My breakfast

I wanted to post this on Facebook but I just have too many thoughts to share. I want to share my breakfast with you. Which I do often if you follow me on Facebook, Twitter or instagram, but I would like to talk a little bit about the choices I make and why.

Okay, so it's Saturday today and I normally cook a big breakfast because it is the only day of the week that my husband & I get to eat breakfast together. But today we are having a barbecue with some leaders from our youth group and I want to save my points. This meal is 4 points plus and 260 calories. Oh, by points I mean Weight Watcher points. I have been successful on the program and am currently in maintenance mode for 2 more weeks. FYI, this can benefit from anyone (not just weight watcher members). Okay, enough babbling. 
The first thing I want to share has nothing to do with the food I chose. It's about saving points or calories or whatever until later. I want you to know that is NEVER a good idea to eat NOTHING because you are going to eat a lot later. I used to do that in my younger days (yes I said younger) and it only hurts your body. It is good to be conscience and plan for a bigger meal, but you must eat something. Fruit and vegetables are always a good choice and even a piece of whole wheat toast with your choice of topping. Okay, now to the food. Is it ridiculous that I have so many thoughts about food? I think it is, but I am not going to lie, I LOVE food! So much, that I actually had to learn how to have a healthy relationship with it. Ugh! Enough with the babbling again... 
Coffee cake. Not much to say about the coffee cake. This particular one is a weight watchers product you can buy at the store. It's small because...well, our portions are distorted and we are used to Starbucks sized coffee cakes which you don't even want to know how many calories are in those. None the less it was tasty and fast enough for me to find the points plus value right on the box. I prefer to stay away from processed foods now,(that's a whole-nother blog) however I am learning that it is a big process to get rid of them. I am doing it slowly, one item at a time. 
Banana. No brainer. On the weight watchers program all fruits & most vegetables are free and you are supposed to get 5 servings a day. I would have to say that is the biggest change weight watchers brought into my life. I eat more fruits and vegetables than I ever have in my life! So, I eat a fruit with EVERY breakfast. It's healthy and it helps me get more full and stay full longer.
Coffee. Eh, what can I say about the coffee? It's a part of my everyday life. Now, I am talking about black coffee. Black coffee is zero points. But this is where people make mistakes....CREAMER. During the week I drink black coffee with 2 sweet n lows (I have slowly made the switch to Truvia) but on the weekends I splurge and use flavored creamer! Mmmm, we have so many different kinds and I look forward to Saturday mornings with my creamer...I mean, coffee with creamer. I can't stress enough how important it is to measure out your creamer. Creamer is very fatty and if you are eye balling the amount, you are most likely putting too much in, and then tracking it incorrectly. Most creamers are 1 point for 1 tablespoon. Get the tablespoon out and measure it! And do this with everything! You are never going to be good enough to be your own measuring cup. I will post later about why I feel so strongly about this. 
So, hmmmm, I'm not quite sure how to end this. It's actually kind of awkward now that I am looking at this long blog about a banana, coffee and cake. But I hope it benefited just one person. And if it did, then I am happy. And if it didn't, then I am still happy because I am writing about something I love...food :)

Weight loss update...

Wow! Why is it so hard to stay up to date on blogging? I love it. I just wish I had the time. There's so much I want to share with everyone.
My weight loss journey is going great! Since February of 2011 I have lost 26 lbs! 19 of those have been thanks to Weight Watchers. A few weeks ago I officially lost 10% of my body weight (which is the first goal they give you). And since I hit that, I am officially in the "normal" range for my BMI. So, now I have to figure out what I would like my goal weight to be, which I'm having a hard time trying to figure out. Honestly, weight wise, I feel great. But I would like to concentrate on my fitness more so I can gain some muscle and get rid of my "fat" on those problem areas. You know what I mean...that pudgy stomach, arm & back fat. After talking to my leader when I hit my 10% goal, I decided to lose 5 more lbs. I am about 2 lbs away from that goal. Once I reach that, I will go through a "maintenance" phase where weight watchers will give me more points that I can eat in a day and I will have to maintain my weight for 6 weeks. That means weighing in for 6 straight weeks without gaining or losing more than 2 lbs. After the 6 weeks, I become a LIFETIME MEMBER! That means I can continue to go to the meetings without paying! If you know me, you know that's a huge motivating factor! Anything to save money :)
I started weight watchers May 27 and to date I have lost 19 lbs. I have learned so much about myself and the nutrition in my life. I can't thank weight watchers enough. I am finally at my PRE-wedding weight! I hope once I meet my weight loss goal I can pay it forward and inspire others to get fit and healthier.
Okay, so now that you have followed me this far and read this much, are you ready to hear my stats???

This is obviously a picture of me at my wedding:
Weight: 140 lbs


And this is a picture of me 6 months after our wedding:
Weight: 165ish


And here we are a few weeks ago:
Weight: 142 lbs


Today, I am 138.8 lbs and my weight watchers goal is 137. Almost there! I hope to reach it by the end of next week. I hope this inspired you and let me know if there is anyway I can help you on your weight loss challenge.

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Thanksgiving countdown

Great article I got from weight watchers written by: Elly Trickett McNerney


Follow this “to do” list all month long to stay on top of your holiday game plan.

Some people thrill at the thought of hosting Thanksgiving; others pall at the notion of gigantic, slippery turkeys, solid logs of canned cranberry and a house full of guests. Whichever group you fall into, we’ve taken the guesswork out of it with this checklist.


Early November
*Plan your menu – decide which items can be made ahead of time and frozen.
*Make sure you have the proper kitchen equipment, and plan out your cooking times. You won’t be able to put everything in the oven at once.
*Prepare guest list and send invitations.
*Familiarize yourself with our Best-Ever Slimmed-Down Turkey and Gravy recipe.
*Figure out what size turkey you’ll need, and order it.
*Make turkey stock and freeze it.
*Decide on your table setting/room décor/music, and pick an overall theme.
*Put together a list of kid activities to keep them busy.
*Because it’s a busy time be sure to create a workout schedule – it will keep your weight-loss on track and help with stress. *Even on the most time-crunched days, you can fit in a 20-minute walk.
*Ask for some of your guests to bring dishes so you don’t have to do it all.
*Make a double batch of low PointsPlus® values soup, and a warming casserole or lasagna, and freeze in single and double-size portions so you’ll have a few homemade meals ready for that last week. Try this Spicy Black Bean Soup, a Greek-inspired *Meat Moussaka or the delicious and easy Slow Cooker Lasagna.

Saturday November 19
*Go shopping for make-ahead or non-perishable items including drinks.
*Clean the house.

Sunday November 20
*Have a fun family day — go for a bike ride, have a chilly weather picnic (think soups in a flask and bundling up in layers), or just chill out with some board games and Mulled Apple-Cranberry Cider.
*Make pie crusts, cakes, bread — and get the family to help.

Monday November 21
*Prepare table setting — polish silver, make sure glasses sparkle, press linens, assemble serving platters.
*Start defrosting turkey.
*Make the Cranberry-Orange Relish

Tuesday November 22
*Get a start on side dishes. This frees up your counter space!
*Make the Stuffing with Sage and Chives — it keeps for three days in the fridge.
*Assemble the Pumpkin Pie with Graham Cracker Crust and Caramel-Apple Tart.
*Shop for remaining food items such as bread, salad greens
*Make ice cubes.

Wednesday November 23
*Steam the Brussels sprouts and prepare the turkey bacon for the Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts.
*Make the Dark Chocolate Cake
*Defrost turkey stock.
*Set the table.
*Chill beer, soda, white wine.
*Treat yourself to a mani/pedi or a blowout.

Thanksgiving day
*7:30am: Take the turkey out of the fridge. Double-check when you need to put your turkey in the oven, remembering to leave enough time for preheating.
*8am: Have a hearty breakfast with plenty of protein and fiber, like this Asparagus, Bacon and Cheese Strata, to keep you going while you prepare the meal, and to cut down on the likelihood of nibbling.
*10:30am: Prepare the Apple-Topped Mashed Sweet Potatoes, put in the fridge.
*12:30pm: Have a light lunch low in PointsPlus values to keep you going so you don’t overdo it at dinner. Take some time after your lunch to have a cup of tea and read a book, even if it’s just 20 minutes hiding in the bathroom. Make it known that interruptions are unwelcome — and unwise!
*2:30pm: Put the Apple-Topped Mashed Sweet Potatoes in the oven.
*3:00pm: As guests arrive welcome them with appetizers, low-fat cheeses, olives, wine, and 0 PointsPlus values dips.
*3:15pm: Put the Stuffing with Sage and Chives in the oven.
*3:30pm: Take the turkey out of the oven, make the gravy.
*3:45pm: Finish making the Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts.
*4pm: Bon appétit!
*6pm: Rouse your household for a brisk walk — minus two designated clearer-uppers. (They can earn activity PointsPlus values for cleaning if they do it with gusto!)
*7pm: Make sure leftovers are safely stored. If you’re feeling generous, prepare doggy bags for guests.

Friday
*Check out the Food and Recipes section of WeightWatchers.com for creative ways to spruce up leftovers.
*Plan your food and activity for the weekend — many people fall off the wagon, often because they feel they’ve been “good” on Thanksgiving itself.
*Get a good workout in, to motivate you to stay on track between now and the holidays.

10 Pet Safety Tips for the Holidays

When celebrating the winter festivities, don't forget to keep holiday pet dangers in mind. It may require some changes to your normal decorating or dining routine, but these tips can help you create a pet-safe holiday that is fun for the whole family.

10. Practice fire safety. Nothing looks nicer than a Thanksgiving table aglow with candles. But be sure to never leave any fire unattended particularly when you have pets in the house. Not only can curious whiskers get burned, if a candle is knocked over by a wagging tail, it can lead to a serious fire.

9. Hoard the people food. Although it’s tempting to give your pets a taste or two from your Thanksgiving plate, too much human food can be bad for your pet’s health. For more about what people food to share and not to share over the holidays, click here.

8. Hide the breakables. Holiday feasts can mean bringing out treasured items like Great Aunt Mae’s fine china or your finest stemware. Just remember that your beloved pets don’t know the value of these items, and they could get broken. So if you have favorite, breakable decorations or table settings, be sure to keep them out of reach.

7. Watch out for toxic plants. Many holiday plants, including mistletoe, holly, poinsettia, and even that beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece of lilies can be toxic to pets. If you must decorate with these holiday pet dangers, keep them well away from curious paws and mouths.

6. A toast to everyone’s health. When you raise that glass of holiday bubbly, be sure to place your unattended alcoholic drinks where Fluffy or Fido can’t sneak a taste. Alcohol and pets simply don’t mix. If ingested, your pet could become weak, ill, go into a coma or worse.

5.How sweet it isn’t. Although many people like to leave out chocolates for visitors throughout the holidays, it’s important to remember that these sweets are major pet dangers. Chocolate is tasty for you, but it’s toxic for Fluffy and Fido.

4. Keep the lights high. Many people enjoy decorating with strings of lights during the holidays, but do so with caution. Twinkling lights make a shiny toy, but they’re not safe to play with or chew on. Keep your celebrations shock-free by hanging lights up high.

3. Don’t decorate with food. Strings of cranberries and popcorn can be a beautiful way to liven up your household, and a fun project to do with your kids, but they’re holiday hazards for pets. Even if the food on the string isn’t toxic for Fido or Fluffy, they may end up eating the string—and that can cause serious health problems.

2. Steer clear of tinsel town. Tinsel is more than just a glittery decoration. If your pets eat it, it can cause intestinal problems that require a trip to the veterinarian.

1. Wrap it up. If you like to display your holiday presents, watch out for ribbons, bells, and other small toys that can present a choking hazard for your pet. If there are any dangerous-looking gifts, it may be a good idea to hide them safely in a closet until it’s time to open them—or open them right away. After all, no one can accuse you of being rude if you’re doing it to have a pet-safe holiday.

M.A.C. Ice Parade

Okay, I LOVE M.A.C. Make-up and right now they have their new holiday collection for sale called Ice Parade. They come out with new collections all the time and I normally look, but don't buy. However, I have to share with you this one because they have a brush kit on sale! And when they are on sale you have to take advantage. I got my first brush kit over5 years ago and it still works great! It is worth the money you pay for good brushes. And if you were to buy them all separately you would pay a lot more. Here are some of the kits, and they come with a cute bag





Take a look at the make-up sets too. They are all a great deal, and honestly the only time I splurge on M.A.C. is when they sell these sets. Happy shopping!

Turbokick Instructor Training

Well, if you know me, you know I LOVE Turbokick. Turbokick is a class I started taking at 24 hour fitness back when I was 19. Ahem, that was 8 years ago. It is my favorite class at the gym! When I was 21 I used to take a 5:30 am class at my gym and one morning my instructor was being watched by a manager, I assume. After the class, the manager approached me and gave me her card. She told me my form and energy were great and 24 hour fitness was having a training in a couple of weeks and that I should consider it. I thanked her for the information and I though about it. I thought, well, sine I am doing the class anyway, I might as well get paid for it right? So, I thought I would do it, but when the day came, I realized I had another engagement on that day, so I missed it. I have done turbokick on and off at the gym ever since.
Then last August, I weighed myself and when I saw that I had gained 25 lbs since I got married (in less than a year), I made a serious choice to lose weight. I started going back to the gym which of course meant gong back to my turbokick class because it was a high intensity work out and so much fun!
Sometime a few months after, I was introduced to a company called Beachbody. Beachbody is the company that is responsible for making workout videos such as the popular P90X & Insanity. As I did research on Beachbody, I became a club member so I could discounts. I also found some products from Chalene Johnson. And as I did research on her I found that she was the inventor of TURBOKICK! She is also a motivational speaker, which is right up my alley. I fell in love with her, lol. Okay not literally, but I have learned SO much from her about fitness, productivity, positivity, motivation.....etc. I ordered her newest workout video Turbofire and with the help of that, the gym and weight watchers I have lost 19 lbs.
So, with all that babbling and background information, my point is, since I am in better shape now, I have decided to go for the Turbokick instructor training. I have been practicing in classes at 24 hour fitness and at home with Turbofire and I am pretty confident I can do it. The only thing that is making me nervous is that I have no idea what to expect. It is an 8 hour training so I hope I have enough stamina. Any encouraging words would be helpful from you. Here is a video of what I will be doing if I make the cut....

Mail!

Unless I am expecting something (like some lia sophia jewelry), checking the mail is a chore. I hate getting junk mail & bills. I'm not sure why I have so much mail everyday. Anyway, today was different, I got catalogs! I love getting catalogs! It's where I get all my fashion tips and make-up tips! I just look at the models and copy their looks with less expensive items. These are some of the things that came in the mail today (excuse my crappy camera pictures):



Ulta is the girly-girl's sanctuary. I could spend hours in this store. And sometimes I do. I get a bit overwhelmed at times, but it's only because I want everything and can't afford it. There are so many things I want to try out everytime I browse around.
One thing I love about this piece of mail is, right off the bat, you get a coupon. I love these! I never buy anything from Ulta unless I have a coupon, because they give you one once a month! They are dependable.
The second thing I love about this catalog is it's PINK! Yes, pink as in color, but what I mean is pink for national breast cancer awareness month. If you don't know, October is national breast cancer awareness month & tons of businesses join the cause and go pink. Ulta's whole catalog highlights their pink items and they also have a goodie bag valued at $598 they are donating to someone who enters their raffle for only $1. My favorite "pink" item is the 4 piece Ulta professional travel brush set complete with a cute pink bag for only $15! Good brush's are a must for applying make-up effectively and that's a steal!

Have I bored you yet? Good. The next thing I got was the Fall Victoria's secret catalog!

Victoria's secret! You know what that means.....COATS! Haha, you thought I was gonna say undies, huh? I LOVE Victoria's Secret coats ever since I bought my first one in 2008. To this day, it is my favorite coat and is still in tip top shape. I buy my coats online because they offer online codes for discounts and free shipping. And right now, all coats are 20% off! This one's my fav:

Oh my goodness, se what an exciting day it is, there's more! My October issue of Marie Claire! This is where I get all my fashion tips. I cut out pictures of outfits I want to replicate & look for boots! I LOVE boots & coats!

Next up! My Mary Kay catalog. I use Mary Kay's anti-aging products which is probably why people never guess that I am 27 :) I have young looking skin. And I intend to keep it that way. I love that the catalogs show you exactly where to put your make-up. It's very helpful and easy to learn that way, if you are not familiar with putting on make-up. Here is a link to the catalog


Last, but not least, KOHLS! I LOVE kohls! It's the only place that rewards me for my shopping! I only shop there when I know they are giving kohls cash. That way everytime I go, I am getting a discount! And of course, I will use this $10 off card that came in the mail. Duh!


Phew! My fingers are about to cramp up from all that writing. I'm going to bed!