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?

Homer's Restaurant

For anyone in that lives in Winnipeg, the name brings visions of great Greek food! I didn't begrudge a single point I 'spent' there last night! I am trying to be a bit more relaxed about counting things that I have not prepared myself, but there is still a part of me that says one restaurant meal should mean giving up your FLEX points for the week, just in case. Since it is Wednesday, and I just got a brand new batch of FLEX points, I think that would be a too bit much in this instance! So, instead? I made sure that I took the top values for everything when I used the WW Points Tracker online. Small Greek Salad with a fresh white bun to start (if you have been to Homer's you know how good they are. Completely irresistible!) chicken souvlaki (one skewer) a roasted potato and seasonal vegetables. By George, I think I've got it! Another lifestyle concept!

Crowing!

As of this morning, I have lost 13.2 pounds of me! I never would have thought in a million years that it was possible, but the scale does not lie.

Fooooood I need foooooood.....

Well so much for living vicariously. Guess it is time to make a proper meal! Yesterday, I 'gleaned' and stayed within points, but today? I just don't feel right. Time to go back to making proper meals! So much for my carefree walk on the wild side!

There is something to be said for a "meat and potatoes" type of meal. For one, the points on a meal like that are lower, and so much more filling! So, for supper, I will make a chicken breast, boil a potato and steam some baby carrots. Of course, a gravy that is made with no fat whatsoever and chicken broth tops it all perfectly. I can't get over how the gravy turns out like silk. For a tablespoon of flour and a couple cups or so of broth there is so much flavour! And leftovers! With a little bit of cheese, and oven baked potatoes, it could conceivably be recycled into poutine, too. Now there's a thought. I still haven't used all of my flex points this week, but I just haven't felt the need for them. The daily points are quite sufficient at this point, but I hear it gets scary at the 'skinny' end of the chain! But, there again, the points melt away gradually, as does the weight, and a lower weight requires fewer calories. Another bonus is, that as you get skinny, you get more active, so I guess it all works out.

Wouldn't it be grand to be able to predict what your weight loss would be and when you would reach certain weights? I made a spreadsheet of sorts, to get a general idea of how long it will take before reaching certain weights. I wanted to get a general feel of how to budget for new clothing, and see where I will be at coming events. There is a "Barefoot Caribbean Cruise" on a sailing ship coming up next May that I will need to have new clothes for....my summer things are already showing "bag lady" tendencies! If I work on the premise that I can lose five pounds a month, it gives me a general idea. Although I do realize that sometimes that just may not happen. The rate has been somewhat better than that for these first two months, but I am not optimistic enough to think that rate will last forever!

I am curious to know when I won't have to shop at the Plus-sized stores. Sizes have changed so much over the years, it is next to impossible for me to try to guess when that may be. What we really need in the marketplace is standardized sizing. However, that being said, I really don't want to go back to the good old days, when a size sixteen was pretty much the largest size available, and fit a figure with a 36" bust! The good old days weren't so good, trust me! As things begin to "hang" I am going to discard them. I clean my closet at least four times a year now, to get rid of things that I just don't like anymore, but I still have a pretty full closet! They say that you use 20% of the clothing you have at any given point, and I am inclined to agree with that statistic. No matter how many things I may own, that fit, and look good, I find that I return to a few favourites that I wear consistently. Basically, I need very few clothes to get by, and for each season a small capsule wardrobe will be sufficient. A couple of dresses, a basic set of coordinating skirt, pants, jacket and tops will do quite nicely. I don't have to worry about 'saving' them, because hopefully, they won't be in use for that long, so pricey "investment" purchases won't be necessary. It will be quite convenient too, to be able to get dressed in a minute because I won't be facing a lot of choices! I am hoping that I can squeak by this winter with what I have, but if not? It won't be an entirely unpleasant thing to go shopping for smaller sizes, will it?

Good news Monday

Back to normal after a good weekend. We had company for breakfast on Saturday morning, and company for supper Saturday night. Sunday, we totally relaxed and did NOTHING after the morning meeting! Hubby left for parts east this morning, so I have the next three days to do whatever I want. That usually means making a mess in one area of the house or another, all in the name of cleaning! It passes the time, and feeds my compulsive desire for order. Works for me!

This morning I was shocked to see the scale drop. Yesterday I was a total slug, had burgers (plural) for lunch, and mac & cheese for supper. Two bags of ketchup chips kept the grumblies away while vegging (mostly snoozing, to be honest!) in front of the television during the evening. The only vegetables were the onions on the burgers, and the pickled beets that are mandatory with the PC White Cheddar Mac & Cheese! ( 8 points per cup, if you put in 1/8 cup of butter instead of 1/4 cup, and eat 1/3 of whole thing) All of that debauchery used up my daily points PLUS 8.5 of my Flex points, but it was lovely! The miracle of this program is that you can do things like that without any guilt. It would almost look like you are rewarded for it. The scale won't budge for days, and when you go over the top? It is almost guaranteed that the numbers finally drop. Who'd a thunk?

So, today my plan is simple. I don't have one. When I am on my own, I tend to eat only when starving. I get involved in something, and simply forget to eat, since there isn't any whining for nourishment to distract me from the task at hand. There are five pounds of plums sitting on the kitchen island, so I think fruit will make up the majority of points for the next few days. Nature's fast food!

I confess that am a social eater. I hate eating by myself. Eating is a primal thing. Experienced best with a companion. And although I am capable of feeding myself well, I much prefer to feed someone else, and eat with them! While the man is away, I arrange to share at least a couple meals with friends. But, if push comes to shove, I will make a turkey pepperoni and mushroom "pizza" using a tortilla base for myself. That is easy to eat in front of a computer screen so I can socialize online, at least!

Getting enough sleep seems to make a difference in the rate of my weight loss. Does that make sense? I do notice that after the nights that I sleep longer, the scale moves down. It might have something to do with water retention, but whatever it is, I think it is a good plan to aim for longer nights and a regular bed time. You would think that by the time you were pushing sixty that you would have a handle on these basic functions, but no. Life becomes even more of a mystery.

The belief that old people have wisdom is merely another "urban legend" with as much credibility as the story about "the hook" or "the hitchhiker". I have met children with wisdom of the ages, and I have seen the aged with the wisdom of a bag of hammers. Just goes to show, that age is just a measurement of the time you have stuck around the planet, not a gauge of intelligence or character! There is never a point where there is not a need to progress.

And so ends week 7 of this segment of my journey.

Who'd think...

you could eat a hamburger that was soooooooooooo juicy and good, and not go off the rails? Last night, we tried the PC Blue Menu Burgers - get this, as a SNACK! My nearest and dearest forgot to take out the pork tenderloin, so supper was a bit sparse...cheese toast and ministrone soup - it just wasn't enough to keep the grumblies away. On the way home from furniture shopping, we picked up some of these beauties and threw them on the barbecue. They were soooooo good! With a Wonder Bun (may spring for a larger bun next time, as there was sooooooooo much meat and I do love those sesame seeds on the top!) the total points? 7. Yep. 7. A Big Mac is 13, and not nearly as good as this was for just a little over half the points! What amazes me most, is that I had almost enough points to cover this major snack without digging into my weekly Flex points - I ended the day only two points over, easily covered by FLEX points. (I have 29 of those beauties left to burn by next Wednesday morning when a whole new batch is dropped from heaven! )

As life unfolds on this program, I am appreciating more and more that it is a lifestyle change. Never before would I sit down to a burger at nine in the evening, let alone enjoy it without one shred of guilt. Now that is a change you can live with!

Getting out of the house...or not....

It has been an entire week of project after project! The deck skirting is on, a years worth of basil pesto is in the freezer and the garage is now a thing of beauty. There is not a scrap of laundry in sight to be done. I have been chained to the house but I am amazed at my ability to spend money without opening the door!

I really love online shopping! No lines, no hassles...and the best part is, that your purchase is delivered right into your hands. My mail person is a bit miffed about the number of deliveries to our house, but mehhhhh. Deal with it!

Over the years I have discovered that pretty much everything you need in life eventually can be purchased at Costco, or online. The rest goes onto a list to be bought "whenever", which around here, is more like WHEN??? NEVER! I sooooo hate shopping. There are too many choices, and none of them ever seem to be exactly what I want. Usually we end up buying the least offensive thing, and not being happy with it at all. So, my mindset now is, that 'nothing' is better than the 'wrong thing', so I hope that eventually I will find what I want, need, and yes, love. Life is too short to compromise.

Back to the delivery that arrived this morning. It was a tiny wallet that holds all of my credit cards, money and driver's license in the smallest configuration imaginable! I can slip this little number into a pocket, and leave my purse at home. Which, when you think of it, really borders on heresy for a purse fanatic. But the thought of being able to use both hands and save my back was so appealing! As a result, I am ready to shop today - hands free! Maybe it will be more pleasant. In the same package, came a dandy little "Rubba Scrubba" brush...silicone bristles that are purported to dig out dirt like no other! I have a never ending battle with the line between baseboards and carpet, so I am hoping that this recent gift from modern science will help me win at least one battle if not the war! I realise this has absolutely nothing to do with being on program, but it is all part of my general mental health and well being. If you can buy a smile with a wallet and a 'Rubba Scrubba', why not?

Back to food. This morning, I tried the Simply Whites from Costco in a mushroom omelet. Not bad at all. Not appealing to the eye at all though...sort of made me think that Dr. Seuss was inspired to right Green Eggs and Ham after his wife presented him with an egg white mushroom omelet. A sickly greenish hue, possibly from the mushrooms.....but tasty, and so convenient! If you have a flavourful filling, you really don't need the richness of the egg yolks, and it is somewhat kinder on your points to use just the whites. The important part of eggs in the morning for me, is the protein. The bonus? Very little space required to store 32 egg whites in the refrigerator! Two small cartons in a package (contain 16 whites each) were about 3.99 at Costco, as I recall.

So, off we go into the day.

Breakfast: omelet, milk, Prebiotic toast - if you haven't tasted the barley and sunflower, you haven't lived. So worth two points a slice, for more reasons than one! Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Love that fibre.
Lunch: Top Dogs - Whoo Hoo! Mystery meat! yogurt
Supper: roast pork tenderloin, potatoes, tomatoes, cream-style corn, raspberries & cool whip for dessert
Snacks: plums, orange, Smart Pop Mini,

Thursday - already?

I must say, this hasn't been one of our more exciting vacation weeks.

Yesterday, the man decided to clean and rearrange the garage. So, this morning we have a pile, in the middle of the garage, rather than stacked haphazardly around the perimeter. We will drag everything back out into the driveway, and hopefully sort through it all, to give each 'keeper' it's special space...but so many things have just outworn their welcome, and are just no longer necessary. I noticed that the GT Racer was gone from the curb this morning. When your child is 24, and living miles away, do we really need to keep the super sled from 1987? I don't think he will miss it....or the scooter, or the pool noodles, or the Louisville Slugger baseball bat, or the bright blue bicycle helmet that he hated wearing ....I keep telling my hubby that if we haven't used it in the last couple of years, what are the chances we will ever need it again?And we aren't penniless. We can buy a new whatever! Of course, this goes against every Scottish molecule of his being! We never mention that this may be his way of holding on to his little boy. We can't go there, or the dinosaur cookie cutter may be jeopardized......

Breakfast: All Bran, skim milk
Lunch: Smoked turkey, tomato and cheese sandwich and a diet pop
Supper: potatoes cut into chips coated with 1 T oil (for two!) and oven baked, chicken breast with extra crispy Shake & Bake, mixed veg and beet pickle slices, tea and sympathy
Snacks: Rice Krispie Square, yogurt, pretzels and orange slices

Wednesday Weigh Day

Why does your system always sabotage you on your weigh-in day? Today, swollen water retaining fingers and feet included, I am down another .8 pounds. Better that than nothing! In the grand scheme of things since my plan is to lose at least six pounds a month, I am on "schedule". But again, I reassure myself, that if that is what works for others, why shouldn't it work for me? So, although it is a drop in the bucket, it is a welcomed little drop!

I am beginning to see that a man on holidays without an itinerary is a dangerous thing. Two trips to Home Depot to buy a bit of quarter round for the kitchen door that still isn't the right thickness...sigh. It's exhausting watching those wheels spin!

Breakfast: Prebiotic toast & butter, egg, skim milk (love the effects of that bread, but whew! 2 points for one slice? So, it is an occasional gift to the 'system' wink, wink, nudge, nudge)
Lunch: Whole wheat tortilla 'pizza' with turkey pepperoni, mushrooms, pesto, peppers
Supper: lamb chops, potatoes, green beans, raspberries and cool whip for dessert.
Snacks: Nectarine, plum, oranges, rice crackers and red pepper dip

I think I am 'getting' this lifestyle thing...

It's like I have been running to catch a train for years. After finally catching it, I can sit down, and draw in that first deep breath. I realize that I have a long journey ahead of me, but I can now just relax and enjoy it. After all, I am on the right track...it is only a matter of time before I get to my destination.

This program has worked for a lot of people, so why not me? Why reinvent the wheel for everything in my life? Although I find it difficult to imagine that eating this much can actually help me to lose weight, I have given over all control to the program. I track my points diligently, and record every morsel. If I bite it, I write it. In the almost six weeks I have been on program, I have only gone over my weekly budget once. In the grand scheme of things, going over a few points, is not a big deal. But it would have derailed me, if I had thrown my hands up in the air and given up! I am hoping that unclaimed activity points will absolve me of any food sin that I may inadvertently commit.

In the end, I think this is about commitment. Just like I eventually found the right man, I have finally found the right 'train'! Now it is all about sticking around and making him work! Errr....I meant "it"! Ehhhh, whatever.

Life in the fast lane?

First day of holidays, and what does the man do? Plans a doctor's appointment. Talk about taking a walk on the wild side! This should prove to be an interesting week. We have a million things to do around the house, and of course, his plan to blow an entire day tomorrow taking the car to the garage for brake work really thrilled me, too. Did I mention it was a company car? Isn't there a rule that says company cars get fixed on company time? Ah well. Best to go with the flow. But I am not forgetting this!

Saturday evening we went to dinner. The food was okay, and of course our dinner companions were entertaining, but the next day I had a three pound gain, just from the salt, I am sure. All but .6 of that is gone, thank goodness, but I hate the awful bloated feeling. I stayed within my points + Flex of course, but it was a warning for me. It is so easy just to eat what is put in front of me 'just this once", and even though you can afford something 'points wise', it sure isn't a good idea to eat it! Lesson learned. It is definitely not worth feeling like that for two days after one meal! We have decided that in the future, we are going to focus on going somewhere and doing something rather than going somewhere and eating something! Date night won't be the same! And that is a good thing.

The plan for today:
Breakfast: Lazy day, so ate lunch at ten thirty....started the day with the breakfast of champions...hot dogs!

Lunch: Two Top Dog Hotdogs complete with Wonder Buns

Supper: Baked halibut and chips, romaine salad with cucumber slices and light dressing

Snacks: apples (from Lisa's tree) & pretzels, nectarines, plums

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?

Easy!

We are having friends come for breakfast this morning. The plan is to make mushroom omelets, to keep things as simple as possible. I have found that using one whole egg, and one white per person gives good results - you really don't need that extra egg yolk to get a nice fluffy omelet.

A nice little treat at the end of the meal will be fluffy hot biscuits, served with butter, jam or honey. A breakfast dessert will add a special touch, and not kill my points balance!

When I ran my biscuit recipe through the Recipe Builder on the WW site, this recipe when doubled, made fifteen biscuits at two points each. Just mix all the ingredients lightly, and drop by spoon fulls onto a cookie sheet. The time they take to bake, depends on the size you decide to make them, but for fifteen it took 10 minutes in a 400ºF oven...keep an eye on them, as the "peaks" should be lightly browned. You can also add 1 1/2 T of sugar, to make shortcakes for seasonal berries.



1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt (I use Kosher)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp shortening
1/2 cup fat-free skim milk

Blend all dry ingredients and shortening with a pastry blender, your hand until texture is like coarse crumbs. Pour in the milk and stir gently with a fork, just until moistened. Drop onto cookie sheet, bake and serve piping hot out of the oven!

The SCALE...

showed my first ten pound loss on this program! Whoo HOOOO! I was beginning to think that it had stalled forever, but nope! It really did move for me this morning. It is so incredibly hard for me to believe that you can eat so well, and actually lose weight. This really does work! Today I am going to order that "Tiffany Inspired" silver bracelet I have been eyeing on the web. I want something really meaningful engraved on it, so I asked for suggestions on the WW board, and some pretty good ideas came up. "Keep Going Fat Arse" tickled my funnybone and has the right sentiment, but I wouldn't feel completely comfortable wearing it in all situations!

It is another day in Pointville!

Breakfast: Sprouted Wheat toast & butter, peanut butter, 2 eggs, milk

Lunch: 9 oz baked potato and 1/2 cup cottage cheese, green beans

Supper: Ravioli with tomato sauce, 2 oz lean steak, Caesar salad - raspberries and topping for dessert

Snacks: 1 turkey pepperoni, 1 Laughing Cow cheese and 2 multiseed Susie's Flatbread, V8

Yesterday's major achievement was going only three points over for the week. Pretty hard to do when you start the day 14 points in the hole! I am determined to keep below my basic point range for the next two days until Wednesday's weigh in - is there any possible way I can call this being on the Wendy plan? I am reminding myself 'Slow and steady' and 'Write what you bite' . This is the first time in five weeks that I haven't kept exactly on target, and I really resent the fact that I had to eat an extra meal just to stay conscious in the middle of the night!

Today I am going back to my old way of eating that doesn't involve a lot of things from packages. So, today the menu plan is:

Breakfast: 2 pieces sprouted wheat toast, 2 tsp butter, 1 T peanut butter, 1 egg, milk
Lunch: Flax Wrap with reheated steak strips, shreds of cheese, lettuce, salsa, grilled peppers, mushrooms, celery and onions from last night

Supper: Baked cod, cheesy scalloped potatoes, green beans and a side salad - baked apples fresh from my friends tree for dessert!

Snack: 1/2 a Tortilla pizza made with red pepper, turkey pepperoni, basil pesto as a base, and Tex Mex Cheese topping.

The Honeymoon is Over

What a lazy day! Sun is shining, birds are singing, and my bum is glued to this chair!

We are having good friends over for a barbecue today, so I have to go light on breakfast and lunch! It is becoming increasingly difficult to deal with the low blood sugars that are a result of the diabetes meds - how do you factor in emergency feedings at four in the morning when you wake up with the shakes? I am going to try to compensate for it throughout today, but if I can't, it will be the first time I haven't stayed within my points range since I started the program, thanks to the Flex points. Bummer. But, better to raise the sugars and live, than to lower the weight by death! And, I am going to see if that medication dosage can be tuned down a bit to avoid the crashes.

Breakfast: After that 'four o'clock feeding' of a smoked turkey and cheese sandwich with a sizable piece of angel food cake, I actually blew off the most important meal of the day. Just wasn't hungry, and I am still "high" enough! Ah, the connotations to a child of the sixties...however, since I am now a child approaching sixty, it has taken on a completely different meaning....

Lunch: Hmmmmm. Just may be getting a bit peckish by then. Time to break into the imagination for a very low point lunch...depends on what the machine dictates though! The only thing I can't skimp on today is the protein. I really don't want to blow the points for the day, though, so maybe with a good serving of grilled veggies and a PC Shrimp skewer..... hmmm that sounds good. And there are some fresh raspberries calling my name in the frig, too! My new friend Splenda makes them so appealing!

Supper: By five, I should be hungry enough to really enjoy my steak, half of a mini baguette from Costco - cutest little beggars you ever did see - Caesar salad, grilled veggies, and mixed berries with whipped cream (AKA Cool Whip!) only, since I have already had my slice of the angel food cake! LOL You know? I just may make it! But I have a brand new appreciation for those that go through life with a points allowance of twenty a day.

There are some changes I am determined to make, starting now. The first five weeks on program have been a party for me because of the 'forbidden' foods I have been able to indulge in guilt free! They may have been guilt free, but not without repercussions. Funny thing is, now that I know I can have them? I don't really feel the need to choose them. Guess the honeymoon is over. I read an article this morning that was extolling the virtues of consuming three servings of dairy each day to maximise your weight loss. I must admit, that since I started this program, I haven't always done that. Although following the diabetic diet is good for regulating your sugars, it does nothing to make numbers on the scale drop. It has been far too easy to substitute Doritos for skim milk on the Flex plan! But, I am going to make an effort to heed this advice in the future. Another thing I haven't been doing, is adding the oils that I need - apparently another common mistake newbies make.

I must say that I have absolutely no problem drinking copious amounts of water! Love the stuff. World of Water water is the best way to go for me. Although I know city water is safe, I just don't find it as appealing as distilled water. And since I do take a daily supplement, the minerals are covered!

Ah, the joys of feeding me!

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.

Food to Go

My digestive system has never allowed me to eat in restaurants for extended periods of time without rebelling in one way or another (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know what I mean?) so there has always been a reason to limit our restaurant visits while travelling. Following the WW program shouldn't pose too much of a problem while we are away - as long as I can get to a computer to tally up points for the day, it should work out just fine. After five weeks on the program, I have a pretty good idea what I can eat, and how often!

However, in anticipation of our holidays, I am making a list of "Hotel Foods" - basic ideas for foods that will keep us on program while away from our own kitchen. We always try to get a room with a kitchenette or at the very least a frig, micro and coffee maker. We also carry the basic utensils in our trusty cooler bag. This list consists of a sharp knife, can opener, cutting board, micro safe cups, plates, knives, cutlery, tea, coffee, salt & pepper, condiments. And of course paper towels and lots of bottled water. (See sentence #1 of this post!)

It is interesting to shop at different markets wherever we may be, picking fresh foods for the day depending on our whims. Strawberries in Charlottetown, lettuce in Seattle, fudge in Edinbourgh and mushrooms in Vancouver are as memorable as the places themselves! We vary eating one meal a day out - over the course of the weekend, we will usually eat lunch out the first day, supper the second day, and breakfast the third day. Or not! To tell you the truth, when you look at the points involved in eating out, it is like walking into a mine field, so we just may try to enjoy our "room food" rather than blowing the points out of the water! Keeping things loose is part of the fun of holidaying, but staying well enough to enjoy it is most important of all . I don't anticipate much change in our travel menu. Here is a mix of the usual items we depend on - if you have any suggestions I really would appreciate your input!

All Bran cereal with skim milk
Rotisserie Chicken - bag salad - low cal dressing (the chicken easily stretches for a full supper, a bagged lunch and hubby's snack attacks while watching Nick at Night south of the border!)
Low Cal bread for sandwiches (sliced lean meat or tomato are simple but tasty)
Canned soup & Triscuits heated with cheese in the micro
Bush's Beans
Microwaved potatoes with cottage cheese
Fresh berries or canned peaches mixed with cottage cheese
Cauliflower, baby carrots, snap peas to dip in the low cal dressing
Sliced oranges, apples, grapes, bananas & pretzels for TV snackage
Yogurt

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!

Wednesday

What is it about the middle of the week? I was going in all directions all at once! It isn't a good thing for me to be on my own, as I really don't bother cooking for "just me". Wednesday is also my TV night, so that explains the Doritos.

So, as much as I hate to admit to it, this was the menu:

Morning
1 item egg
1 serving Light Rye Bread
1 serving RSF Becel
1/2 serving Peanut butter 1 T
1 cup carrot(s)
1 serving PC Ranch Dressing - Lite -

Midday
1/2 serving Dairyland Cottage Cheese 2% - 1/2 cup
1 tsp butter
11 oz uncooked potato(es)
(potatos get lighter when you cook them - I didn't know that, so I weighed it before rather than after)
1/4 serving Bean Salad Paisley Farms
1 serving Top Dog Maple Leaf
Evening
2 serving Top Dog Maple Leaf
12 pieces Taco Tortilla Chips
1 serving Dempsters Prebiotic Barley & Sunflower Bread
2 serving Doritos
1 cup Froot Loops
1 item Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream Cone

Pretty pathetic, aye? Half of the potato was baked, and the other half I cut into thin, thin slices and baked till crispy in the oven. Not bad at all with a bit of ketchup! Like hot potato chips. Will definitely try that again!

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!

Its a beautiful day in the neighbourhood....

breakfast is over, and we have the whole day to relax! I started my day at five thirty, with the usual All Bran fibre kick of the day, then snuck back into bed for an hour or two...or three!

The menu plan for today:

Breakfast:

1. All Bran & milk

2. Mushroom Omlette (1 whole egg, 1 white)
Dempsters Probiotic Bread 1 tsp butter, 1 1/2 tsp peanut butter (I cut one slice in half, and pretend I have two pieces of toast!)

Midday:

Ham and cheese toast
2 slices of bread (1 point)
1 slice of extra lean ham, divided (1 point)
2 regular Kraft slices (3 points - well worth the extra point! That FF stuff is gross!)
mustard

Snack:
1 cup of grapes


Supper:

PIZZA

1 serving Grimm's Flaxseed Tortilla 3
1/3 Tbsp store-bought pesto sauce 0.5
40 g Mozzarella cheese - Lucerne 3
1/4 cup mushroom(s)
1 serving Extra Lean Ham - 1
1/4 cup green pepper 0
1 serving Parmesan Cheese 2 Tablespoons - 1
1/8 cup onion(s) 0
3 Tbsp pineapple 0

Romaine salad w. Caesar dressing 1 (thinned with a few drops of vinegar/milk)
Light Jello

Snack
rice crackers and new low cal roasted red pepper dip I found on the weekend - I will let you know how it turns out!

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.

Thursday's Plan

So, here is my plan for today - the main objective is to use up the leftovers in the frig! All of this comes to 24.5 points. I know that you are supposed to be eating all of your points, plus flex points, but really, it is hard on the jaws to munch through all of this! If it weren't for this heat, I would make a big pot of vegetable soup, and just eat that for a day, to give my face a rest!

Morning

All Bran cereal & milk

Midday
Ham, mushroom, mozzarella & pineapple 'pizza' (made on WW a Tortilla - 4.5 points!)

Evening
Stuffed Zucchini
1 T olive oil

1/2 cup cooked Basmati rice
1 cup mushrooms, 1/2 cup onion, 1 cup celery, coarsely chopped

tomato sauce (I used leftovers from another dinner)

2 oz German Swiss Cheese

Parmesan Cheese to finish
3 oz Pork finely sliced, then cut in slivers

Stir fry vegetables in olive oil, then add to food processor to chop finely. Add rice and pork to fry pan, and add a little tomato sauce to bind, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix in the finely chopped vegetables, and 1 oz of the Swiss cheese, then stuff "nuked" zucchini that has been scooped out to allow for filling. Drizzle with tomato sauce, and sprinkle with 1 oz of Swiss cheese, and 2 T of Parmesan. Finish in the oven or on the barbecue, until warmed through. 6 servings.

(I finally got around to making this on Saturday nightbut I thought it best to put the picture here with the recipe!)

Serve with a chopped Greek salad (fresh cucumbers, vine tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil & balsamic vinegar) and a French Baguette.

Snacks

Nectarine
Susie's Flat Bread and & Laughing Cow Cheese
1 cup of grapes

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