Well, we are twelve days into this adventure and still doing well. Still have a long way to go and are ironing out some kinks but overall we've done REALLY well. My biggest challenge has been that as the cook in the family I can create a recipe within the app and track the points it costs, but I can't share it with the others which means we have to create the recipe 3 times. Hopefully as time goes on that will get better.
One thing I've noticed is that our eating habits are already changing for the better and we are satisfied with smaller portions. I often finish the day with a cup of Sweet Dreams tea which is zero points and yet gives me something to sip on as I relax.
Our shopping habits are also changing- we no longer buy pre packaged food and meals that you can heat up and eat. We hadn't been doing a ton of that to begin with but its gone down even more since we started. Now our shopping trips are mostly fruits, veggies, eggs, ground chicken or turkey breasts, and eggs. We've pretty much all been drinking water except for our morning cup of coffee.
One thing that is a little challenging is that so many of the low point treats they have on the app use things that are full of chemicals (like sugar free, fat free Jello pudding mix). It's a very fine balance between wanting to have a low point treat every once in awhile but not put the chemicals into our bodies. Will keep experimenting with it as we go. I personally will be VERY happy when the strawberry stands open and we can get yummy fresh strawberries to eat.
No new "recipe" this week but something I've had for lunch the past couple days that is very satisfying and on the lower end of the points value. I've just been using what we already have in the fridge but this could be done with many different things and the points value brought even lower.
1/2 to 2/3 cup of jasmine rice (cooked) (3-4 points depending on how much you use)
Canadian bacon (3-4 slices chopped) 1 point
steamed green beans (or any other veggie you have and like)
1 tsp olive oil- 1 point (I may try to take this out and sub in just a splash of veggie stock next time)
1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar (or less if you like) 1 point
salt and pepper to taste
I start by heating the Canadian bacon in a small frying pan and just getting some brown on it. I then add the rice, oil (or stock), and green beans. Heat and mix until combined and then add in the balsamic vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve! It comes out to be around 6-7 points depending on how much rice, balsamic vinegar, and oil you use. Its really tasty and keeps you full for a while which is nice.
That's it for now! Hopefully we will keep on this positive track and keep learning. I know I'm already feeling and looking better- I've had to tighten my Fitbit band 2-3 notches and I'm almost ready to be in a small rather than large size. Some parts of my body like my fingers are still puffy sometimes but I think that's the inflammation from the fibromyalgia and will continue to get better over time.
Right now I'm off to bed to try and get rid of this migraine.
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Friday, January 11, 2019
New Year, New Plans!
Hello all!
I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Years. Things were mostly quiet in our house. Lots of fun times and memories made. Life has sped up again now that it's the new year. LOTS of appointments and things to keep our family busy (sometimes it feels TOO busy). With a wedding in just a few months three of us decided to join Weight Watchers and see if we can't lose weight, feel better, and be more healthy this year. Since I'm the main cook I was signed up as well so it would be easier for me to calculate and prepare the meals without having to constantly ask what something was worth. We've been at it for 2 days and its been interesting to say the least. The good news is that a number of the dishes I was making are okay points-wise. There are also some I'm tweaking to bring the points value down so we can still eat it.
My plan is to try and blog about this journey as we go. I will try to include recipes we've tried, tricks we have learned, and things I'm struggling with. So far its been a challenge to try and cook dinner while measuring and inputting every single ingredient into the app (which is fabulous by the way- more on that another time) so we can have an accurate point value. I'm hoping this will get easier as time goes on and I build up the repertoire of recipes already input so I can just track it.
Two of the biggest things so far we've been working on is PORTION CONTROL, and learning that many of the ingredients you wouldn't think are the worst have a really high point value. For instance, a package of Kirkland Organic ground beef (1.34 lbs) is a whopping 39 points. Now, that is divided amongst a big number of us but it gives you pause. Tonight instead of using all ground beef in a recipe I substituted half of the amount I needed for ground turkey breast which is 0 points. The flavor and texture were still good but it brought the point value down significantly. In regards to portion control, we are MEASURING EVERYTHING. We've found this really makes you stop and think about things and not just take a random helping for a meal or go into the pantry and get a snack. You really have to plan and think about what you can have.
We've already discovered a really tasty recipe on the app that gives us that little bit of sweet we crave but without going overboard. I'm including the recipe its so good.
Weight Watchers Chocolate and Pear Quesadilla (5 points- with the tortillas we could find)
1 serving
Ingredients:
1/2 tsp unsalted butter
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp mini semisweet chocolate chips
3 thin slices raw red (or green) anjou pear(s)
1 Mission Carb Balance Soft taco whole wheat tortilla
Instructions:
-Melt the butter in a small nonstick skillet over medium/medium-high heat. Sprinkle cinnamon over tortilla and then rub it in. Put the tortilla cinnamon-side down into the skillet. Sprinkle chocolate over 1/2 the tortilla and top with pear slices. Fold top half of tortilla over filling. Cook, turning once, until lightly browned (2 minutes or so). Slice in half and serve.
Hope you enjoy, and I look forward to sharing this journey with you all. I will try to blog at least once a week with our progress, tips, tricks we've picked up, and recipes we've found or adapted. Wish us luck!
I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Years. Things were mostly quiet in our house. Lots of fun times and memories made. Life has sped up again now that it's the new year. LOTS of appointments and things to keep our family busy (sometimes it feels TOO busy). With a wedding in just a few months three of us decided to join Weight Watchers and see if we can't lose weight, feel better, and be more healthy this year. Since I'm the main cook I was signed up as well so it would be easier for me to calculate and prepare the meals without having to constantly ask what something was worth. We've been at it for 2 days and its been interesting to say the least. The good news is that a number of the dishes I was making are okay points-wise. There are also some I'm tweaking to bring the points value down so we can still eat it.
My plan is to try and blog about this journey as we go. I will try to include recipes we've tried, tricks we have learned, and things I'm struggling with. So far its been a challenge to try and cook dinner while measuring and inputting every single ingredient into the app (which is fabulous by the way- more on that another time) so we can have an accurate point value. I'm hoping this will get easier as time goes on and I build up the repertoire of recipes already input so I can just track it.
Two of the biggest things so far we've been working on is PORTION CONTROL, and learning that many of the ingredients you wouldn't think are the worst have a really high point value. For instance, a package of Kirkland Organic ground beef (1.34 lbs) is a whopping 39 points. Now, that is divided amongst a big number of us but it gives you pause. Tonight instead of using all ground beef in a recipe I substituted half of the amount I needed for ground turkey breast which is 0 points. The flavor and texture were still good but it brought the point value down significantly. In regards to portion control, we are MEASURING EVERYTHING. We've found this really makes you stop and think about things and not just take a random helping for a meal or go into the pantry and get a snack. You really have to plan and think about what you can have.
We've already discovered a really tasty recipe on the app that gives us that little bit of sweet we crave but without going overboard. I'm including the recipe its so good.
Weight Watchers Chocolate and Pear Quesadilla (5 points- with the tortillas we could find)
1 serving
Ingredients:
1/2 tsp unsalted butter
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp mini semisweet chocolate chips
3 thin slices raw red (or green) anjou pear(s)
1 Mission Carb Balance Soft taco whole wheat tortilla
Instructions:
-Melt the butter in a small nonstick skillet over medium/medium-high heat. Sprinkle cinnamon over tortilla and then rub it in. Put the tortilla cinnamon-side down into the skillet. Sprinkle chocolate over 1/2 the tortilla and top with pear slices. Fold top half of tortilla over filling. Cook, turning once, until lightly browned (2 minutes or so). Slice in half and serve.
Hope you enjoy, and I look forward to sharing this journey with you all. I will try to blog at least once a week with our progress, tips, tricks we've picked up, and recipes we've found or adapted. Wish us luck!
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