Phenomenal Foods

Today's Phenomenal Food is:

Chia Seeds!

Chia seeds are a new thing for me. I had seen a couple of smoothie recipes that called for them and wondered if they were the same seeds from the Chia Pets I used to have when I was little. Turns out, they are!

In an article from doctoroz.com, it says, "Chia seeds are super high in soluble fiber which, in addition to filling you up, has cholesterol-lowering properties and prevents the absorption of fat." Chia seeds also contain a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids, which are super good for you, too!
It also says, "Like turkey, they contain the sleep-inducing amino acid tryptophan, which raises melatonin and serotonin levels and helps promote stable sleep." And we all know that those precious 8 hours help you lose weight!
I've been making a smoothie for breakfast every morning, so tomorrow, I'm going to add a tablespoon of chia seeds to the mix. One tablespoon will be 1 point on Weight Watchers. I also add in some vanilla whey protein powder (2 points for a half scoop) and then add in spinach or kale with some (fresh) frozen fruit.

2 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Weekend Warrior

Well, people of the blog world, I did it! I stayed home 3 days this weekend and didn't go over my points once! We even had dinner at my grandparents' house today, and I ate only what I had the points for! She made fresh lemonade, grilled salmon, asparagus, carrots, quinoa, and rosemary bread. Then, for dessert, we had a pie made with sugar-free Jell-O and peaches in a graham cracker crust.
Also, I've been trying to force myself to drink more water. I know I should be drinking WAY more than I am right now, so I've been really trying. Robin told me about an app called Hydro that reminds you to drink water every hour and lets you track how much you've had. You put in your weight and other information and it tells you how many ounces of water you should be drinking. I need to drink 151 oz. every day; I haven't met my goal yet for a day, but I'm getting closer!

3 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Shopping Shenanigans

Well, even though I still feel sick today, I decided to go to Costco with my mom. I needed a few things and didn't want her to have to get it all by herself. We also went and got a pedicure since my cousin is getting married in a few weeks. The nail place was a bit sketchy. I don't think they actually sterilize their tools because the package she opened looked dirty and reused. So, hopefully we won't get an infection or something. Both my mom and I have had issues with that after getting a pedicure. I got the gel nail polish that's supposed to last twice as long since I apparently have really active feet and chip polish after only a couple of days whereas my mom's stays perfect for at least a month. I also got to have dinner with my wonderful grandparents this evening since my parents had a date night with some friends and my brother is off doing a boy scout thing. Anyway, here's this week's super healthy plunder:

• Frozen Peaches
• Mandarin Oranges
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Asparagus
• Unsweetened Apple Sauce
• Fiber One Bars
• Fage Total 0% Greek Yogurt
• Protein Powder (for smoothies)

4 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Exercise Escapades

Yay! Even though I was sick this week, I worked out every weekday! Today was a struggle, and I didn't feel very well afterwards, but hopefully I'll get better soon.
Anyway, I stayed home from work today since I was feeling so crappy, but decided to call my grandparents and see if I could tag along with them to the YMCA to work out. I worked hard, but the rest of the day, I felt sicker than yesterday. I've been drinking tons of water and have continued a regimen of Advil Cold & Sinus. Hopefully I feel better by Monday! Here's this week's workout schedule:

Monday: Focus T25 Speed 1.0 (Alpha)

Tuesday: Focus T25 Upper Focus (Beta)

Wednesday: Focus T25 Cardio (Alpha)

Thursday: Focus T25 Speed 1.0 (Alpha)

Friday: YMCA Circuit

5 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Recipe Report

For today's Recipe Report, I decided to try Baked Garlic Broccoli from Trading Paper Crowns. It calls for garlic powder, but I am obsessed with garlic, so I used minced garlic instead. Also, instead of olive oil, I used cooking spray to save on some calories without messing up the overall taste. It was super easy to make, not to mention delicious! It was 0 points on Weight Watchers, so I filled my plate with the stuff! I had salmon and a baked sweet potato to go with it. I also made enough to take some in my lunch every day. I'll definitely be using this recipe again!

6 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Weigh-In Wednesday

Today's Weight:

294.2

Happy Weigh-In Wednesday, everyone! I lost 1.2 pounds this week!! I was super worried that I wouldn't lose any or gain since I ate so late last night, but it didn't seem to hurt it. I've been doing my exercise each day this week so far, even though I have a terrible head-cold and would rather lay down in my bed and hibernate until it passes.
Monday, I had an internal fight with myself about whether or not I was going to do T25, and I thought, "Maybe I'll wait and do it after dinner," and "Well, I could just walk on the treadmill today instead," but I decided that if I didn't do it right after work, it wasn't going to get done. After I worked out, I was full of energy and cleaned out my fridge, did 4 loads of laundry I've been avoiding, cleaned my living room, and did all the dishes. I felt much better than I had before I worked out. I guess it's a good thing that I just told my inner-self to shut up and just do it.
Yesterday, I was more motivated to work out because I had our pottery class to get to, and if I didn't do it right after work, I would be late. Today, I'm feeling worse, though. My cold feels like it's literally going to kill me. I'm contemplating taking Friday off just to rest, but we'll see; sub. plans are so much effort. Anyway, I'm very pleased with my weight loss this week, and Weight Watchers lowered my daily points value by one point, so now I'm down to 49 Points Plus per day.
On another note, I decided that my little red and white marbles in my "Pounds to Lose" and "Pounds Lost" jars were too small, and it didn't feel very significant when I moved one over to the other. So, I found some really cute decorative stones in the clearance aisle at Wal-Mart that were much bigger and take up way more space. I got to move one giant stone over to my "Pounds Lost" jar today, and it made a bigger impact than my tiny marbles would have.

Total Weight Loss: 27.8 pounds
Only 114.2 to go!

Artistic Antics

Today marks week 3 of our pottery class! Robin and I think that the teachers are finally being somewhat more friendly. That, or they've given up arguing with us and just hate us silently. Either way, tonight wasn't too bad. I finished up some of my pots from last week and started on a weird-looking dish. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with it yet, but we'll see!
Also, we went to Subway at 8:15 after our class, and I'm super worried that eating so late is going to mess up tomorrow's weigh-in. I'll keep my fingers crossed!!

Tomorrow is Weigh-In Wednesday!

Phenomenal Foods

Today's Phenomenal Food is:

Dark Chocolate!

According to an article from Womenshealthmag.com, "While researchers credit flavonoids for reducing insulin resistance, weight-loss specialist and board-certified internist Sue Decotiis, M.D., notes that dark chocolate also contains healthy fats, which slow the absorption of sugar into the blood stream. That helps prevent the dreaded insulin spike, which is famed for shuttling sugar straight into your fat cells. 'Insulin spikes turn off your body's fat-burning mechanisms and make you hungry again several hours later,' she says. Over time, they can also lead to insulin resistance and diabetes."
It also says, "Meanwhile, Swiss scientists have found that dark chocolate reduces the metabolic effects of stress, and University of Copenhagen researchers have shown that dark chocolate curbs cravings for sweet, salty, and fatty foods alike. And that brings us to the fine print: This only works if you reach for dark chocolate (i.e., types that are made up of at least 70 percent cacao). 'White and milk chocolate has a lot of added sugar and contains milk (also a type of sugar), while dark chocolate has less added sugar, contains monounsaturated fatty acids, and has a bittersweet taste that reduces the amount you eat,' says Decotiis."
Just this weekend, I bought some Brookside Dark Chocolate and Pomegranate/Blueberry snacks to take to work. They come in 100-calorie packs and cost 3 Points Plus on Weight Watchers. It really curbs my chocolate cravings!

2 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Weekend Warrior

This weekend was a success! I went out to eat a couple of times (once to a Chinese buffet) and stayed within my points. I get a small portion of whatever I love the most, then fill up on healthier options like veggies and fruits. I still get what I want, but just enough to satisfy my cravings. I haven't felt well for the past couple of days (my stomach mostly), so I haven't been feeling as hungry as I normally do.
Anyway, yesterday, I got to hang out with some of my best friends, Tim, Justen, Amanda, and her son (my godson), Jaxon. We were going to go to the KC Zoo, but we decided that it was too cold and that we didn't want to get shot (since there was a shooting there Wednesday). So, instead, we played Weakest Link and Wheel of Fortune on the Playstation and then watched a movie on Netflix. We even got Bandana's BBQ for dinner, but I didn't overeat. Yay! Then, today, my family and I went to the gun show at the KCI event center. It was fun, overpriced, but fun nonetheless. My friend Kevin came with us, too, so it was nice to see him. Tonight is dinner with the grandparents at my parents' house, so it's been a good weekend for seeing some of my favorite people!

Sorry it's blurry. He wouldn't stop moving!
3 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Shopping Shenanigans

Well, today was a pretty light day of shopping, food-wise. I only bought a couple of things at Costco. My mom and I also went shopping but ended up buying mostly things for my younger brother. He has a fraternity formal and other fancy events coming up and needs nice shirts and ties and suit and such, and he hates shopping, so it was up to us to find him some nice things to wear. Here's this week's Costco plunder:

• Clementines
• Bananas
• Kiwi
• Broccoli
• Salmon
• Coconut Oil
• Brookside Chocolate Blueberry and Pomegranate Snacks

I bought the coconut oil, not to cook with, but to try out this whole "oil pulling" thing everyone is talking about. It's supposed to pull out toxins and whiten your teeth and a whole bunch of other good things. I've noticed that my teeth are whiter than they have been. I'm not sure if I feel any different, but who knows of any of it really works. I'll keep at it and let you know!

4 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Exercise Escapades

Yay! Another week I can check off my list as working out every weekday! Also, I started one of the T25 Beta videos this week. My grandma gave me a resistance band, so I decided to put it to good use and do the Upper Focus video. Man, were my arms sore!! I was covered in sweat once I was done, so I guess it was a good workout! Now I can enjoy my weekend home with my family and my dogs. Here's this week's workout schedule:

Monday: Focus T25 Cardio (Alpha)

Tuesday: Focus T25 Lower Focus (Alpha)

Wednesday: Focus T25 Upper Focus (Beta)

Thursday: Focus T25 Upper Focus (Beta)

Friday: Focus T25 Lower Focus (Alpha)

New resistance bands!  Thanks, Grandma!

5 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Recipe Report

For today's Recipe Report, I chose to make tilapia! I bought a 4-pound bag at Wal-Mart this past weekend and decided to try it out. I found the recipe at 28 Cooks. I kind of changed it a bit and used what I had, since I didn't want to run to the grocery store (and I added garlic since I'm obsessed with it). It still turned out tasty, though! And tilapia is a very lean fish, so it only cost me 2 points plus for 4 oz. of fish! (I ate 8 oz., so it cost me 5 points.) I'll have to start getting creative with how I cook my tilapia so I don't get burned out or bored with it. I also made asparagus and quinoa to go with it. Delicious!

Also, while browsing Pinterest, I came across a very helpful conversion chart. I'm going to print it out and hang it on my refrigerator. I'm always using my conversion app on my phone since I only cook for one person and most recipes are for two or more people. Enjoy!

6 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Weigh-In Wednesday

Today's Weight:

295.4

Yay!!! Successful Weigh-In Wednesday!!! I lost 3.4 pounds this week. I even had spring break at home, went to a concert with a bar, and went to my favorite Chinese restaurant yesterday. I'm afraid I'm not going to lose any next week because I didn't eat anything after about 2:00 yesterday, which affected my weigh-in, I'm sure. But I ate all of my daily allowed points, so who knows. It's going slow, but as long as I keep losing the weight, I'm happy. It seems like it went faster when I was in high school, but maybe it has slowed down as I've gotten older. (High school was only like 6 years ago. . .Wow, I feel old.) Anyway, Weight Watchers was excited for me today and I got another star badge: 25-pound milestone!! Also, it keeps sending me notifications, and I can only read part of them, but when I swipe it, nothing happens. It just takes me to my points tracker. I guess I'll never know the end of anything it has to say to me. Sometimes it's sassy, and I really want to know the rest, but. . .oh, well. Happy Weigh-In Wednesday, everyone!!!

Total Weight Loss: 26.6 pounds

Only 115.4 to go!

Artistic Antics

Happy Craft Tuesday, everyone! I actually took the day off from work today since I had the concert last night. I got to go to lunch with my brother and see my best friend, Amanda! Austin and I went to my favorite Chinese restaurant, Jeong's Canton, for lunch, and I ended up eating all of my points there (50 points plus). We ate at 1:30, so I actually wasn't hungry later on in the evening. So, it worked out. And I'm sure eating only once early in the day is going to benefit Weigh-In Wednesday tomorrow!
We had our second pottery class today, and let me just tell you. . .the teacher is going to get on my nerves. She's very condescending and doesn't really teach. I was learning to use the wheel today, and instead of telling me what to do or showing me, she just did it for me when I didn't do it right. I was annoyed. But, anyway, I'm having fun making different things (even if I do them all completely wrong according to the instructors). Today, I finished up my vase from last week (I forgot to take pictures of the final product - next week, I will remember), I (actually the teacher) made a bowl on the wheel, and then I started making a square dish. It's fun to have Robin and Caitlyn there, too, who totally appreciate my annoyance towards the instructors. They said they feel the same way. Hopefully it gets better as the class progresses. We'll see, though. Here's what I've made so far:

Tomorrow is Weigh-In Wednesday!

Phenomenal Foods

Today's Phenomenal Food is:

Olive Oil

I would say fail sauce, but I haven't been to bed, so I don't count it as Tuesday yet. So, anyway, olive oil is fabulous. I cook with it all of the time! Whenever I make chicken or salmon (since I don't have a grill), I put a teaspoon or 2 of olive oil in a pan and sear it. I also use it when I make pasta or pasta sauce. It has a lot of health benefits, too. (Of course, you need to use it in moderation since it's an oil, but a little bit of it is good for you.) According to the article "20 Superfoods for Weight Loss" from Self.com, "Like avocados, olive oil has healthy fat that increases satiety, taming your appetite. But that's hardly its only slimming feature. Research shows it also has anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic inflammation in the body is linked to metabolic syndrome." When I lived in Spain, they literally put olive oil on or in everything! Maybe that's why everyone in Europe stays so fit (along with walking evreywhere).

On another note, tonight was the Childish Gambino concert at the Midland! Oh. My. God. It was amazing!!! He did 3 encores. Plus, he did a few of his older songs along with his newest ones. All in all, it was a great concert! I can't wait to see him live again!

2 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Weekend Warrior

Happy spring break!!! I am actually quite proud of myself; I was home for 4 days and I not only worked out Thursday and Friday, but I stayed within my points every day! I went out to eat a couple of times with my family, and I had a birthday party to go to. We celebrated St. Patty's Day today with a meal of corned beef, cabbage, and new potatoes. My (fully German) grandparents came over to celebrate with us. I guess my dad, brother, and I are the only true Irish people here (even if it's only a fraction of our heritage). That's okay, though!

Grandma and Grandpa!

On another note, I'm going to the Childish Gambino concert tomorrow at the Midland! I am so excited! He's is one of my favorite artists/actors/comedians! He's on the show" Community," was in the movie "Mystery Team," and has a hilarious stand-up comedy bit called "Weirdo." Pictures to come!

Click to download his newest album: Because the Internet

To end this week's last post, I'll leave you with a picture of my ridiculous boxer, Cleo, who tore apart my bed while I was showering and fell asleep on her back. She woke up as I took a picture and looked like she knew she just got caught.

Silly puppy!

3 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Shopping Shenanigans

So far, it's been a wonderful spring break (no matter how short it is)! I got to see my grandparents 2 days in a row, I went shopping with my mom today, and then I went to the shooting range with my dad, my brother (Austin), and Cody (my brother's friend). Tomorrow, we're having a family dinner (grandparents included) to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. We're having corned beef and cabbage! Yum! (I'm part Irish, so I feel more legit when we celebrate.) Anyway, tomorrow is going to be my Wal-Mart run because we didn't fit it in today. I just need a few food things:

• Popcorn
• Crystal Light
• Light Butter
• Chipotle Tobasco Hot Sauce
• KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce
• Light Cream Cheese
• Tilapia
• Unsweetened Applesauce
• 45-Calorie Hamburger Buns

A pretty minimal list, since I bought a ton at Costco last weekend. My favorite shopping items of the weekend are the ones I bought today when I was out with my mom. I got 5 cute shirts, 2 pairs of work pants, 3 sports bras, 3 exercise tops, exercise pants, swim bottoms (not pictured - plain black shorts), and Fresh & Clean perfume from Victoria's Secret.

Also, I got in a lot of good practice at the shooting range today. I worked on my grip for my Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum, I got to try out my brother's 30 ot 6 hunting rifle, and I got to use my dad's .44 Magnum Henry rifle. It was a lot of fun! And, not to brag, but I got almost everything center-mass and a lot in the bullseye.

4 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Exercise Escapades

Yay! I worked out every day (Mon.-Fri.)!! Even on spring break, I kept it up! My wonderful grandparents took me with them to the YMCA Thursday and Friday so I could work out. It was a nice change from the T25 videos. I don't have the equipment to work much on my arms, so I focused on arm exercise machines for a good portion of my time. I wish there was a good gym close to my apartment. I actually enjoyed changing up my routine. Here's this week's workout schedule:

Monday: Focus T25 Lower Focus (Alpha)

Tuesday: Focus T25 Cardio (Alpha)

Wednesday: Focus T25 Speed 1.0 (Alpha)

Thursday: YMCA Circuit (45 minutes)

Friday: YMCA Circuit (45 minutes)

5 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Recipe Report

For today's Recipe Report, I decided to share a recipe for Crispy Panko-Topped Onions from Weight Watchers. I put onions in everything! I'm a bit obsessed. Anyway, I came across this recipe while I was surfing the "Recipes" section on WeightWatchers.com, and I decided I just had to try it! They looked so good, and they turned out to taste good, too! They are only 2 points a serving. (I had larger onions and added a little more Panko, so I counted them as 3 points.) Plus, they were super easy to make! You just halve some onions, spray them with some cooking spray, sprinkle on the spices, cook them, and then add the Panko during the last 25 minutes of baking! They tasted so good and were really filling! I'm definitely making them again!

6 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Weigh-In Wednesday

Today's Weight:

298.8

Well, people, I'm pretty happy this morning. I only lost 0.4 pounds this week, but I had counted on either not losing any or gaining a bit because of Saturday night. I guess Focus T25 paid off! I've noticed a pattern of one week, I'll lose a couple pounds and then the next week, I won't hardly lose anything. But, as long as I keep dropping the weight, I'm satisfied. I have spring break this week (Thursday and Friday), so I'll have more time at home. I'll have to exercise and eat well in a house where there are tons of snacks and goodies, but I think I can do it! It'll be good practice for the summer when I'm home with my family for a few months instead of by myself at my apartment. Happy Weigh-In Wednesday, everyone!

Total Weight Loss: 23.2 pounds

Only 118.8 to go!

Artistic Antics

Well, last week, Craft Tuesday was rescheduled for Thursday because of the weather and such. But, Craft Thursday was a success! I made a T-shirt for St. Patty's Day to wear at school. It was super easy to make!

Also, today was day 1 of our pottery class! Robin, Caitlyn, and I decided to take an 8-week class (2 hours every Tuesday) to make pottery. We arrived fashionably late, but only by 5 minutes. Then, the main instructor talked for 35 minutes before we even touched any clay. She claims to have taught this class for 18 years, and if so, she needs to spice it up a bit. But other than the droll instruction, it was actually pretty fun! They only have one wheel, so we're going to be making a lot of coil pots, pinch pots, and pots using the dowel method or flat rolling the clay to shape. We'll see how it goes. Robin actually got to use the wheel today, but she's done it before, so she didn't really have any trouble. Caitlyn and me, on the other hand, struggled just to shape our clay correctly. The instructors had to help us a lot. Nevertheless, it was fun! Not quite sure what I made (maybe a vase), but I'll get to paint it and then decide what to use it for.

Tomorrow is Weigh-In Wednesday!

Phenomenal Foods

Today's phenomenal food is:

Plain Yogurt!

I love yogurt, especially Greek yogurt. According to an article in Self.com, "Dietitians often refer to plain yogurt as the perfect food, and for good reason: With its trifecta of carbs, protein and fat, it can stave off hunger by keeping blood sugar levels steady." I use Fage (fa-yeh) Total 0% whenever I cook anything that calls for sour cream, mayonnaise, yogurt, etc. I also use it in place of sour cream on my baked potatoes. It really doesn't taste much different than light sour cream, and it costs me about half the points! I also mix in some spices to give it a little more flavor. Oh, and I used it when I made 5-Minute Healthy Peach Frozen Yogurt. It has been a fabulous addition to my refrigerator! I also bought Yasso Vanilla Bean Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars to have as a dessert. And since it's Greek yogurt, it's way better than regular ice cream. It only costs me 2 Points Plus!

2 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!