Going back....

to Weight Watchers, again, first of the year, with Julie! Until then.....I suck.

Thick or Thin Thursday

It is Thursday already? I didn't weigh. I forgot. It is just as well, because I didn't try very hard. I will give it a go for next week, but before I let you go, answer this one question.

Is it wrong to drink whipping cream straight from the bottle?

See ya. Beth

Julie's Friday Weigh-In

O.k., this post is about to get real ugly, real quick. I have gained 4.2 lbs. this week. How does that happen?!?!?!? Really? 4.2? I have counted my calories religiously for the last three days and this is what it gets me? I know exercise makes a difference and I have not been able to do that at all this week. But, seriously, this has to be the most baffling game known to man!!

Thick or Thin Thursday

I weigh the same and I am losing interest. I can not walk due to the torrential rains we are having here. I can not count calories, hate it. I can not count points either. I can not stop eating. I can not get past the five pound loss. I can not get motivated. I can not....I can not give up.

Beth

Julie's Friday Weigh-In

Yes, its been a while since I've posted. The family and I had a fabulous week with the Scotsman visiting. Of course, that meant eating lots of good food too (like Lauri's cake and ice creammmmm). On the up side, we did some walking at Monticello, on the Mall in DC, etc. Fun, fun times! Today's weigh-in has me down 5.2 lbs!!!!! That's over two weeks though. My current weight loss total is exactly 11 lbs. May it be 11 lbs I never, ever see again! You know what this means, don't you, Julie? It means that exercise does make a difference. Yep.

Thick or Thin Thursday

I weighed this morning and got three different weights on my digital scales. Is that a sign of the batteries crashing? I pulled out the ol'spring ones and according to them, I weigh the same as last week. I am okay with that, because although I have been walking, I have been eating terribly. I think a lot of my overeating was PMS eating. I crave the craziest things during that time. I also tend to gain water weight and it seems to get worse as I get older. Greeeeeeeat.

Anyway, my weight has not changed and today is a new day. I will continue to walk, but will start my food journal or journey, again. I am really sucking at this folks. Wish me luck.

Beth

What's Happening

to us and our blog? I feel like we are not pulling our weight here, no pun intended, well, maybe a little. I have sucked the last week myself at not counting points or calories, but on the good side, walking on a regular basis. I have got to do better. I am going nowhere fast. I am just spinning my wheels and wasting precious time. I am going to weigh Thursday, as always, but I am starting over tomorrow. I have got to do this. I need to do this. Help.


Beth

Blimey, no Weigh In Today for Jules....

she playing hostess with the mostess to an amazing Scotsman named Martin. Julie, hubby and kids have been wining, dining and havering so much so, she is a wee bit frightened of the scales. The las will be back next week though, so stay tuned.

Thick or Thin Thursday

I weighed, down a teeny tiny bit, .2 pounds, why bother.

I have been walking pretty regularly this week, two miles a day! It doesn't do much good if you have been eating CRAP. I am going to keep up the walking, but get back to counting the points. It really makes a difference and I just need to accept the fact I gotta do it. Next week, maybe I will be down a whole pound! Dieting and birth, the only time you count the ounces!

Beth

PS-Lordy, have you tried the Pumpkin Spice Latte's at StarBucks? HEAVEN!

Julie - A Day Late...

but not a pound short! I missed weigh-in day yesterday, so I'm posting it this morning. I have actually gained 0.6 lb! Ugh! It has been a tough week with the kids getting back to school, getting up in what feels like the middle of the night and all the new activities starting. I actually fell off the wagon about counting my calories early last week week and never restarted but today I shall! There may be many inspirational weight loss blogs out there but THIS blog is firmly rooted in the reality of how hard it is to focus on the weight loss in the middle of your life happening! I'm not losing heart though.

Honorary Members!

I just want to give a shout out to my brother Roger and his wife Miranda who have both been "watching" what they eat. Roger has lost 19 pounds!! Miranda has lost seven pounds and walks two miles a day!!

BOOYAH! You rock!

Thick or Thin Thursday

Okay, okay it is going to be a good day, a thin day! I weighed this morning and I am down 2.2 lbs! It must be a fluke. I am down a total of 5.2 pounds. Whoopie!! I will take it.

On a side note, SMM please send me your mailing address. You won the ideal sweetener coupon. I have tried to contact you, but nothing. If I do not here from ya soon I will have to give it someone else. Boohoo.

Have a great day folks. Beth

Danger, danger!

These are TOO good to be in my house! Guess what I just ate for breakfast? Eat or should I say INHALE at your own risk. Three WW points each!!! YUM!!!!

Beth

Julie's Friday Weigh-In

To round (ahem) out the week, I stayed the same. So, all three of us girls held steady. I may sound like a broken record, but planning is my nemesis. SMM thank you for the calorie counter link you added to the comments. It came in with a higher number than I was going by. In case anyone missed it http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm Have a great weekend everyone!!

Thick or Thin Thursday

Good grief! I weigh exactly the same as last week. I have been doing this now for a good month and I am going nowhere fast. This is ridiculous. I didn't keep track of my points this week and it shows. I need to exercise, too. I did do some walking over the weekend while we were camping, in fact, I thought I would die! You can read all about it over at You Know What You Oughta Do.

Julie and I have a little promise going, when we loose ten pounds we are off to get a pedicure. Well, at this rate I might see one for the new year....of 2012!

I suck.

Beth

April's Monday Weigh-In

Ok, so I'll make this short and sweet. I stayed the same this week! At least I didn't gain. :)

April

The Winners of the Ideal Coupons!

as selected by the Random Generator, comment #2 and #5!! Whoohoo!

I will get your addresses and pop your coupon in the mail! Thanks for playing.

Beth

Julie's Weigh-In Friday

Happy Friday!!!!! I am down 0.8 lb today! Woohoo! Despite the tag that we're three girls counting points, I'd like to take this opportunity to come clean. I have not been counting points but calories. When Beth approached me about doing Weight Watchers, I could not afford it (money or time-wise), so I decided to download an app to my phone to track calories, log food and weight. At the start, I was shooting for 1,200 calories a day (with wiggle room on those days I went over) and the scale seemed to hold steady. I was curious if it could be true (or was it just urban myth) that one could eat too few calories and not lose. I have been increasing my calorie intake and have noticed that the numbers are going down a little more quickly. At this point, I plan on adjusting my daily calorie intake downward as the numbers on the scale start to drop. Essentially, just the way they do with decreasing your allowed points in WW. It's fascinating to me how messed up my thinking has been about food. I still wrestle with the idea that if I'm going to lose the weight, I need to deprive myself (feel the burn, as it were). I'm enjoying the process and learning all these new things about how my body works - strange that I've fought with it for so long and know so little about it!! Have a wonderful weekend y'all! And a special "good luck" to Camper Van Bethie!

Thick or Thin Thursday

It is THIN today! I am now keeping my money and weighing at home. I jumped on the scales, did the math and I am down 2.6 lbs! I'll take that, thank you. The family and I are off on our BIG camping trip this weekend, so I hope to be getting copious amounts of physical exercise. I will need it in order to burn off those s'mores calories, naw, just kidding. I hate those things, well sorta.

Wish me luck, both in the diet and the "sleeping on the ground" bit.

Beth

A Sweet Giveaway!

I have become a huge fan of ideal brand sweetener and have mentioned its use many times here on WTP?, so I couldn't hold back my enthusiasm any longer and wrote the ideal folks singing the praise of their natural sugar substitute. Those kind people sent me two coupons for FREE ideal, either bag or packets, to share with you in return! All you gotta do is leave a comment and let me know you would like to give it a try. I will randomly select two winners! This little giveaway will run through Sunday, August 29th midnight and for US readers only! Spread the word!

You can read all about ideal brand sweetener here.

Beth

April's Monday Weigh In..

So for my 2 week weigh in, if you remember I skipped last week, I am down a total of 3.6 lbs! I have almost lost my 4 lb gain and I am happy with that. I have started walking 3 days a week and it feels great. I do have to admit that I have not been counting my points, though. I have just been making the healthier choice. I should probably get back to keeping my food journal and staying within my points, but for right now, this seems to be working.

April

Weight Watchers Diet Soda Cake

Well crap, this is good, real good and just so simple to make. The cake is a very popular among Weight Watcher'ers and there are many flavor combinations. I had some diet Mt. Dew leftover from my brother's visit(his personal favorite), so I figured it would pair nicely with an orange cake mix. Oh baby, it did, it paired too well in fact, dangerously well. This cake is surprisingly moist and delicious. The entire family is eating it! I did make a little glaze with some confectioners sugar, vanilla  and milk to pretty it up some.

The WW's recipe call for the cake to be baked in a 9x13 pan, cut into 12 pieces for 3.5 points each! I opted for a bundt for beauty. This combo would be killer as cupcakes and iced with some light Cool Whip. I see a kinda dreamsicle thing happening.

Diet Soda Cake

Your choice of cake mix

Your choice of diet soda, 10oz

Two egg whites

Mix by hand until thoroughly incorporated, maybe three minutes or so. Spray your pan with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes. Cool and enjoy.

Some other popular combinations:

- spice cake mix w/ diet orange

- banana cake mix w/ diet root beer
- lemon cake mix w/ diet 7-up
- chocolate cake w/ diet coke
- cherry chip cake w/ A& W diet Cream
- chocolate cake w/ diet cherry coke
- devils food w/ diet vanilla coke

to name a few...........


Beth

FAT Friday

I went to Weight Watchers, paid my twelve bucks and gained 1.4 pounds! Oh yay.

I am not going back. I am going to do it both Julie and April's way, on my own. I was hoping paying money and weighing in front of a stranger would motivate me, but I guess not. I just bought a new pair of walking shoes will I was out. I have got to get my butt up and moving, no excuses dang it. Wish me luck.

BTW, the Fiber One Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Pop Tarts, not good. I am on the hunt for the fudge.

Beth

Julie's Weigh-In Friday

Happy Friday, everyone!! I'm down 1.2 lb for the week. It's nice to finally see a whole pound gone. Seems like things are going according to my plan of slow and steady as I'm down a total of 5.6 pounds since I started on the 23rd of July. I've been trying to think about what's different this time. I hate to admit that I'm finally paying attention to all those things I've read over and over: keeping a food journal, drinking water, incorporating exercise. I've been a 'black and white' sort of girl in the past - either I was on a diet or I ate a cookie and all hell broke loose. Why has it taken me 20 years to learn this?

Julie

Thick or Thin Thursday

will be pushed back a day to Fat Friday. I don't feel like going. I will tomorrow. The End.

Beth

Fiber One PopTarts!

First I should update on my weigh in. It didn't happen yesterday. My oldest son, Shane, started high school today and yesterday was his orientation. I just completely forgot. So, I will not weigh in the rest of this week and weigh on Monday. I know that is probably cheating, but this week it makes me happy. :)

Now, on to these pop tarts! Have you tried them? You should! There are 5 grams of fiber in 1 pop tart, and they are 3 points a piece. Chocolate Fudge is my favorite pop tart flavor and these are good. They are a little different than a Kellogg's brand pop tart, but I can't really tell a huge difference. Go ahead try them...you might like them! :)


April

Caroline's Birthday Party

She had these and I didn't even eat one.

I did smell them though. How many points for that?

Beth

Julie's Weigh-In Friday

Down 0.4 lbs today. Must be all that Friday the 13th bad luck - ha! I'm still surprised that I don't feel defeated. I probably haven't been drinking all of the water I should (that's for you, Auntpawlie!) but I don't feel I am eating for reasons other than hunger either. I need to kick up the exercise too. My clothes do feel more loose. It may take a long time to get the weight off but the slower it comes off, hopefully the more ingrained my new lifestyle will be. It's the first time in my life that I'm more focused on the process than the outcome.

Thick or Thin Thursdays

I don't even know why I am even bothering posting this...get ready...stand back...I lost 0.8 pounds! Oh yay. Can't ya just feel the excitement and enthusiasm in the air? I have not even lost three pounds, yet. Oh well...I am determined to stick with it.

Now, to make some more changes.

Beth

Special K Protein Shake

What's the Point? co-authoress, Julie, really enjoys the Special K protein shakes, so she shared one with me yesterday. She suggested to pop it into the freezer for a frosty cold, almost like a milkshake, treat. I just stuck mine in the fridge overnight, since I decided it would be my breakfast.

Now, what do I think? I think it tastes just like a Slimfast, a ice cold Slimfast. I think it is super chocolaty. I think is is filling. I think for three Weight Watchers points I am buying some. I am just wondering if they have vanilla? Thinks, I mean thanks Julie!

Beth

Orville did Good

A whole bag of OR's Smart Pop is just four Weight Watchers points, the whole...hot...salty...tasty...big... bag.
You'll like it better or my name isn't Orville Redenbacher. It's not, just Beth, but the popcorn is good.

April's Monday Weigh In....

Well, I should have just stayed in bed today! Not good people, not good at all. This week has been a blur for me, especially the weekend. I ate out all weekend starting from Friday night and during the week wasn't so good either. I have no control. None. I admit it. So even when I eat out and could make the better choice, I don't. I suck. I know. So the weigh in today is a plus of 4 pounds. 4 pounds!! What a way to start off Monday. Blah......


April

Black Bean Brownies

Oh my gosh, these are sooooo good! I kid you not, rich, fudgey and oh so chocolaty. I had read about these on the Weight Watchers message boards, so you just know i had to give them a go. They are ridiculously easy to make, three ingredients, well four, if you count the splash of vanilla i added. The recipes floating around the net use water, but any good cook knows that to enhance and enrich the flavor of chocolate, you use coffee, hot or cold. I did and ohhhhh mama. This is such a keeper of a recipe. I dare you to make some for your friends and family then you dare them to guess the secret ingredient. My kids and hubby have gobbled them all day and have no clue there are beans in there. I'm not telling.

Also, those same recipes specify the brownies to be baked in a 9x13 pan and cut into 20 pieces at two Weight Watchers points each. I baked mine in a 9x9 pan cut them into 16 pieces and called them three pointers. Okay enough already 'cause I just know you are jonesing for the recipe. Here ya go, my version of the black bean brownie.

BBBB or Beth's Black Bean Brownies

One can of black beans, rinsed, drained and pureed with the coffee or water listed below
1/2 cup of coffee or water
One box of your favorite brownie mix, Walmart's house brand is our family favorite
splash of vanilla extract

Mix and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 35 minutes. Ahhhhhh, yum.

Beth

No Skinny Cow for this Big Cow

I just had a date, a fifteen minute date with myself. I got to go to 7-11 all by myself! It was heavenly. I got my Big Gulp of Diet Coke in peace and proceeded to the counter, no, strolling leisurely to the counter, right past the ice cream freezer. I longingly gaze into through the frosty glass and see nothing, no wait, a SKINNY COW ice cream sandwich. I dove for it. OMGosh this thing is good, too good. It is dangerous. There is no way I could ever bring a box of these yummy treats into my home. I have no self control. I gobbled that one down before I left the parking lot. Although, only three points, I felt guilty and left the wrapper in the car to dispose of later. Skinny Cow, a good thing, but not for me. Well, maybe on date night.

Thick or Thin Thursdays

Well it was a thin Thursday, but not as thin as I was hoping. I was down 1.8 pounds. I can do better than this. I know I can. I will keep ya posted.

Beth

Lessons from a pro

Well, it's been a tough week so far. Last week I was worried tough times were coming. Not sure if I brought them on myself with that kind of thinking or I just have pitifully little in the way of determination. I've been keeping my food journal, staying within range, but I've hopped on the scales a few times (and I know better than to do that), only to see it edge UP! However, while I'm struggling, there's someone in my life that I look to for inspiration. She's my dear cousin, Paula - aka auntpawlie. She is a WW Lifetime Member and has kept her weight off for 15 years!!!! Through the years, there are things that I've noticed she does that help her stay on track. She always has a half of a peanut butter sandwich with her (although now she uses the Sandwich Thins type bread), she's faithful to drinking her water and is truly dedicated to exercise. At family gatherings, she always makes sure to bring dishes that fit into her plan. I know she has tweaked things through the years, both to stay in her goal weight range and probably to "mix it up" some. What hasn't changed is her long term dedication to her health. She has already been a great cheerleader for us on the blog. I'm so proud of her accomplishments, thankful for her advice and lucky to have such a pro close at hand. Oh, and she also mentioned that Chocolate Vita Tops are delicious and only 1 pt each. Are we lucky to have her around or what?

Whoever Said Mashed Cauliflower Tastes Like....

mashed potatoes must have been on drugs or coming off a hunger strike. ICK!!

Olive Garden, I think I did okay

I have an elderly aunt that I take to run errands a few times a week. She needs to run to the bank, post office, the hair salon, the store, you know, for that quart of milk and half dozen eggs. Anyway, she loves to eat out and we do, almost every time, somewhere. Well today it was Olive Garden, chosen by my son whom I affectionately referred to as "bread stick boy". When it comes to counting points it is downright scary to eat there, but I think I did okay.

I, of course, started off with a diet Coke. I know I should have drunk water, but I caved. I actually do not like the bread sticks, so that was easy, but I do love that ice cold salad. Sadly, the salad comes in high on the points scale with the fat laden, but yummy, salad dressing. Did you know that OG offers other choices of salad dressings including low fat? I didn't  not until I came home and started cruising the net. This time I just ate a bowl of salad BEFORE tossing, since the dressing lies on the bottom of the bowl. Next time, I will order sans dressing and pick one of the other choices. Okay, now on to the entree, I ordered the chicken spiedini with double grilled veggies. Oh my gosh, this is really good. Basically, it is a skewer of  herb marinated chicken breast served with potatoes and mixed veggies, all grilled. I opted out of the potatoes and they happily doubled the vegetables, which was a combination of yellow and zucchini squash.  I was content and sufficiently stuffed. I want to include a link to a page on Hungry Girl's site regarding Olive Garden. It is very interesting and quite the eye opener. Happy counting!!

Ciao, Beth

Monday Weigh In

I so dread weigh in day! I can't lie about it..I just dread it. After all that I ate this weekend, let's just say I probably consumed all my weekly points in 3 days. But, I can happily say, that I am with Beth..neither thick or thin. I am the same as I was before I started the low carbing. I can live with that. This is a new week, I had a good looking BS number this morning, although I can honestly say I have no idea where it came from...so a new week. I am back on the wagon. Tomorrow may be a different story, since it is the hubby's b-day and there will be cake. But, for today, I have hope. :)

April

"There's Got To Be A Morning After"

I emailed this link http://www.cinnamonhearts.com/AfterBinge04.htm titled "After The Binge Is Over" to Beth this evening and she (rightfully so) recommended I post it. This is the only page I've read on Dr. Colby's website, so I don't know what else she has to offer, but I found her helpful in regaining perspective.

Apologies on the post title if any fellow children of the 70's now have visions of the "Poseidon Adventure".

Julie

F.U.R.

F'd Up Royally

I blew my points big time.....

I ate a regular hot dog, small onions rings and mini strawberry blizzard. I use the words regular, small and mini to make me feel better about myself. It doesn't work. I suck.

The End.

Beth

Julie's Weigh-In Friday

I started this post early this morning but, well, life got in the way. So here I am sneaking this in before Friday is over. I'm happy to say that I have a 3.8 lb weight loss for my first week! I realize this isn't going to be the case every week and that's o.k. I'm focused on changing my mindset to change the number on the scale, and I know that's not going to happen in a linear fashion (I fully expect that I'll have to revisit this post down the road to remind myself of that). April and Beth are the foodies and I hate to cook! So....in lieu of a recipe, thought I'd share a podcast I enjoy listening to : Inside Out Weight Loss http://personallifemedia.com/podcasts/216-inside-out-weight-loss . It might be a little "new agey" for some folks but does provide food for thought. Happy Weekend!
Julie

Thick or Thin Thursday

Okay, today was my first weigh in at Watches Watchers and I was neither thick nor thin. I am absolutely the same identical weight as last week. I kinda figured as much and I will tell you why. I was low carbing two weeks prior to REjoining WW's and lost maybe a few pounds. Once I reintroduced carbohydrates into my diet I regained that weight. I am thinking that towards the end of this past week, my body began to adjust and I started to loose once more. I guess you could say, in a way, this will be my first real WW's week, a second chance.........I need it.

I need some coffee, too.

Beth 

A Two Point Vanilla Milkshake, Not Too Shabby

No really, it was dang tasty, so much so, both my kids wanted one. I found the recipe on recipezarr listed as an "old" Weight Watchers recipe. Gosh, this could not be simpler, yet so satisfying. All you do is, in your blender mix a cup of one percent or skim milk, 1 to 2 teaspoons of vanilla, 1 tablespoon of sweetener and four to six ice cubes till thick and frothy. Just too easy....

P.S. I used the ideal sweetener and imitation vanilla. Oh, Travis wanted strawberry, so a squirt of  Hershey's strawberry syrup did the trick. I was also thinking you could make this thicker and creamier with a tablespoon of sugar free pudding, your choice of flavor. I am feeling chocolate next time. Whadda ya think? Hmmmmmm......

Yummy Three Point Meal Idea

Sorry, I don't have a picture to share with you, but I still wanted to tell you about a delicious and filling sandwich that I had for dinner last night. I bought a package of sandwich thins which are one Weight Watcher's point each. From there I smeared a tablespoon of homemade veggie cream cheese, divided, on each side for another point. Then I layered two ounces of good deli turkey, one point as well. The turkey I used came from Sam's club under the name CastleWood. It is very tasty and they have a large variety of lunch meats and flavors. I saw a chipotle turkey that is calling my name. I am coming, wait for me. Anyway, finally, I packed the sandwich full with baby spinach leaves then devoured the whole, large thing. YUM! 

Here is how you make the cream cheese, too easy. Bring one brick of low fat cream cheese to room temp and whip with your mixer. Add finely diced veggies of your choice. I used minced spring onion, carrot, celery and cucumber. Pinch of salt and pepper, whip briefly, again. I let it set for several hours or overnight, so the flavors really meld with the cream cheese. It is sooooo much better than anything you can buy in a tub and healthier.

Stay full my friends.

Beth

Spicy Shrimp

I love any type of seafood and shrimp is one of the favorites. I found this recipe in an old Cooking Light magazine and have made it several times. The kids like it, the hubby likes it...it is a keeper. Shrimp is only 1 point for 1/2 cup. So you can have a ton of it for a low amount of points!

Spicy Shrimp

1 1/2 lbs medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp dried oregano

Combine all the dry spices and coat shrimp with the mixture. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and add the shrimp to the skillet. Saute 4 minutes or until no longer pink. Enjoy!

Thick or Thin Thursdays

I guess I am going to stick with Thursday weigh-ins at Weight Watchers. I know this Thursday will be a Thick Thursday. I am fairly sure I have gained back the few pounds I had lost low carbing, nice and fluffy marshmallow blubber. Oh joy. I am trying to not get too wrapped up into the poundage factor, but to stick with that slow and steady whens the race. Whatever. Yadda, yadda, yadda, I don't want to gain daggone it. Well, I guess I will know for sure in a coupla days and I will keep ya posted. Now, I need to go find me some "light" clothes to wear. You know the one outfit that I will be weighing in for the rest of my life! I know you know.

Beth

My Kind of Breakfast....a Cookie

and a big one at that.  Yepper, a breakfast cookie. Oh yum. It is moist, dense  and chock full of oats, cranberries and cinnamon. You get to eat dessert for breakfast, yeehaw, and all for only five Weight Watchers points. The recipe makes one monster "good for you" cookie that is not only great for coffee dunking, but is super filling. I did alter the original recipe a little, which upped it a point. I am planning on making a bigger batch to freeze and always have on hand. I have never enjoyed your typical eggs and bacon breakfast, so this works perfectly for me. Oh, wouldn't some super dark chocolate chips in these be divine? Oh yea baby, now this is some diet food I can live with. 

Beth's Big Ol'Breakfast Cookie

Makes one large cookie. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mix the following, mound and spread into cookie shape, bake on parchment or a silpat for about 15-20 minutes till brown and crispy around the edges.

1/3 cup of rolled oats
1/3 cup of non-fat powdered milk
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce or in my case, 1/4 cup of low fat sour cream
1 T flour
1 T of raisins or in my case, orange scented cranberries
1/2 t of cinnamon
1 t of vanilla
1/4 t of baking powder
1T of your choice of sweetener, I used ideal. I guess if you add sugar that adds an extra point.

That's it, simple, easy and downright yummy.

Beth

I Couldn't Resist

I mean, really, Red Velvet Cake yogurt, come on, I had to try it. Oh, how I wished I hadn't now. It is awful, just awful. I ate one spoonful and chucked the container in the trash. Don't waste your money or your points(2). What are the Yoplait folks thinking, EEK, run away, run far, far away........

Beth

Hi!!! Oh, and my lunch!

Hi there! April here, although you may know me from Abby Sweets. That is my baking blog, which is probably why I am now here at What's the Point. Having a blog that is nothing but baking sweets has caused my backside to spread and is one of the main factors that my blood sugars are not where they should be. Yes, like Beth, I am a diabetic. Right now, I am on oral medications for it, but I have no control with my food choices and insulin injections will be my next step. I am announcing right now...it is my goal not to have to take that next step.

I am so excited to be on this journey, if you will, with these two girls. We will keep each other accountable, motivate, share recipes...probably gripe and whine a whole lot, and that will be ok. Well, as long as we are making ourselves healthier, as well as my family. Hey, I cook it...they gotta eat it, might as well make it all healthy, right?

I will be doing my weigh ins on Monday's. I have made it to work this morning...weighed in (almost puked because of it) but I am feeling confident this morning that with meal planning we will do just fine. Now, I will share with you what I will be having for lunch. I am still having a little problem on breakfast ideas..so pass them along if you have any.

I love these deli thins. Have you tried them? You should. They are 100 calories for the whole bun, top and bottom and they are only 1 point!

I will be having cucumber spread on them. I love cucumber sandwiches in the summer. With the heat index being at least at 105 if not higher, it makes for a light lunch. And made with FF cream cheese, you can have 4 Tbsp of the spread for 1 point. That makes your sandwich, with a nice filling, for only 2 points!!

Not a great pic, but you can see what it looks like. :)

I will be having my 2 point sandwich with 9 multigrain Tortilla chips for 3 points and my homemade salsa, with is a freebie!! So there you have my 5 point lunch! My daily point range is 22-27, so I still have alot of points to play with for my breakfast, snack and dinner.

The one thing I keep telling myself is...it is all about CHOICES. Girls, we can do this!

Cucumber Sandwich Spread:

1 medium cucumber, peeled and finely chopped or grated

8 oz. FF cream cheese, softened

2 tsp mayo

Seasoned Salt, to taste

Mix all the ingredients together until completely combined and store in the refrigerator.

WW's Raspberry Zinger Cake

x

This is a good cake, a very good cake. I got the recipe originally off the WW's board, but later found it here. It makes a 9x13 cake which you divide into 16 pieces at 4 points each. Okay, I ate eight points worth immediately. I told you I have no self control and it's good. Jamie ate two, too, so there. It is that good. He said it didn't taste diet to him.  Did I mention that this cake is good?  I gotta admit though, there are few things I would change. First, I would only do one cup of boiling water to the Jello or double the Jello for a stronger raspberry flavor. Also, I would also do a better job poking holes. The Jello needed better cake penetration. Lastly, I would use good ol'Baker's coconut for the top, not the unsweetened flakes I had on hand from my granola making. I did whirl it in the food processor a bit, but it's still not the same. Overall, this is a good cake. Did I mention that already?

I would happily share WW's Raspberry Zinger Cake with my family and friends, afterall, I am now sharing it with you, my friend.

Beth

Chicken Post

This isn't some post about a great, low point chicken recipe (so you might want to change the channel now if that's what you're looking for), it's about my first blog post ever. I'm just not a natural at this like Beth. I suppose the trepidation I'm feeling is not unlike that which I'm feeling with starting on this journey to get healthy. Eventually, I've got to put the words (and the fork) down and get on with it.

I've been thinking about old pictures and how all those years I thought I was huge. Looking back from where I am now, what I wouldn't give to be at any of those weights today! The sad thing is that it was a self-fulfilling prophecy - I am the size now that I imagined I was then. While simply thinking I'm slim and healthy today won't bring about an instant change, I know my thinking has to change and my actions have to change. Here goes...cluck cluck.

Yummy Food Find

I found these yummy pudding cups at Target this morning. I almost didn't buy them because they are only one point each. Why is that a problem you ask? Well, because I have no self control and will eat everyone....in a day! I have to be careful about treats, especially the artificially sweetened ones, because they will get you in the end, literally. I will spend the first part of my day snarfing them down and the latter half running to the potty. Well, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was sweetened with xylitol, a natural sugar subsitute. I really like this stuff. I can find it in my local grocery store, granulated and marketed under the name ideal. It tastes like the real deal and you use it one to one. Oh, and a huge plus, I have had no side affects, after affects, after shocks or what ever you want to call it.

P.S.-Two down and two to go!

Well Hello....

Welcome to our new blog and when I say "our" I mean April, Julie and myself. We are three friends brought together by the love of food and the results of loving it too much of it too often. We have the chins, bellies and diabetes to show for it. We have decided to come together as a mini support group. Julie and I are in Virginia and April is in Tennesee. We have never met her. Julie and I have been friends for thirty years, but April, I found her on the net. She, like me, is a food blogger and a diabetic. We bonded instantly. We all are wives, moms and middle aged. We each have our own personal reason for doing this. Me, I need to get my diabetes under control. I want to feel good about myself. I want to be comfortable. I want to be happy.

This is the second step towards my goal. The first was joining Weight Watchers for like the upteenth time last Thursday. We have all agreed to follow the WW diet plan. It works. I tried low carbing for two weeks, lost maybe five pounds and fourteen days. It is a crap diet. I can not do it and be happy.

We have big plans for this blog. We plan to share our successes, failures, gripes, etc.... We plan to share with you recipes, products and food finds. We plan to share it all with you. Well all except my starting weight. You will just have to trust me when I post my losses and gains. I hope you will share your support with us by visiting often leaving comments, tips, advice, and whatever floats your boat.

Weight Watchers, the only time in your life, other than birth, that ounces count.

Beth