The upside of blogging....

every bite for all the world to see, is that you sure see what your food intake patterns are over time. Lately, the scales have been sliding ever downward, and yet? I have been eating more than usual. It has taken time, but I am getting it. The doc was right. I really do need to eat more. My blood sugars are remaining level too. That is just so bizarre, that it is scary. You go through life existing on toothpick floats, and then at this late date, you find out you could have had all sorts of good things without gaining! My loss is slow, but steady. I seem to drop, then maintain, then drop again. It has taken me a long time to lose fifty pounds, but thank goodness it is finally starting to show! The nice thing about taking time to lose, is that you become comfortable in your own skin as you go along - now that people are noticing the loss? I find it not so uncomfortable. It is just how things are now. I eat. I lose. Now for today's food. I dusted off the camera, because this mornings omelet was a beauty. You can't see the veggies but they are in there! The salsa on the side is 15 calories for two tablespoons....I didn't bother measureing, but it was two heaping teaspoons. Definitely worth the flavour jump! There is a teaspoon of corn relish dotting the top of the omelet...that stuff is loaded with calories so a single teaspoon is about all I was willing to "buy" with my day's calories!


Menu for Thursday
Breakfast: two egg omelet, skim milk, mushrooms




Lunch: cherries



Supper: fish topped with a light curry cream sauce (higgelty piggelty sauce with peas, diced carrots) with small steamed potatoes. This is one of my favourite meals, first eaten in Germany and never to be forgotten! It occured to me that there is likely a lot less calories and fat in this dish, cream and all, than there would be in a fast food burger. For 1/4 cup of whipping cream, the calorie count is 205 calories, and fat comes in at 22g. As this dish likely has less than 1/4 cup of cream in it, it is a real bargain when you pair it with a 120 cal piece of fish and 1/2 cup of peas and carrots. The little potatoes were also a healthy treat - the bag stated that five little potatoes were 80 calories and zero fat. All in all? I loved this supper! I am trying not to add too much salt to things, but just a little was needed to bring out the sweetness of the cream.

As an appetizer, I had three of my gluten free breadsticks and a dab of butter. I feel like I have eaten like a queen! If only I could present this dish a little better...it looks a bit "sloppy" but ohhhhh the taste!

Now, moving on....When grocery shopping, I have always been self concious of any "contraband" that was in my cart, whether it be Pizza Pops for my son, or cookies for us all. The other day, when I was filling up the buggy? I looked down to see all sorts of "evil" foods, and didn't blink an eye. Everything in moderation. There will always be negative people, but I do not need their presence, let alone their opinions!

On that note, I finally told off an acquaintance that always referred to me as "obeast" - really, she was that stupid! Anyway, I always felt sorry for her because she didn't have friends. It finally dawned on me, that there were definite reasons that she didn't! I have not only closed the door on the friendship, I've locked it. I realised that we have nothing in common, and what I thought was a friendship, was not. I find her judgmental and hurtful nature to difficult to deal with. I wish her well and no harm, but I cannot count her as my friend any more. There are wonderful positive people in my life, and no time to spend with downers! Maybe this is why people try to keep you fat and jolly? So you have patience for their bad behaviour? Who knows! But every day I seem to be getting healthier and stronger, and very less likely to put up with nonsense from people. I guess when you hear that so and so changed when she lost weight, this is likely the cause! The friends I have that are truly friends, have gotten better over the years, no matter what their weight or mine may be. Toxic people never want to see you happy, and so enjoy planting seeds of discontent. Well, mixing metaphors here? Take a hike and stop raining on my parade!

Pink Lady

Pink Lady. A 'new to me' apple that we bought at Costco yesterday. They come in an unusual plastic casing that keeps them from harm, and what beauties they are! I had one for breakfast this morning - very little core, and sweet firm flesh. So good! There is something about fall, and the smell of apples that just makes you feel that life is worth living.

We have been really busy with one thing and another, so this is about as exciting as it gets in the food department this week. It feels good to settle into a rhythm of food shopping, prep and meals that feels so comfortable. I must say I am getting used to having this many "feedings" during the day, and although it is a nuisance sometimes, I like the results!

The weekend will be warm in Winnipeg they say, so we are looking forward to spending a lot of time entertaining on the new deck. Eleven years we have been in this house, and I never felt the need to sit outside as much as we do now! I usually can't wait for the cooler weather, but this year, I have been chilly even on July evenings. Cardigans have become a necessity. What is next? Grey hair that grows in like a poodle's?

What makes a weight watching blog interesting to me....

are the really bad "before" pictures of the writer. I have been looking for a full body shot of me, you know, the definitive 'horrible shot' that eventually will make you look absolutely fabulous as a smaller version of yourself, completely attributed to the weight loss, of course! (the multiple trips to the hairdresser, and consultations with a personal stylist are never mentioned in the credits are they?) If there is one thing I have become adept at over the years, is holding small children, standing in front of chairs, and if at all possible, disappearing to the bathroom when I see a camera! The correlation between fat and stupid has never been scientifically proven, and we have all pulled moves to avoid cameras that Houdini would like to have thought of first! I am so much happier maintaining the mindset that I am really eighteen 'til I die (complete with body image) just like Bryan Adams. I do have a few 'group shots with explanation' ....why, yes, there I am, in the back row, with my neck stretched so you can't see all of my chins at once...no, not there, that is a bit of my lunch...right there, seeee????

So with this explanation, I offer this picture of me, holding a glass of Guinness in an Irish Pub. Pie-eyed, post-menopausal me. I am not sure I want to introduce myself to the universe as a stout (no pun intended) swilling fifty-something year old, but hey, I have been called worse! I will continue my search for the ultimate digital insult but until then, howdy do, universe!

PINCH ME!!! I must be dreaming! 5 weeks down, 99 to go .....

Believe it or not, this is my lunch!

Three slices of smoked turkey, one sliced tomato, a Kraft cheese slice (a real one! NOT fat-free) and a tablespoon of Hellman's light layered between two slices of tasty sprouted wheat bread. Sixteen Kettle Baked chips add a nice crunch on the side. I weigh, and measure, and check it all twice to make sure there is no mistake. For five weeks now, I have been absolutely delighted to be able to eat like this - and if that isn't enough? As a bonus, you even lose weight!

Now, tell me again, what is there to complain about? And this is not all of my lunch, either! I am still sipping on the V8 drink, and have a strawberry yogurt waiting for me in the kitchen! I just can not believe this is possible, yet, the scales told me yesterday that I am down 10 + pounds! It took me four years to lose twenty pounds, eating far less, less often.

Maybe it is all the chewing and food prep that I am doing that is burning the calories? I sort of stalled there for awhile, and was having problems with sugar levels being too low, but when I increased my dairy, and dropped some of the fat free items for their fatter counterparts, the scale moved downwards. This defies all logic, but who am I to argue?

Chicken Meatballs

This was supper tonight. I was surprised at how much flavour these had, since the only addition to the ground meat was an egg white, and 2 T of Italian Breadcrumbs! The entire recipe worked out to be be 15 points, for 15 meatballs gravy and all. We had five meatballs each (why resist?) and there is a meal waiting for "leftover Monday" in the frig! Of course, we added a spoonful of lingonberries at the table! Potatoes were extra of course.

1. 400 gms ground chicken
2. 2 T Italian Bread Crumbs
3. 1 egg white
4. 2 T finely diced onion
5. 2 T flour
6. 2 cups FF chicken broth
7. 1T olive oil

Form first four ingredients into 1 inch balls. Lightly roll in flour. Brown in Teflon pan with olive oil. Mix 1/2 cup of chicken broth with flour, and add to pan, add remaining broth. Simmer till gravy thickens to desired consistency.

Friday

Yesterday's culinary highlight was corn on the cob done in the microwave, then finished on the grill. Wow. That is an idea I will use when we have company this weekend. Loved the look of the brown bits on the cob! Every once in a while, you have to feed the inner carnivore so I also made myself a good 6 oz steak. Brushed it with a little Tony Roma's sauce toward the end of cooking time, and it was mm mmm good!

Tonight's dinner will involve some ground chicken that I bought last grocery trip. Thought I would try some meatballs and gravy. A "take" on the meatballs they serve at Ikea stores, with lingonberries. I wish Winnipeg had an Ikea, just for the lingonberries! They are like cranberries on steroids. As Saskatoon berries are to blueberries, lingonberries are to cranberries. Just better. I haven't calculated the points yet, but I am sure they are worth every single fraction!

Gravy is so easy to make low fat...chicken broth and a bit of browned flour, and a teaspoon of butter in a Teflon pan. I don't even know why I bother with the butter, but it just seems wrong not to have a little fat in there! Over a four portion recipe, it adds so few calories, but I still account for it by shorting my portion just a little! And of course, tiny potatoes are a necessity!

Since I eat five times a day now, it becomes challenging. For lunch today, I sliced 'Fred the lone potato' I bought yesterday, into super thin slices, sprayed lightly with Pam, sprinkled the slices with onion powder and in thirteen minutes? 4 ounces of LUNCH! Ketchup was extra, but looks pretty good for 2.5 points, wouldn't you say? The thinner ones that I prefer, get nice and crispy like a hot potato chip, and the thicker ones taste like french fries. So simple, but so easy to eat! I have cut diet pop down to once a day, but a glass of sparkling lime went great with these!

I am still nibbling away at the sauerkraut salad. They say that eating sauerkraut every day boosts your immune system, and that you won't get colds or flu's as easily. My 'earthy' power of discernment tells me that you don't get sick simply because people stop getting close enough to you to give you their germs! Life is so much safer when enveloped by a protective 'sauerkraut' cloud!

Can you say Reuben?

Today, I invited myself to lunch at my friend's house. We were going through her wardrobe of oh so tiny clothes now that she is oh so tiny again, and worked up a not so tiny appetite! You know? It is funny how I never noticed that she had any significant weight to lose, until she lost it. That is how it is with little people. They kind of pass under your nose, and you don't notice anything much more than the tops of their heads! She does have great hair, by the way. But, one day, there they stand in front of you, in their newly shrunken state, and whoa! Where did you go? And more importantly, can I come too?

Anyway, she made me the most delicious lunch I have had in ages! So full of flavour - a real Oktoberfest in your mouth! And to top it all off? She served it with baked potato chips on the side. That was just decadent, if you ask me! I wish I had my camera to take a picture, because it was my "first" Reuben ever. Who would have thought to put sauerkraut on bread?(the rest of the world, but did I mention I don't get out much?) Armed with all the cautions and details of construction, I stopped off at the grocery store, and bought everything necessary to build this monumental bit of goodness at home. Fat Free Swiss Cheese, Montreal Smoked Meat and light rye bread - plus a few more items I am looking forward to experimenting with over the next few days. Can you say shrimp skewers, haddock and fries? As I was saying, the whole incredible lunch including a tasty lemon cookie and lots of coffee came to only 7 points! My version, which I chose to repeat for supper since hubby is out of town, is only five as you see it. By the way? The dills give the needed complimentary crunch - not as good as the chips, but hey! They are no pointers!

So, to "you know who you are" thank you for forging ahead through so many of life's mazes, and showing me the way. For that, I am forever thankful. Give a woman a sandwich and you feed her a meal. Give her instructions, and you feed her for a lifetime!

Supper Time, Supper Time, Supper, Supper, Supper Time!

It has been a long time since we had a traditional Sunday dinner of roast chicken, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots at our house, but here is a compromise! Those roasted Deli chickens sure can go a long way, and proof of that is the leftover breast languishing in the frig - not quite enough for three on its own though!


This is about 12 points for the whole recipe, divide it how you will! It is good over baked potatoes, noodles or even oven fries, if you have the points to burn! MMMM comfort food. So here it comes...

Chicken a la Green!

1 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 T finely diced onion(s), give or take
2 chicken bouillon cubes
8 oz chicken breast, cooked, skinless
3 cups of fat-free chicken broth (or as much as it takes to get the right consistency for the sauce)
1/2 cup frozen peas and carrots
trimmed raw spinach

Stir finely chopped onion into butter...add flour, then milk, broth and flavour cube (if needed) to make a light cream sauce, add chicken and vegetables - simmer until warmed through. Add a couple of handfuls of trimmed raw spinach just before serving to wilt down into the sauce. Gotta love that spinach! Today, I am going to serve it with potatoes baked on the barbecue and a pan of roasted mushrooms, onions, red and green peppers.

For dessert? We are having Mini angel cakes from Sobey's with a mixture of fresh fruit and a bit of Light Cool Whip on top! Sweetened with Splenda, the points came in at less than 2 for the whole dessert!

One Point Strawberry Shortcake?

Yep! I bought little angel cakes from Sobey's, and they came in at one point each. I sweetened the strawberries with Splenda, so they were free! And, the light Cool Whip? Also very, very free! You know, when I wasn't on WW, we never had desserts, so this is a pretty wonderful concept to a formerly dessert less couple!

The menu for the day really seems rather tame, compared to the dessert! I finally got around to making the stuffed zucchini and it was a definite hit. It never ceases to amaze me how the best recipes come out of our leftovers! Tonight, our dinner was made even more enjoyable, because we ate out on the deck. Ahhhh summer!

Slight Change of Plan

Well, yesterday's lunch of tortilla "pizzas" was so good, I just had to make them for supper, too! My intention was to take a picture but before I knew it, they just vanished! Not only did this happen at lunch time, but at dinner time too, so you will have imagine what these tortillas looked like in all their crispy goodness! For 6 1/2 points for two, from start to finish, they can't be beat!

I am not a great fan of tomato sauce, so I used a teaspoon of pesto as a base on each tortilla. Before serving, I added a very light dusting of Parmesan and some red pepper flakes while they were hot out of the oven. "Real" pizza is just not worth all the points for one piece when these are so much easier on the digestive tract! Next time I am going to try this with spinach and feta. Can't wait!

We had strawberries dipped in Splenda for dessert - I needed a "sweet fix". I was amazed that the Splenda tasted sooooooooooo good! I am now officially a convert. If you can eat the stuff on a strawberry, and it tastes great? What else can you do with this miracle of modern science? Dare we bake????

The menu for today is very simple:

Morning

All Bran and milk with my new friend, Splenda.

Midday

Top Dogs and Wonder Bun for lunch. I never ate hot dogs before WW but now? This treat is my new summertime favourite! I use two hot dogs in one bun, just to make sure I am not stuck with an empty bun for my last bite! Slathered with mustard, relish and onions? Mystery meat at its finest! Sauerkraut salad on the side. I have been making this for years, and it is always a big hit. If you like marinated salads, I think you just may like this! Turns out that it is a freebie, too! No points! If you were running short of points, I think you could lose the bun, and make a good lunch of just the hot dogs and sauerkraut salad. It would be pretty tasty for four points, wouldn't you say?


Sauerkraut Salad
2 cups sauerkraut, well-drained
1 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup Sugar Twin (Splenda!)
2 tbs. chili sauce
1 tsp. dried parsley flakes


In a large bowl combine sauerkraut, green pepper, onion and celery. In a small bowl, combine vinegar, Sugar Twin, chili sauce, and parsley flakes. Add vinegar mixture to sauerkraut mixture. Mix well to combine. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Gently stir again, just before serving.

Evening

Stuffed zucchini with tomato sauce, with a tossed Greek salad. Since I used the sausage on the tortillas yesterday, I will just use the leftover pork tenderloin in the stuffing. Maybe add some mushrooms, celery and onions into to the mix, too. There are so many "freebies" that you can use to really plump out a menu! And, since I am making a mess chopping for the salad, I may as well prep the veggies for the zucchini at the same time.

Snacks

V8, fresh apricots, nectarines, grapes, Susie's Flat Bread with Laughing Cow Cheese.

They say....

that building a new habit takes three weeks. I am inclined to believe it. But another fact is that it only takes stepping out of the traces a couple of times to completely erase one! The habit I will be working on for the next three weeks, is making specific daily menu plans. Here is what I have planned for today.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Morning
cheese toast made with 2 serving FF Swiss Cheese
1 serving Stone Ground Thin Bread 2 slices
1/2 cup All Bran w 1 1/2 glass skim milk



Midday

1 medium nectarine(s)
Smoked Turkey Sandwich

Evening
2 Chicken Feta Sausages from Costco (only 3 points each or special deal, 2 for 5!)
1 8 oz barbecued potato & sliced onion, brushed with 2 tsp butter

green beans

Snacks
1 cup of grapes @ 11

Sliced Tomatoes @ 3
4 fresh sliced tomato(es)
sprinkled with

1 tsp homemade basil pesto
30 g Feta Cheese
2 tsp olive oil & S&P, balsamic vinegar to taste

(this platter is for two, so that makes a pretty hefty snack for 2 1/2 points per person)

1 wedge Laughing Cow Cheese with 1 serving (3 pieces) Susie's Multi Seed Flatbread @ bedtime