Soup Season

So one of my favorites during this time of the year is soup.  Here is a recipe I tried last night and LOVED.  Inspired by a WW recipe...I made some adjustments


Asian Style Pork Mushroom and Noodle Soup
4 oz thin rice noodles (original recipe calls for whole wheat capellini or spaghetti)
6 cups reduced sodium fat free chicken broth
3 cups thinly sliced napa cabbage (I used broccoli slaw)
8 small shitake mushrooms, stems removed
4 scallions sliced
1 large tomato seeded and diced (i did not seed them)
1 cup frozen peas
1 tbsp minced peeled fresh ginger
1 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce (I used Gluten free)
6 oz lean cooked pork, cut into thin strips
1 tbsp sweet chili sauce
1/2 tsp hot pepper sauce

1) prepare pasta and set aside keeping it warm
2) bring broth to boil and add cabbage, mushrooms, scallions, tomato, peas, ginger and soy sauce, reduce heat and simmer till cabbage is tender about 5 minutes
3) add pasta, pork and the sauces and simmer till port heated through, about 2 minutes
4) divide pasta evenly between four bowls, top evenly with soup

It was really good and hit the spot on a cold winter night!

Off went the Holiday Weight

So, for those of you doubting the WW process...this past week I tracked, I meal planned, I exercised and took off 5.6 lbs!  Yep, you read it correctly!  I was sooooo excited.  Now, I kept on the plan!  When I go off is when I have the problems.  Thursday and Friday went okay until Friday night.  I took wine and veggies to a get together with the ladies...and we had soup...also nutritious...what I didn't take into effect was the cheesy bread and the homemade chocolate cake (from scratch)...I was doing okay until I made the fateful decision to have MORE...which became the beginning of the end.  I managed to come home feeling REALLY ILL...happy to have ate what I did...but sad that I couldn't use MODERATION.  Still a struggle for me!  UGH!  Needless to say I think this week at the scale will show a weight gain.  I am tracking, exercising and really paying attention to how I feel.  Tonight I am eating away from home again.  I am making a WW recipe and there will be dessert....I need to just be MODERATE...there is nothing wrong with eating yummy things...just need to eat a little, enjoy it, and then move on!

Great Meals + Planning= Keeping on Track

So...this week has been fairly good so far.  I did have a craving for brownies.  So I purchased the really yummy fudgy ones and used unsweetened applesauce and water to make them instead of water, egg, and oil.  I believe they are yummy and satisfying...and so far I still have some left!  Also, my husband and I are trying out the new WW cookbook on points plus.  Yesterday I made the roasted garlic beef stew...it was yummy, made more than I thought it would and is really hearty!  Today we are trying the Indian style turkey burgers with a slaw made from greek yogurt, cabbage (though I am using broccoli slaw), green onion, and lime juice...oh yes, a little salt.  We also tried the cashew ginger carrot soup from Pacific Rim...it was REALLY quite good and low in points!  I weigh in Thursday...hopefully the scale will show that my hard work is paying off!  I will say Friday was a hard day...I was hungry most of the day.  And...Sunday is a day I tend to treat myself.  I have kept with my points and have been exercising as well.  So, we shall see!

Ah New Year New Goals

Well, I wasn't too great this weekend...and I paid the price.  I felt AWFUL!  So...today I am on track.  I still need to go through my pantry and figure the points values on the stuff in there...I have been so used to the previous program...this will be an adjustment.  I have also started tracking again today.  I anticipate some weight gain on Thursday's weigh in...but the following week I anticipate weight loss!  My husband and I planned the meals this week through Thursday...what will be most challenging, and I said this before, is going to be Wednesday and Thursday nights.  I have class late...and it is when I normally eat.  I am not sure how I feel about this.  I have been on a pretty good schedule until now.  I guess this is when you really have to plan!  Today I am going to take a snack with me...and a sandwich.  Hopefully when I come home I will just have a snack and head to bed.  Thankfully I have CLEMENTINES...which I adore!  So that will be something to look forward to!

Promises for 2011

Well, I weighed in Thursday...I have gained about 2 lbs from Thanksgiving to now.  Not bad, I have done worse.  I did not reach my goal weight in 2010...but I did maintain weight loss of the significant amount (50 lbs gone since 2009)  Total weight loss had been 64 lbs.  That 14 lbs has come and gone in the last couple of years.  In 2010 I did reach the LOWEST weight since my 20s...at 183.  Currently I am 186.  I want to reach 175.  I also want to develop my relationship with food.  It is not always healthy.  I enjoy food, but I also turn to it when I am feeling down or upset.  I also use it in celebration.  It has taken me a long time to admit that.  I am also a firm believer that moderation is key.  Listening to my body...knowing when I am full.  Stopping when I am satisfied.  Here are a few promises I want to make to myself for 2011.

1) Keeping my weight off
2) Regular exercise
3) Meal planning
4) Reach goal weight 175
5) Continue to work on my relationship with food

Happy New Year to everyone!

Countdown to Christmas

So...I didn't weigh in at Thanksgiving...went in December 9th and lost 2 lbs...down to 183.8!  I was soooo excited.  This week I weighed in and gained about .4 (yes, that is a decimal in front of the 4).  Not too concerned about that...but this is the week of all of the parties and holiday food.  I have been pretty good.  I decided to go ahead and take small portions of what I liked.  I managed to get through this weekend not getting sick and being too full...but I know when I weigh in I will have gained.  But...just to keep myself in check I will weigh on Thursday.  I keep remembering what our WW leader said.  It is one day...I keep telling myself, it is one time of the year....Christmas is a time when we eat things we don't eat any other time of the year.  I didn't make all of the cookies and stuff I normally make...but I was selective and made what I really enjoy...I tried a salted fudge from WW, I made some buckeyes, and tried some pretzel s'mores.  I know that I will have sweets here and there before then...but I am trying to keep my sweets to a minimum and I don't want to over indulge.  I also know that come January...I will get back on track!  Happy Holidays...and if you have some great strategies...please share!

After Thanksgiving Weigh In

So I weighed in yesterday...lost 2 lbs!  Now I am at the weight I was at the peak of my weight loss...total loss of 64 lbs.  I have never regained the 50 lost...but that 14 lbs has come and gone over the last few years.  I am hoping to keep it off though the holidays will make it challenging.  I have managed to get through the holidays with minimal damage before...I hope to do it again.  I will continue going in and weighing myself until 12/23....and then it may be until January 2011.  I paid for another 17 weeks of WW.  The WW plan has changed.  This will give me a jump start I think...and I have to relearn points and how to calculate.  Now we are taking into consideration Protein and Fiber...and if there are Fat and Carbs the point value of the food goes up...so good news Peanut Butter is less points...but on the bad side, my 110 calorie thin bagels have gone from 1 point to 3 points!  EEK...Anyway, it will be a learning process.  I will get used to it and according to those who started the program last week they did pretty good!  I also have to remind myself that the holidays come once a year.  Often I am eating things that I don't eat regularly...so indulge, not too much...and get back on track, don't let the guilt weigh me down!