Friday, January 30, 2009

Chocolate Cheesecakes

I saw this in Prevention magazine and I want to try these:

Chocolate Cheesecakes

Cook Time: 12-15 Minutes
Servings: 4

1/4 c crunchy high fiber, low sugar cereal (such as GrapeNuts), finely crushed
1/2 c fat-free cream cheese, at room temparature
2 Tbsp Honey
1 lg egg white
1/4 c fat-free vanilla yogurt
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 c cocoa powder, plus more for garnish
4 Tbsp aersol fat-free whipped topping (optional)

1. PREHEAT oven to 350F.
2. COAT four 3" ramekins lightly with cooking spray. Spread cereal crumbs into even layers on bottons. Set aside.
3. BEAT cream cheese and honey in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add egg white, yogurt, and vanilla extract. Beat again until smooth. Turn mixer to low; mix in cocoa. Spoon mixture into ramekins.
4. BAKE 12 minutes, or until centers are set. Let cool 15 minutes. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Dust with cocoa. If desired, add 1 tablespoon of whipped topping to each.

Nutritional Info per serving:

87 calories. 5 g protein, 17 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 1 g fat, 0,5 g sat fat, 1 mg chol, 139 mg sodium

For more recipes check out http://grocerycartchallenge.blogspot.com/2009/01/grocery-cart-challenge-recipe-swap_29.html

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Setting A Good Exercise Example

You know they always say that you should watch what you do because your kids will want to be just like you. I have found that to be entirely the truth! I've been running again for the last week as my next 5K is this coming Sunday. (I am so NOT ready for it as I've only been running again for a week but at least this course will be all flat unlike the first one I did). Anyway, I got back from running last night and Connor was still up watching CARS. He came up to me as I was walking in the door and asked to listen to my music. So I stuck the iPod headphones in his ears (and turned the volume WAY down). Then I found "Life is a Highway" from the CARS soundtrack and turned it on for him. He got this look of amazement on his face and said "Tractor Trailer Song!"

I went into the living room and sat down to stretch while we finished watching the end of the movie. Connor asked if he could stretch with me. He's still listening to my iPod. I say sure. Then he stands back up and is like "I want to run". And he asked me to put the iPod on his arm like I do (I have an armband for it to go on my arm while I run). So I did. Then he said,"I need a watch too." So I put my heart rate monitor that I use on his wrist too. He then proceeded to run up and down the hallway!! How cute was that?? I so wish I had grabbed the camera but I got a phone call right as he was starting to run. I'm sure he'll want to do it again so hopefully I'll get a picture.

But this just goes to show that you CAN and DO set examples (whether good or bad) for your children. In every aspect, including exercising/weight issues.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Mid-Week

Off to a rocky start this morning. I walked into work with my friend and stopped in the snack bar. UGH!!!! STOP heather. Ok, enough of that. Had an ok day yesterday. It seemed all dh and I did was fight but nothing too serious. I did end up having McD's for lunch though because I went to Wal-Mart and hadn't had lunch and was just in a not too good mood. Ugh. I did actually wake up early yesterday even though I was off and exercised!! GO ME!! I woke up again this morning too and did yoga. It felt SO good. I'll run again tonight and Thursday and Friday. I have to go to the expo thing on Friday for my 5K to pick up my race stuff. Then Saturday we have a 4 year old birthday party to go to. Then Sunday is my 5K and Super Bowl Sunday. Still not sure what we are going to do for it. Hopefully go to one of the IL's house so I don't have to clean or get food ready or anything. It's just a pain though because none of their houses is baby proofed so I'm constantly running after the girls. Should be interesting.

So far this week on my menu plan I'm 3 for 3!!! YEAH!! We had meatloaf last night. It was so delicious I'm having leftovers for lunch today. I also decided to try my hand at the Buttery Bread Machine Rolls recipe. Oh My goodness!!!! They were EASY and delicious!!! Mine weren't as golden as the ones in the pictures but they were delicious. Dh raved about them and the kids loved them too. I will definitely be using my bread machine more this year!!!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Can't Complain

So I guess I can't complain about my WI this morning. I'm up .2 lbs. Ok, I call that a maintain in my book. But again, I can't complain. We ate Panda Express not once but TWICE this last week. I had BK for lunch on Friday. I really can't complain! But I can CHANGE it. No more. I've got my meal plan for the week. I can do this!!!

Woke up and exercised this morning. yeah! I so did not want to wak up but I was awake. Does that make sense?? I hope it does. =) Of course at 3:50am I hear Connor asking if I'm awake. DH called out go back to sleep. I just hoped he would fall back asleep before I woke up at 4am. I'm assuming he did as I didn't hear a peep from him when I got up.

Well, I'm ready to kick it into high gear. I need to get more consistent with exercising. I'm determined to do that. Not to mention my 5K is this Sunday! I'm hoping to finish it in less time than my last 5k but I won't hold my breath!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Menu Plan Monday



Ok, it's time to get back to being serious and I always say PLANNING is the key. I always say Fail to Plan and Plan to Fail! So here is my meal plan for the week:

Monday - Chicken Fajitas
Tuesday - Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes
Wednesday - Bean & Cheese Burritos
Thursday - Chili & Cornbread
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Pizza
Sunday - Tacos

Maybe when I actually get in the habit of doing this I'll be able to add Breakfast and/or Lunch and/or snacks. I'm just happy I have dinner planned! Now the test will be if I actually follow it.

For more menus check out Orgjunkie

Saturday, January 24, 2009

I RAN!

It's about damn time too. I had to skip to Week 5 day 2 since my darn 5K is next Sunday. A WEEK from TOMORROW! And do you know the last time I ran??? Like two weeks ago. I so needed it though. The kids and the hubby are DRIVING ME CRAZY. And I needed to get out and just run and not think of anything. It sure did help. And I am happy to say not only did I cook today (on a Saturday woo hoo!!) I also have been OP and drank all my water today. Yippee!!! I need to start taking better care of ME. It's about time.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Ugh

I did not wake up this morning. Connor was in our bed and Taylor had cried out almost every hour last night so I did not get a good sleep so I laid in bed until 4:45am. Bad bad me. And then, since I was SO tired what i did on my way into work??? I went to the snack bar and I got a donut and diet pepsi. Why? Why? Why?

Watched the Biggest Loser last night. All throughout the entire show I just wanted to munch munch munch. I ended up making myself a salad. Better than getting the ice cream right? Especially since I did not run lat night either. Gosh, why am I falling apart? I still haven't managed to come up with a meal plan for next week either. If someone else would go grocery shopping for me, I think I would. I just have no desire to grocery shop. I hate grocery shopping. But it is something that has to be done.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Wow!

Go away for a weekend and a ton of stuff occurs! LOL!

First, I won something! Yeehaw! I forgot I even entered LOL!. Over at orgjunkie.com I won the meal planner! Something I think will help me IMMENSELY! Woo hoo!! Especially since I didn't plan my meals this week. Woops! I was busy. I went away to Laughlin this weekend to have fun and gamble. I didn't win but I had TONS of fun! AND I lost 1 lb this week! Can't complain about that!!!

Second, I now have followers! Yippee! It's the little things that excite me, what can I say. =)

So yeah, I don't have a meal plan this week. I need to go to the grocery store but until then I need to figure out what I have at home (that is weight losing friendly!) that I can make for dinner. I really don't want to go out to eat. But I also have a sick kid at home. Emily is having diarahea. :sigh: We thought it had gone away but came back again yesterday. I hope what it is goes through her system and quickly.

I would also like to report I woke up this morning and exercised. GO ME! I started back up on my Turbo Jam DVDs. I WILL be running tonight. Still have that 5K to do. I haven't run since the first week in January. If I can just end the 5K in less time that my first I will be happy. But I think I will have to run every day between now and then to get ready for it. BAD HEATHER. This will NOT happen again. I will be ready for the next ones.

Monday, January 12, 2009

First Week

Well, I lost 1.7 lbs this last week. Do I deserve it?? Not really. I haven't been watching what I eat, I haven't been exercising religiously and I've been having dessert every night. That has to STOP. It will stop. I'm in a much better mind frame this week. I am going away on a girls weekend to Laughlin this coming weekend. I think I need this weekend away from the fam to just relax and enjoy and get away. As much as I love them, I need a break too!! LOL!

Menu Plan Monday





I have planned my meals (or should I say the family meals since I won't be home Friday or Saturday night) for the week as follows:

Monday - Quick Fix Skillet Burrito
Tuesday - Chicken Fajitas
Wednesday - Hot Dogs
Thursday - Enchiladas
Friday - Three Cheese Penne Pasta Bake (made ahead so dh just has to throw in the oven)
Saturday - Pizza
Sunday - Leftovers



For more menus, check out orgjunkie.

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

A Successful Day?

Depends on what you call successful. I ran last night. Felt good too! I'm severally behind in my 5K training so I have to "speed up" my days of running and skip some breaks. Not great I know but I did this to myself. So last night I started on Week 2. It really wasn't bad. Didn't feel like I haven't ran in 3 months so that's a good thing. I also found a new podcast this lady did Suz @ kissmyblackass.org. Oh yeah! It's my kind of music (hip-hop) and she put in the cues of when to run and walk for the Couch 25k program. I am so LOVING it!

As far as food, I did have a haystack yesterday afternoon. The darn Christmas candy is still sitting here on my desk for everyone's consumption. I don't want to throw it away but I know I should. :sigh:

Monday, January 05, 2009

A New Year

and a new beginning right?? I'm ready to make 2009 count. I basically ended 2008 at the same weight I started. Not bad. At least it wasn't a gain but I realized I still haven't made it to my pre-pregnancy weight. How sad is that?? Especially since the girls are almost 14 months old. :sigh: Oh well. I should not and will not dwell on the past. It's time to move on.

I was supposed to wake up at 4 am and exercise this morning but I did not. I woke up at 4:30. Still better than waking up at 5am like I'm use to. I will get there. I found a really great Yoga program on FitTv that I like called Namaste Yoga so I'm TiVo'ing them. Now I just need to start doing them. =) Plus I have my 5K on February 1st that I already signed up for. I haven't run since I ran my first 5K in October. YIKES!!! I need to get back to it. TONIGHT. Otherwise I will not be ready. I'll probably be one of the last people finishing but I guess that's ok. I did it to myself right?? At least I'll get to run along the beach! I just hope it's not too cold. LOL!

Well, I'm ready to get this party started. I'm starting out this year at 179.0. I WILL not go back into the 180's and I'm ready to get out of the 170's ASAP!!