Last night when it was time to cook supper, DH and I noticed the chicken was not thawed. He said, "Skip it, let's free-feed." We do that every once in awhile, everyone eats what they want.
I pulled a portion of baked ziti out of the freezer and microwaved it. Much better than a Lean Cuisine any day. We had two left over portions when I prepared it earlier this week, and I thought ahead to freeze individual servings. Great idea, and one I will continue. Less waste, and instant food if I need it.
Awhile after that, I had to make a phone call. While I was on the phone, my son asked if he could make a coffee cake. Egads. Yes, I said to him. And he did. While I was on the phone, the smell permeated the house. I was drooling. Oh my gosh, did that smell good. When it was finished, I took out a tablespoon, and took exactly a 1-tablespoon bite of the coffee cake and counted it as 1 point. I didn't point it, but I figured it was a good guess. lol It was delicious.
I watched my boys devour the cake. There's about one slice left this morning. I was okay with my one tablespoon bite, because I wanted to stay true to myself. And I did. They're always going to be preparing high-calorie goodies, and I might as well get used to that now.
Prior to starting up WW again, I'm sure I would have had 1/3 of that cake with a huge glass of milk. Now, I savored the flavor with that tiny bite and I was completely satisfied. Honestly.
Had they made no-bake cookies, it would have been harder for me. I need to prepare for that day, because it will come.
I was pleased with my will power and determination though.
3.01.2009
2.28.2009
Potato Casserole
Potato Casserole
POINTS® Value: 5 Servings: 8
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup(s) 1% low-fat milk
1/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
48 oz frozen potatoes o'brien
8 oz Hormel Pillow Pack Diced ham
1 1/2 cup(s) low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup(s) reduced-fat sour cream
Instructions: Heat oven to 400. Spray 13x9 pan. In medium saucepan, combine milk, flour, salt and pepper; blend well. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until bubbly and thickened. In large bowl, combine potatoes, ham, sour cream, cooked sauce and 1 cup of the cheese; mix well. Spoon potato mixture into sprayed dish. Sprinkle top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake at 400 F. for 15 to 20 minutes or until casserole is bubbly and cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
POINTS® Value: 5 Servings: 8
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup(s) 1% low-fat milk
1/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
48 oz frozen potatoes o'brien
8 oz Hormel Pillow Pack Diced ham
1 1/2 cup(s) low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup(s) reduced-fat sour cream
Instructions: Heat oven to 400. Spray 13x9 pan. In medium saucepan, combine milk, flour, salt and pepper; blend well. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until bubbly and thickened. In large bowl, combine potatoes, ham, sour cream, cooked sauce and 1 cup of the cheese; mix well. Spoon potato mixture into sprayed dish. Sprinkle top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake at 400 F. for 15 to 20 minutes or until casserole is bubbly and cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Week 3 Menu
Our dinner menu:
Monday: Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Yams
Tuesday: Round Steak, Baked Potatoes, Salad
Wednesday: Steamed Chicken, Rice, Veggie
Thursday: Taco Bell (out of town)
Friday: Potato Casserole, Eggs
Saturday: Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Yams (repeat, but we like it)
Sunday: Hamburgers, Oven-baked Fries, Salad
For lunches I usually have a sandwich of some sort. Snacks include air-popped popcorn, fruit, English muffin, baby carrots (my new potato chips!), ice cream treat, V-8, etc.
For breakfasts I usually have Kellog's Complete Bran Flakes and Fiber One cereal with 1% milk. If I'm really hungry, I'll have an English muffin with it. I start the day with a heck of a lot of fiber!
Monday: Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Yams
Tuesday: Round Steak, Baked Potatoes, Salad
Wednesday: Steamed Chicken, Rice, Veggie
Thursday: Taco Bell (out of town)
Friday: Potato Casserole, Eggs
Saturday: Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Yams (repeat, but we like it)
Sunday: Hamburgers, Oven-baked Fries, Salad
For lunches I usually have a sandwich of some sort. Snacks include air-popped popcorn, fruit, English muffin, baby carrots (my new potato chips!), ice cream treat, V-8, etc.
For breakfasts I usually have Kellog's Complete Bran Flakes and Fiber One cereal with 1% milk. If I'm really hungry, I'll have an English muffin with it. I start the day with a heck of a lot of fiber!
Exercise???
Morning conversation with my husband:
DH: So have you started exercising yet?
ME: Huh?
DH: What are you doing for exercise?
ME: Hmmmm.
DH: Are you exercising?
ME: To be honest, I'm too fat yet to exercise. It's painful. Give me a few weeks to lose a few more pounds. I did clean the house yesterday and I broke out into a sweat, and I had to virtually run from the parking lot into Walmart as it was so darned cold the other day. I broke a sweat and got my heart pumping and out of breath doing that. So I'm working on it.
Excuses excuses. BS, really.
I know darned well that exercise is critical. I need to get off my fat butt and get going. It's good for everything including anxiety. Seriously.
More of the conversation:
DH: Would you like a weight bench and some free weights?
ME: I asked for that a couple years ago and you said no way. (Quit the garbage, Jo...just say yes and quit playing games with the poor man!)
DH: Would you like it?
ME: Yes, I wouldn't mind doing Body For Life. I'll have to re-read it, of course, and I might need some help, but yes.
DH: Okay.
And off he went. I'm sure he's forgotten about his offer by now.
I can't rely on him getting all that stuff. I need to rely on myself to get moving.
Today's goal: Dig out my Richard Simmons tapes and dust off the Leslie Sansone DVD I bought after Christmas, pick a few of the "short" ones, set them on top of the TV, and do one. And do one tomorrow. And the day after that. And so on.
DH: So have you started exercising yet?
ME: Huh?
DH: What are you doing for exercise?
ME: Hmmmm.
DH: Are you exercising?
ME: To be honest, I'm too fat yet to exercise. It's painful. Give me a few weeks to lose a few more pounds. I did clean the house yesterday and I broke out into a sweat, and I had to virtually run from the parking lot into Walmart as it was so darned cold the other day. I broke a sweat and got my heart pumping and out of breath doing that. So I'm working on it.
Excuses excuses. BS, really.
I know darned well that exercise is critical. I need to get off my fat butt and get going. It's good for everything including anxiety. Seriously.
More of the conversation:
DH: Would you like a weight bench and some free weights?
ME: I asked for that a couple years ago and you said no way. (Quit the garbage, Jo...just say yes and quit playing games with the poor man!)
DH: Would you like it?
ME: Yes, I wouldn't mind doing Body For Life. I'll have to re-read it, of course, and I might need some help, but yes.
DH: Okay.
And off he went. I'm sure he's forgotten about his offer by now.
I can't rely on him getting all that stuff. I need to rely on myself to get moving.
Today's goal: Dig out my Richard Simmons tapes and dust off the Leslie Sansone DVD I bought after Christmas, pick a few of the "short" ones, set them on top of the TV, and do one. And do one tomorrow. And the day after that. And so on.
The Journey
This blog could be about Weight Watchers alone. It's a great program. It teaches one how to eat more healthfully. It could be full of recipes, tips and tricks.
There's just more to it than that, though. I love Weight Watchers--it works for me. What it doesn't do is teach why we got to the point we got to in the first place.
There's a reason a person gets to 282.5, and it isn't just because said person overeats. If I really want to beat this, win, and be truly healthy, I need to figure it out.
SeaShore left a comment about social anxiety and CBT therapy. (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.) Her comment struck me, resonated with me, and piqued my interest. I had just ordered a couple of books on CBT at the beginning of the year. I've been reading through them. There are no CB therapists near me as I live in a very small town in the middle of nowhere. Plus, I have gone to therapy three times in my life and I never got anything out of it. I think finding a good therapist is like finding a needle in a haystack. No offense to therapists out there--I think you need to click with the therapist and I've never been able to do that. They've never tried to help me move forward, which is what I want to do.
Social Anxiety. I think I probably have this. I do have an official diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder. I recently had to go to an event with my son where there were going to be a lot of people. I didn't want to go, but we have to do things for our children. I slipped a Xanax before I left and I made it just fine. I never take Xanax unless I'm having a panic attack, but this exception really did help.
People make me nervous. I know they're nice, but I am terribly afraid of judgment. I judge myself harsher than anyone out there would probably judge me, but still I have that fear. Fear runs my life. Believe it or not, I do have a fear of being thin. I think that is why I did so great on Weight Watchers the last time only to end up gaining it back. I was afraid of the new body, afraid to be out of my norm, afraid to get attention, afraid of whatever. Pretty stupid, huh?
I'm a logical person, and I know all this fear is ridiculous. I know that--yet I allow myself to have it anyway. The books I ordered have helped a little bit, and I'm trying to talk myself through situations. Last night, after reading the comment, I spent some time at Amazon looking at social anxiety books. There are so many out there. Almost every title has the word shy in it. I am not shy. Is that weird? I'm not. I can be awkward and uncomfortable, but I'm not shy. I was as a kid, to the point I couldn't speak at times, but now I can speak to anyone. The thing is, I just don't always want to. (And this does make me lonely at times.) It makes me uncomfortable. I'm afraid of what they'll think of me.
So poking around Amazon, I found another book in which I ordered: Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers. When I was reading through the preview, she mentioned the three levels of fear: Level 1, which she states is the surface story, things that happen and things that require action; Level 2 which are not situation orientated, rather they involve the state of mind and ego; and Level 3, "I can't handle it."
That hit me like a ton of bricks. As my massive panic attack started, the one that landed me in the hospital overnight, that was my very thought: "I can't handle this. No more, I can't do it." The truth is, I did handle it, just poorly. She says the first two levels of fear translate to I can't handle statements as well.
She then states: If you knew you could handle anything that came your way, what would you possibly have to fear? NOTHING.
That is what made me order the book. I cannot wait for its arrival so I can read it. It just hit me. We handle everything in life. There are just better ways of handling things. I handle stress and fear by eating or by having panic attacks. Or both.
Two steps forward. I woke up this morning thinking about that, and I must admit I was in a much more cheerful frame of mind--something that is rare, as I'm not a morning person.
~~~
Still going gang busters with Weight Watchers, haven't gone over points yet. I need to plan menus for next week and hit the grocery store. Maybe, just maybe, I'll plan a day outing to the store. Maybe. lol
There's just more to it than that, though. I love Weight Watchers--it works for me. What it doesn't do is teach why we got to the point we got to in the first place.
There's a reason a person gets to 282.5, and it isn't just because said person overeats. If I really want to beat this, win, and be truly healthy, I need to figure it out.
SeaShore left a comment about social anxiety and CBT therapy. (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.) Her comment struck me, resonated with me, and piqued my interest. I had just ordered a couple of books on CBT at the beginning of the year. I've been reading through them. There are no CB therapists near me as I live in a very small town in the middle of nowhere. Plus, I have gone to therapy three times in my life and I never got anything out of it. I think finding a good therapist is like finding a needle in a haystack. No offense to therapists out there--I think you need to click with the therapist and I've never been able to do that. They've never tried to help me move forward, which is what I want to do.
Social Anxiety. I think I probably have this. I do have an official diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder. I recently had to go to an event with my son where there were going to be a lot of people. I didn't want to go, but we have to do things for our children. I slipped a Xanax before I left and I made it just fine. I never take Xanax unless I'm having a panic attack, but this exception really did help.
People make me nervous. I know they're nice, but I am terribly afraid of judgment. I judge myself harsher than anyone out there would probably judge me, but still I have that fear. Fear runs my life. Believe it or not, I do have a fear of being thin. I think that is why I did so great on Weight Watchers the last time only to end up gaining it back. I was afraid of the new body, afraid to be out of my norm, afraid to get attention, afraid of whatever. Pretty stupid, huh?
I'm a logical person, and I know all this fear is ridiculous. I know that--yet I allow myself to have it anyway. The books I ordered have helped a little bit, and I'm trying to talk myself through situations. Last night, after reading the comment, I spent some time at Amazon looking at social anxiety books. There are so many out there. Almost every title has the word shy in it. I am not shy. Is that weird? I'm not. I can be awkward and uncomfortable, but I'm not shy. I was as a kid, to the point I couldn't speak at times, but now I can speak to anyone. The thing is, I just don't always want to. (And this does make me lonely at times.) It makes me uncomfortable. I'm afraid of what they'll think of me.
So poking around Amazon, I found another book in which I ordered: Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers. When I was reading through the preview, she mentioned the three levels of fear: Level 1, which she states is the surface story, things that happen and things that require action; Level 2 which are not situation orientated, rather they involve the state of mind and ego; and Level 3, "I can't handle it."
That hit me like a ton of bricks. As my massive panic attack started, the one that landed me in the hospital overnight, that was my very thought: "I can't handle this. No more, I can't do it." The truth is, I did handle it, just poorly. She says the first two levels of fear translate to I can't handle statements as well.
She then states: If you knew you could handle anything that came your way, what would you possibly have to fear? NOTHING.
That is what made me order the book. I cannot wait for its arrival so I can read it. It just hit me. We handle everything in life. There are just better ways of handling things. I handle stress and fear by eating or by having panic attacks. Or both.
Two steps forward. I woke up this morning thinking about that, and I must admit I was in a much more cheerful frame of mind--something that is rare, as I'm not a morning person.
~~~
Still going gang busters with Weight Watchers, haven't gone over points yet. I need to plan menus for next week and hit the grocery store. Maybe, just maybe, I'll plan a day outing to the store. Maybe. lol
2.27.2009
No Make No Bakes
My son had me run this recipe through just to see. I won't be making these, because when I do, I eat 10 of them. ugh
No Bake Cookies
POINTS® Value: 3Servings: 24
Ingredients
2 cup(s) sugar
8 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup(s) unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup(s) 1% low-fat milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup(s) peanut butter
3 cup(s) oatmeal
Mix and boil for one minute. Pour while hot over peanut butter and oatmeal.;
I'll try haystacks instead, with Fiber One, chocolate chips and peanut butter.
No Bake Cookies
POINTS® Value: 3Servings: 24
Ingredients
2 cup(s) sugar
8 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup(s) unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup(s) 1% low-fat milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup(s) peanut butter
3 cup(s) oatmeal
Mix and boil for one minute. Pour while hot over peanut butter and oatmeal.;
I'll try haystacks instead, with Fiber One, chocolate chips and peanut butter.
2.26.2009
Lean Cuisine's Mac and Cheese
One word: Yuck.
6 points of chemical-tasting food. From my first bite to my last, it tasted like I was eating a science experiment.
Not worth it for me. Will work on a homemade recipe.
I have often wondered how many overweight people out here love mac and cheese. It's always available at buffets, it's a huge seller at grocery stores. When our homeschool group toured one of our local grocery stores, they told us it was one of their highest sellers. Who knew? Me, because I love it. (Probably one reason I'm fat!)
DH hates it. DS will eat it on occasion.
So I'm off to scour some healthier recipes or make my own.
I do like to freeze food, and I wonder if I cook the mac al dente if it would freeze well.
My hubby asked me if I was ready to give mac and cheese up. I told him no way, it's one of my favorite things. What I need to do is find a healthier recipe and learn to eat in small quantities. Dare I admit that I can and have eaten an entire box of Kraft in one sitting? I need to learn it's a side dish, not a main dish. And a half a cup of it savored is better than an entire box.
6 points of chemical-tasting food. From my first bite to my last, it tasted like I was eating a science experiment.
Not worth it for me. Will work on a homemade recipe.
I have often wondered how many overweight people out here love mac and cheese. It's always available at buffets, it's a huge seller at grocery stores. When our homeschool group toured one of our local grocery stores, they told us it was one of their highest sellers. Who knew? Me, because I love it. (Probably one reason I'm fat!)
DH hates it. DS will eat it on occasion.
So I'm off to scour some healthier recipes or make my own.
I do like to freeze food, and I wonder if I cook the mac al dente if it would freeze well.
My hubby asked me if I was ready to give mac and cheese up. I told him no way, it's one of my favorite things. What I need to do is find a healthier recipe and learn to eat in small quantities. Dare I admit that I can and have eaten an entire box of Kraft in one sitting? I need to learn it's a side dish, not a main dish. And a half a cup of it savored is better than an entire box.
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