.

Texas-Style Casserole
POINTS: 5
INSTRUCTIONS

1 spray(s) olive oil cooking spray
2 cup(s) frozen hash brown potatoes
1 cup(s) frozen corn kernels, thawed
1 cup(s) frozen pepper strips, thawed
8 oz Casual Gourmet Turkey Sausage - Mild Italian, or other brand, thinly sliced
1 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
2 large egg(s)
1/4 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
3/4 cup(s) low-fat shredded cheddar cheese



Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a medium square or rectangular baking dish with cooking spray.


Place potatoes and then vegetables in baking dish; top with sausage.


In a small bowl, beat together milk, eggs, salt and pepper; pour over sausage and then sprinkle with cheese.


Bake until casserole is hot and cheese is browned, about 45 minutes. Cut into 6 pieces and serve.

I also have realized that when I weigh in on Friday (in 2 days) I will have been on WW for 1 month. It has flown by. I am loving the results so far. I can't wait until I get back from Paris so I can toss exercise in the mix. I am ready for cardio that will get my heart pumping and makes me feel like I am alive. I want for my friends to see me when I go back to the states later this year to go "WOW, Spain really agrees with you".

Ok, I think I did okay on my points yesterday. I had a cup of coffee and 3 soft taco's not using meat. I stuffed mine with fat free refried beans. They were good. I will not not eat like I did yesterday anymore. I want to do things the right way. But isn't it strange how your body tends to react to your mood. I was having a rotton day and I ate that way. I need to get back cheery and stuff. The way I am heading at least for this week I can almost expect a gain on the scale instead of a loss. But there will be days, weeks like this and it's all a part of life. I have taken my medicine this morning because I know that not taking it will make me feel even yuckier so better to be in a good mood then in crappy one.

I have to go grocery shopping today to get enough to last me until Sunday. We leave for Paris on Monday. I am so excited. I know that I need to make wiser choices when I am there. Staying away from fried foods and even though I love cream sauces on my pasta choose the maranaria type instead. Hopefully I can turn my week around and get the loss I am wanting. If not, then there is always next week.

Medicines

Ok, here it is. I have been lazy for over a week, maybe two. I couldn't figure out why. I thought it was because I was out of coffee. I drink it in the morning and again for a pick-me up in the afternoon. I ran out and I didn't want to walk to the Merecodona to get some Spanish coffee. For the record I still haven't walked there. I am using some canned stuff now that I had bought at the commissary because I am lazy. Then it hit me. Like a ton of bricks. I am falling asleep everywhere. And when I am not sleeping exactly, I just rest laying there like a big blob. I then realized what I had been lacking. I have a thyroid problem. I call it quazimoto but it's like Herescimo or something like that. I am hypothyroidism. And the type I have it makes my thyroid gland look as if I have a cyst and a goiter but there are none present and at any given moment it can stop working and I will be in big trouble.

With the coffee in the mornings I usually take my medicine. And well, since I haven't had coffee.... well you get the picture. So, today, I have a cup of coffee, may not be Spanish but none the less it's coffee. I have my first cup now here at 2:20 pm. I am ashamed to say that I haven't eaten yet today either. I am not really hungry. And the only good thing is is that I have taken my medicine. So, I imagine that by the time I go to Paris on Monday I shall be feeling a lot better and have energy to spare.

As far as me eating correctly that has been a challeng as well. I found myself not wanting to eat but when I was over hungry I was going for things I could grab. Not eating too much but just not counting those points. The only "bravo" that I have had this week is when my lovely landlord came over the other day he brought me this cake. Huge chocolate pudding type of cake that had marshmallow icing. I didn't even eat one piece. I stood my ground and I felt great for that decision.. I know that I need to make better choices. This is life. You learn as you go. I am never to old to learn anything.