WW: Week... errrr... ??? and a great lunch box recipe.

Lost track of the weeks, but I am down over 20 lbs. 
That has translated into 3 pants sizes!!

The best part is, I'm feeling much much better, physically and emotionally. 

Now, I'm pretty much a rut eater... as in, I could eat the same thing over and over and over again!

For the last couple of weeks, for my work lunches, I have bought a family pack of boneless skinless chicken breasts, roasted them up on the weekend, and then frozen them for lunches.

My favorite, super easy (because I throw it together at 430am, so it has to be fool proof), lunch is:

Approx 1 cup of diced, cooked chicken
1/2 cup of diced bell peppers (whatever is on sale, but I love the red!)
1 diced green onion
4 ozs sliced mushrooms
1 T shredded cheese (whatever you have)
sprinkle of red pepper flakes, salt, garlic powder

Put it all in a microwavable dish, and keep cool until lunch.  Then nuke it for about 2 minutes.

DONE!  And way healthy and filling and yummy!

WW: Month 2

Remember THIS flattering picture??

I had Evan take a new one the other day:

It's a little blurry...  BUT, you might notice that there is only ONE roll now!!  And while there is still back fat, the extra room in the shirt helps hide it.

Happy Dancing is appropriate right now!

Obviously, I still have a ways to go, and while my weight is changing more slowly, I'm losing still.

I'm fitting into my clothes much better, and have dropped at least one size.  It's hard to say since I was wearing a size too small, and now I'm fitting comfortably into the next smaller size... and one or two pieces are even the next smaller size!

The very best part is this:  I am eating NORMALLY... well, "normally" as in I'm not agonizing over how many points I have left, I'm not weighing and measuring obsessively.  I am simply eating, making healthy choices, but eating what I feel like, and keeping my eye on the goal. 

This is my favorite part of the Weight Watchers program.  As you start down the path, it gives you enough structure to start you loosing and at the same time the freedom to find your grove without feeling deprived.

I've lost 16 lbs. 
I have 9 more to go to be at my first goal, which is where I was before Ryan.   That's my first goal.  I haven't thought much beyond that. 

But I'm thinking that by June, I better start figuring it out, because that first goal is approaching fast!

WW: Month One in a Nutshell

So, I've officially been doing Weight Watchers for a month now!  (Okay, this post is late, I've been doing it for a month and one week.)

Here's the low down: 

IT'S WORKING!!!

I've lost:
a. 3 inches from my hips
b. 2 inches from my gut
c. 11 pounds

PLUS several other inches worth of flub from other body parts. 

The new points system took a little getting used to... and it was really really hard to force myself to each the points.  Yes, the person with the weight problem was having trouble eating!  The points are figured so totally differently (and you are given more), so I was looking at the POINTS rather than the food choices and trying to balance my day.  That didn't work so well.  But I think I finally have my balance back, and the weight loss is settling into a pattern.  A good pattern.

I tried to take a picture earlier to show progress, but little stinky one kept getting in the way.  So instead, I'll share one of my favorite new recipes.

Potatoes, Spinach and Chicken

Juice of one lemon
1/2 cup fat free/low sodium chicken broth
1 T olive oil
1 T garlic powder
1 T oregano
1 T thyme
1 t red pepper flakes
2 whole boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut in half, and pounded to an even thickness
4 med sized Yukon Gold Potatoes (thinly sliced)
4 cups fresh, clean spinach
4 T crumbled feta
Cooking spray

Mix the lemon juice, broth, oil and spices together to make a marinade.  Marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours, not more than 4 (unless you really like lemon!).   Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray.  Layer potatoes evenly, place chicken in a single layer on top, and drizzle the marinade over the top.   Place in a 350 degree oven for approx 30 mins (until potatoes are just fork tender).  Remove the chicken, toss the spinach in, and mix with potatoes.  Place chicken back on top, and cook for about 15 mins more.  Sprinkle with feta.  Makes 4 servings.

SOOOOOO Yummy!

So, this little beauty was on sale today at the grocery store.  A few of the other Greek yogurts I've had were really grainy and not so great.  BUT with WW posts talking about the wonders of Greek yogurt left and right, I decided to try this one. 

Okay, so, first of all:  Pomegranate is one of my favorites. IT HAS REAL POMEGRANATE SEEDS IN IT!!!  Little itty bitty bursts of yummy!!!!!

Oh, joy. 

AND it wasn't the LEAST bit grainy.  It was smooth, and light, and did I mention the little bursts of wonderfulness??

Okay, it's also INCREDIBLY filling.  4 points!  14 grams of protein!!  Zero fat!!!

Highly recommend.

I will be picking up more next week... they will be PERFECT for a meal beside a salad or whatever... or a perfect filling snack contained in a little 6 oz cup that feels like you just ate a piece of cheese cake!

It's Sad Really

Click Here...  for an article that is too nice to say that American's really are fat and stupid!  (Sorry for the generalization Smart and/or Thin Americans!)

Click Here... for the article that explains why 32 ozs (well, 31, really) is a little overboard.

Now, our local coffee place, Beans and Brew, has a 32 oz cold cup, and I must admit, I've bought one before... and three or four hours later, I was still working on it and stuffed.  I guess I know why now! 

I do love coffee... especially a nice iced coffee in the summer... but I think I will stick to my 16 oz... you know, the one that is only 1/2 the size of the normal stomach capacity.