Weigh-In Wednesday

Today's Weight:

275.8

Happy Weigh-In Wednesday, everybody! I lost exactly 0 this week.I thought I was going to lose a bunch because I spent the entire 3-day weekend moving and working up a good sweat, but I guess not. I did, however, have a bit of a cheat day. My cousins brought over homemade ice cream and apple cake, along with fast food, so I guess that's what could've done me in. I stepped on the scale yesterday (because I have a problem with weighing too often) and it said I had gained 2 pounds, so I'm pretty happy that this morning (official weigh-in day) it was back to normal. Hopefully next Wednesday will be better because I'm back on track and back into a routine.
On another note, hopefully my internet starts working at my house so that I can post every day like normal, but I'm still working out kinks with CenturyLink, so I'm posting from my work computer before our all-day workshop. There's going to be pizza for lunch, so hopefully I can control myself. Mmm, pizza!

Total Weight Loss: 46.2 pounds

Only 95.8 to go!

Moving Mayhem

Well, it's been killing me that I haven't been able to post in the past couple of days. I've been in the process of moving from my apartment to a house. And I'm EXHAUSTED!!! However, I worked out every weekday this week (treadmill, moving, yoga, and kickball) and stayed pretty much within my points value each day.

Today, I've mostly been unpacking boxes and hanging decorations. My phone doesn't let me post photos, so they'll come once everything's done (hopefully tomorrow) and when I have internet again (hopefully Tuesday). See you as soon as I can!

Recipe Report

For today's Recipe Report, I'm sharing my mom's homemade spaghetti sauce. It's DELICIOUS! It's a bit time-consuming, but it's totally worth the wait. Here it is:

I substitute the sugar for something like Splenda or Truvia to make it lighter. It still tastes exactly the same! I figured it out to be about 2 points per serving (enough sauce to coat 2 cups of pasta). Not bad at all on the points scale!

6 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Weigh-In Wednesday

Today's Weight:

275.8

Happy Weigh-In Wednesday, everyone! I lost 3.2 pounds this week!!! I don't know why I'm losing more than 1 or 2 pounds each week like WW says I'm supposed to, but I'm not complaining!!! I'll just let it be sassy with me. I'm super stoked that it just keeps coming off! I know that if I stick with it, this time next year, I could be at my goal weight! That is so exciting!!!

Total Weight Loss: 46.2 pounds

Only 95.8 to go!

Artistic Antics

Well, I would've posted on time yesterday, but my internet decided to stop working. I'll have to call my tech-savvy brother to fix it. I'm a bit challenged when it comes to stuff like that. If turning it off and then back on again didn't work, there's not much more I know how to do. Hahaha. Anyway, here's what was supposed to be posted yesterday for Artistic Antics:
My day consisted of making gift baskets for my A+ student and my kiddos for the end of the year. My A+ tutor has been a huge help this year and I couldn't have gotten as many things done as I did if he hadn't come in every other day to help me out. So, I asked his mom (the lunch lady at our school) what he liked. She said Sun Chips and Gatorade, so I bought those along with some little automotive things (since he just bought a truck). I got him Fix-A-Flat, a tire pressure gauge, a USB charger, Armor All wipes, and a pack of gum that fits in the cup holder. I also had my students write him thank you notes. He was pretty surprised and seemed to like it.

Then, for Craft Tuesday, I bought a bunch of bubbles and Play Dough at the dollar store and am going to make cute little gift bags with an owl-shaped tag that says, "OWL miss you. Hope your summer is a HOOT." I hope they like them! I can't believe the last day of school is Friday!

Lastly, I just want to post that I got my first apple as a teacher. It was so cute!

Phenomenal Foods

Today's Phenomenal Food is:

Grapefruit!

Grapefruit is so, so yummy! I love it, but I never seem to buy it often. I think it's because it's a lot of effort to eat and it's hard to have time-consuming food in your lunch when you're a teacher and get maybe 10 minutes to eat. But, I'll have to start having one for breakfast or an after-school snack.
An article called Keeping-It-Off Superfoods from Webmd.com says, "Maybe there was something to the old grapefruit diet after all: A study found that grapefruit may help encourage weight loss and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Study participants who ate a grapefruit at each meal for 12 weeks lost an average of 3.6 pounds (some in the group lost as much as 10 pounds), while a comparison group that didn't eat grapefruit lost 1/2 pound, according to a recent pilot study by Scripps Clinic in San Diego. The researchers noticed that after the meals, the grapefruit eaters also had reduced levels of insulin and blood sugar."
Another article called Say "Yes" to Grapefruit from DatHealth.com says that grapefruit has many other health benefits, too, such as:

• Enhance the immune system
• Large amounts of vitamin C helps in the fight against colds. According to studies, vitamin C is also an excellent fighter against diseases in the mouth and stomach.
• Preventing kidney stones
• Kidney stones are usually cumulative calcium. Once this problem occur, it is difficult to get rid of it, despite the many natural remedies and help from doctors. The best way to deal with kidney stones is drinking a liter of grapefruit juice per day.
• Naturally burns fat
• Grapefruit is also a great fighter against fat. Scientific studies show tremendous power in breakfasts that contains this fruit. The simplest way to melt pounds is a glass of grapefruit every morning.
• Improve Metabolism
• Grapefruit also speeds up metabolism and supporting efforts to lose weight. Combined with good nutrition and regular physical activity can significantly contribute to improving metabolism.
• Cleansing the liver
• Grapefruit helps the body to get rid of toxins. Drinking grapefruit juice will definitely help you feel better. This method of detoxification is simple and does not require much funding. It also helps you to get rid of depression, tightened muscles and chronic headaches.
• Prevention of lung cancer
• Studies also showed that grapefruit is an excellent prevention against lung cancer. According to them, only two cups a day is enough to remove the damage caused by cigarettes and other harmful gases. Grapefruit activates enzymes that fight against this deadly disease.
• Reduce bad cholesterol
• Studies show that with grapefruit you can reduce bad cholesterol by 15 % and triglycerides (another form of bad cholesterol) can be reduced by 17 %.

Sounds like a good enough reason to start buying some grapefruit to me! Mmm, mmm!

2 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Motorcycle Mania

Well, I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, but that's okay. I was super busy with my motorcycle class all weekend long. It was so much fun!! I learned a ton and feel much more comfortable on a bike now. The class was Friday night, Saturday all day, and part of the day today. We learned everything from starting and stopping to making U-turns and going around sharp curves. We learned to swerve and ride over things like 2x4s by standing up on the footrests and accelerating. I only had one injury (scraping my knee) because I took a turn too sharp when weaving in and out of cones, and the bike started to fall, so I jammed my knee into the ground so that the bike didn't hit the pavement. My instructor was impressed that I didn't dump the bike, so I guess a small cut is worth saving the motorcycle. Hahaha. Our instructors were awesome and everyone in the class was super nice and supportive. I had an absolute blast! Next week, when school's out, I'm heading straight up to the DMV to get my motorcycle endorsement on my license. My whole family passed with flying colors (my dad and brother only missed 1 point on the driving test, which they're pretty proud about). I still need a lot of practice, but I can't wait to get a bike of my own so I can practice more and go on trips with the family. I already have a snazzy new helmet, so now I just need riding boots, a riding jacket, riding gloves, rain gear, blah, blah, blah, money, money, money. It'll all be worth it, though, when I get a motorcycle! Yay, successful and fun weekend!!! Here are some photos from the weekend and a link to a video of me practicing on my dad's bike.

3 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Exercise Escapades

Well, everyone, I kind of failed today. I worked out every day but today because I had my first night of motorcycle class and figured we'd be active. But, it was cold and rainy, so we just did a bunch of classroom stuff and now I'm too tired to work out. Fail. Oh, well. I still did well the rest of this week. Tomorrow, we'll be outside and on motorcycles and doing maneuvers and such all day tomorrow, so maybe that'll help even things out. Anyway, here's this week's boring workout schedule:

Monday: Treadmill - 35 min.

Tuesday: Treadmill - 30 min.

Wednesday: Treadmill - 30 min.

Thursday: Treadmill - 30 min.
Friday: Fail Sauce

5 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Recipe Report

Today's recipe report is one of my own creation. I'm in love with the Buffalo Chicken Salad from 54th Street Bar and Grill, but it's SO MANY calories! I decided to make my own copycat version of it, with some extra ingredients I like to have in my salads. I threw together romaine lettuce, onion, mushrooms, broccoli and carrot shreds, tomatoes, feta cheese (1 oz. per serving), tortilla strips (3 1/2 tablespoons), cilantro (fresh), and light chipotle ranch (Hidden Valley Light Ranch with chipotle seasoning mixed in since I couldn't find any light chipotle ranch at the store). I figured it out to be 11 points plus (using 4 tablespoons of light ranch) before the chicken. Sadly, I didn't have time to grill any buffalo chicken, but it tasted delicious without it! It's so filling and yummy, I could eat it every day for lunch!

6 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Weigh-In Wednesday

Today's Weight:

279.0

Happy Weigh-In Wednesday, everybody! Guys, I'm so excited because I officially have less than 100 pounds to go!!! AHHH!!! I lost 4.8 pounds this week, even though I was worried I wouldn't lose much because I stopped doing Focus T25 and started walking on my treadmill again, but I guess it's working just fine. Also, I got another 5-pound star!! I can't believe I've lost 43 pounds since January. I felt like it was going slow at times, but I guess 43 pounds in 4 1/2 months isn't bad at all! Wish me luck with the next 99 pounds! My next goal weight will be when I hit 50 pounds lost. Only 7 more to go for that!

Total Weight Loss: 43.0 pounds

Only 99.0 to go!

Choir Concert

Instead of Craft Tuesday, I had a spring music concert at my elementary school where my second graders performed. It was actually a really good concert! I was quite proud of my kiddos because they stayed quiet throughout the whole concert (probably because I threatened to move their behavior clips to red if they didn't). Every grade performed and did really well! Since I can't post pictures of my students, here's a picture of what I wore:

Tomorrow is Weigh-In Wednesday!

Phenomenal Foods

Today's Phenomenal Food is:

Sprouts!

I have an obsession with sprouts. It's my favorite topping at Planet Sub and I can never find them anywhere! Apparently they can carry salmonella if they're not taken care of or washed properly, so they can be kind of a health hazard if you buy them from a grocery store. However, I found the solution: grow your own! I found a great tutorial about growing your own sprouts called Windowsill Sprouting My Way Through Winter and decided to give it a try! It was SO EASY! And now I have more sprouts than I know what to do with! I just used lentil beans, washed a cup of them (and picked out the broken beans and leaves), soaked them in water overnight, put them in a jar with cheesecloth over the top, and then rinsed them and drained them really well twice a day for about a week, and viola! Super easy and super delicious!
In addition to being easy to grow, sprouts have a bunch of health benefits, as well. According to the tutorial above, "Lentils help cleanse and stimulate the kidneys and adrenal system, strengthen the heart and circulation and increase energy and vitality. When lentils are sprouted, their nutrients become more easily digestible, and after just 3-4 days of sprouting, their soluble fiber, which helps lower LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar and regulate insulin levels, increases 300 percent!" Looks like I can add these crunchy little delicacies to my meals from now on!

2 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Marvelous Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!!! This weekend was full of different celebrations: Caitlyn's graduation and Mother's Day. I actually did really well staying within my points each day, so I'm pretty happy about that!
My mom and I got pedicures today after she got her presents. She was pleasantly surprised by what I got her: stained glass. She LOVES stained glass, but she hasn't really found any that are (1) pretty and (2) affordable. So, I decided to take a chance and just type in "stained glass" on Amazon.com and ended up getting tons of choices. She is super excited to hang it up in her house, so I think she'll enjoy it for a long time.
This evening, we celebrated by having my grandparents over for dinner. They are the most amazing grandparents in the world. They help me out so much and are so supportive and encouraging. There really needs to be a Grandparents' Day, in my opinion! I love you both so much!
And, lastly, happy Mother's Day, Mom. You are always there to support me in anything I do. I couldn't have asked for a better example in life. I love you so much!!!

3 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Graduation Grandeur

Oops! I forgot to post yesterday. Well, I didn't go shopping because it was one of my best friend's graduation! I'm so very proud of Caitlyn. We've known each other since high school, and I'm so luck to have known her. She is sweet, kind, caring, determined, and can face anything that's thrown at her. I love you, best friend!

Exercise Escapades

Well, everyone. I didn't quite work out every week day this week. Wednesday, I was super tired. I had just finished testing my second graders all day, then we had an early-out day for a staff meeting in the afternoon, and then I spent time at my cousin Doc's house to look at his newly planted flowers. When I went home, I ate leftovers and passed out in my clothes. I didn't wake up until the morning. So, to make up for missing my workout on Wednesday, I did double the time on the treadmill Thursday. That counts, right? Plus, we played Frisbee for 50 minutes Tuesday and then an extra 7 minutes on the treadmill Monday due to finishing the chapter on my Kindle, so that added some, too. Anyway, here's this week's boring workout schedule:

Monday: Treadmill - 37 min.

Tuesday: Frisbee - 50 min.

Wednesday: Fail Day :(

Thursday: Treadmill - 60 min.
Friday: Treadmill - 30 min.

5 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Recipe Report

For today's Recipe Report, we have a lovely Crab Salad with Cucumber and Tomato. It was super easy to make and only cost me 4 point for a serving (1/4 of the whole salad). I added some salt and pepper for some flavor. It was actually pretty good! It's a good side dish for any meal and tastes so fresh, it's perfect for summer! Go ahead and try it! Also, happy 100th post!!!

6 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Weigh-In Wednesday

Today's Weight:

283.8

Happy Weigh-In Wednesday, everyone! I'm finally back on track. It's been a somewhat normal week (food schedule-wise), so I'm glad to see some positive results! I went to a Chinese buffet Monday and then to a pot luck (or a "pitch in" according to Robin) for our pottery class. I counted my points as best I could, so I'm very happy with losing 1.4 pounds this week! This weekend is my friend's college graduation, and she wants to go out, so I'll have to really have some self-control. I'm super excited for her, though! Anyway, wish me luck with this weekend!

Total Weight Loss: 38.2 pounds

Only 103.8 to go!

Artistic Antics

Final day of pottery!!! YAY!!! Well, people, I'm quite pleased with my pottery pieces. They all turned out really well, and I can't wait to start using them! We had a pot luck tonight for the whole class, and good thing I made spaghetti, otherwise we would've been eating lettuce, strawberries, and dessert. I was the only one to bring a main dish. Also, Robin made these delicious cookies (of which I ate 3) and everyone loved them. I'm going to have to try to make them sometime soon. Happy last day of pottery!!!
I was quite proud of myself; I didn't overeat or "forget" to count things I ate. Also, after pottery, Robin, Brittany, Austin, and I went and played Frisbee for almost an hour! I was happy to do something physical other than walk on my treadmill or a T25 video. Plus, it's much more fun around friends. Wish me luck in the morning!

Tomorrow is Wegih-In Wednesday!

Phenomenal Foods

Today's Phenomenal Food is:

Avacados!

This yummy food is one of my favorites! I love, love, love homemade guacamole (or any guacamole for that matter). I also love them on sandwiches or just by themselves! They're so creamy and delicious, they're hard to resist. An article called 7 Fat Loss Superfoods That Live Up to Their Name from huffingtonpost.com says, "I'm thrilled this fabulous fruit, high in healthy monounsaturated fat and fiber, finally gets the recognition it deserves. One recent study concluded that avocado 'improved overall diet quality, nutrient intake, and reduced risk of metabolic syndrome.' Nice. One cup contains a whopping 10 grams of appetite-curbing fiber, which makes it the perfect food to top salads and grass-fed burgers or eat straight up as a snack or mini-meal." I love anything that helps my metabolism do its job, and if it's delicious, well, that's just one more perk! And now, for some avocado humor:

2 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Weekend Warrior

Happy Sunday, everyone! Sorry for not keeping to my posting schedule all weekend long. It was a crazy, busy weekend! Anyway, today was a pretty fun day. I hung out with some of my favorite people and my godson, went to lunch with them at Panera Bread, and then went to dinner with my parents and their friends at Gates Barbecue. It was difficult to stay within my points, but I did it!! Yay, me! Next weekend, my friend Caitlyn is graduating from college, so it'll be another hectic weekend where it's hard to maintain my points. Hopefully, it'll be okay. Wish me luck!

3 days until Weigh-In Wednesday!

Shopping Shenanigans

Instead of shopping yesterday, my friends and I went out to eat and to our friend's baby shower and then another friend and I went to a car show. I hadn't seen my friend (and sorority sister) Shannon in a long time, so it was really nice to catch up. She looks like she's about to pop! The shower was really nice, but there was tons of food and desserts there to tempt me. I did really well and only tasted one thing (since I blew a ton of points at lunch). Then, we left and my friend Kevin came over and we went to a car show with my family. We went out to eat for dinner, and I wasn't really hungry, so Kevin and I split a fajita dinner (mostly veggies and grilled meat). BUT...I got a margarita. A big one. So, I'm sure I blew my points by a ton. Hopefully, since I met my Fitbit goal of 10,000 steps, that helped burn some of it off. Here's to hoping!