Merry Christmas To ME!

I have been reading this book recently that talks about one woman’s weight loss journey. Her strategy was to keep it to herself so that she wouldn’t feel like she let anyone down if she wasn’t able to do it. She didn’t share her victories or her defeats with those that loved her and it worked for her.

I feel lucky that I found what finally worked for me this time but I chose a MUCH different path. I enjoy celebrating my victories with those around me and I found that sharing my struggles helps too. Thanks for allowing me to do that!

I had my ah-ha moment and I knew this time I wasn’t going back. That was a little over 19 months ago…and I am here to tell you that today at weigh in…I lost 3 pounds! All I wanted was the .06 to make it to 95 pounds lost by 12/16/08 and instead I got an early Christmas present.

The numbers as of 12/16/08:
Overall Lost: 134
Lost with WW: 97.4
11 pounds to goal
2.6 to the next goal of 100 pounds lost with WW…(BIG PARTY!)

Here were some of my goals as of 11/18

Some Mini Goals:
· To NOT gain during the Thanksgiving Holiday (CHECK)
· Continue to work the WW plan just how it is written! (CHECK)
· To lose another point on the plan (to get to another decade on the scale) (CHECK)
· To get to 95 pounds lost by Christmas (CHECK)
· To strengthen my lower back so that it doesn’t hurt so bad (CHECK)
· To work on my arms during the “winter” so that by the time it gets here I can wear tank tops and be PROUD (Working on)
· To continue going to Boot Camp (CHECK) last day is Friday until the new year
· To continue to try new foods and recipes (if you have any…pass them on!) (CHECK)

Some New Goals:
· To continue with the previous goals
· To NOT gain during the Christmas Holiday
· To get to 100 pounds lost…so I can have a party
· To continue working out on a regular basis
· To get in some good rides on the mountain bike during Christmas break
· To get to lifetime so that I can save $39.95 a month :)

Until the next time

~J

Sweet Treat!

I was piddling around the kitchen the other night wanting something sweet…IMAGINE THAT! So I took a honey crisp apple (my FAVORITE), cut it up, measured it on the scale (to find out the point value), sprayed pam in a baking dish, dumped the apples in, put cinnamon, nutmeg and baking splenda on them. Threw them in the oven and baked at 350 for at least 30 minutes…pulled them out and had a YUMMY, warm, sweet, LOW point snack! Just wanted to share my deliciously friendly find! Next time I might find some low point vanilla ice-cream to put on top…

~J
I know I am a dork for taking pictures…but I wanted you to see how pretty it was!

My new favorite store...

Last Sunday I went shopping with my friend LuAnn and BOY was it a fruitful trip! I went with her just to be there for moral support while she found a dress to wear to her husband’s company Christmas party and of course to hang out and have girl time.

Lets just say it was a good day for both of us…we both walked away with 2 dresses each from White House/Black Market. I just have to say it was an AMAZING feeling to try on dresses and have them fit and actually look GOOD! So good in fact that 2 of the people that were working that day stopped to go try on the polka dot dress themselves…Talk about an ego boost!

Oh yeah…the dresses…well one will be for New Year’s Eve…and hopefully J will find me a place to wear the other one (I am hoping for the Nutcracker)!

Have I mentioned lately that shopping is SO much more fun these days?

~J

SNOW!

So...obviously those who live here know it does NOT snow very often in central Texas. But for my friends that live up north and think it is so funny how excited I get about the "cold" weather...this is for you!

IT SNOWED...yeah it didn't stick, but IT SNOWED! Thanks for sending some my way JULIE!

Until Later

~J

It's Official!

I am financially commited to do my first 25K Trail Run. That is 15.53 miles. Yeah you read that right...15.53 miles! It is the Bandera race and it will be held on January 10, 2009 in...you guessed it...Bandera, TX. I have a few VERY good friends that have done this 4 years in a row. They have asked me to do it before, but to be honest I was afraid! NO MORE FEAR! I signed up...and I got my new nifty trail running shoes this week from the lovely folks at REI...thanks to a birthday gift card from Aunt Ape...Thanks Aunt Ape!!



Now...time to start the training! The plan: Get 8 miles in on the trails this weekend! Anyone want to join me?

Oh yeah...and Tammy and Andrea are thinking about joining in...how fun would that be?

Until the next time...have a GREAT weekend!!

~J

Peppermint...YUM!

Yeah so I had my first Gelato experience last night. 2 Flavors, Dark Chocolate and Peppermint, it was AWESOME! My only thought when I was done was...I am SO glad this place is kind of far from home base! Good news, gelato is not that bad! Only 5 points for a nice little treat!

So this morning I had those flavors on the brain and I went to the grocery store to pick up some stuff for the day and I grabbed a bottle of peppermint extract. For those that don't know, I have a WW shake most mornings so that I can get my milk and oil taken care of for the day. (2 of the 8 healthy guidelines.)

Well this morning I added some peppermint extract to my chocolate shake...WOW! It was very very yummy! I highly recommend it!

That is all for now!

~J

Who knew?

Well...I kind of did! Having a plan and sticking with it for the most part over the holiday weekend ACTUALLY WORKED!

Down another 1.4 with only 15.6 more pounds to go until I reach goal!!

Yeah for a plan!

How?

Now how does a girl make sure that she DOES NOT post a gain for the week?

She gets off her ARSE and works out!

J and I did the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. This year it was 5 miles instead of the 5K that it was last year. Got there bright and...well not early it started at 9:30...at least I got to sleep in some what! The part that stunk was trying to find parking. The tailgaters were already out for the game that didn’t start until 7. (Which I would RATHER not discuss :) )So we couldn’t park in the normal place, but we did find parking and we made it in time to start with everyone else! By the time we crossed the start line it the time clock already showed 11 + minutes had gone by. We tried to let all the runners through so we wouldn’t get in their way. Ran into a couple of friends (Brandon & Lydia)...of course they were running so we didn’t get to say much, but it was GREAT to see them!



Anyway off we went we jogged for a bit to kind of get away from the crowd and then kept a nice picked up pace for the entire walk. We jogged up the hills and probably jogged out a good portion of the last mile. All in all we had a good time, the dog (Evie) had a good time and I burned 800+ calories before I had sat down for my first of 3 celebrations! Oh yeah...we finished the 5 miles in less than an hour and twenty minutes...not too shabby!



Later that night...




Friday we went out to my dad’s and played in the country for the day. We rode 4 Wheelers and shot guns...it was TONS ‘o FUN!



Saturday I took my first spin class...I was kind of nervous because I had no idea what it would be like...but it wasn’t horrible. It was HARD, but not horrible. When I walked in I thought to myself...self, I wish you had your padded bike shorts...your hiney is going to hurt! Little did I know my hiney would RARELY touch the seat! That is a good workout! Makes me miss my BIKE! There went another 700+ calories!

Sunday...slept in and went shopping, to the movies and then home to watch more movies...no calories expended on this day!

I am glad that I have finally caught this working out bug...it is quite the rush to actually work up a sweat...who knew?

Speaking of the bike...I sure hope when some family comes to town that we will be riding those trails non stop....

~J

Thanksgiving 101 for Janna

How does a girl go to 3 different celebrations and still stay on plan?



She goes to the grocery store on Wednesday and buys tons of veggies and the ingredients to make a 2 point per slice pumpkin pie. Goes to her bf’s place and uses all his fancy kitchen gadgets and fancy chef skills and gets to cookin!

My veggies:
Fresh Green Beans
Yellow Onion
Mushrooms
Brussel Sprouts
Red Potatoes
Butternut Squash
Seasoning

Cut them all up and put them in a large baking dish with some low sodium Chicken Stock and cooked for an hour on 350. When they came out of the oven I divided them into 3 containers and put them in the fridge!

Now the Pumpkin Pie was TO DIE FOR GOOD! I couldn’t believe how easy and yummy it was. Just added some Fat Free Cool whip and had dessert just like everyone else! Even my dad liked my pumpkin pie!

Pumpkin Pie Recipe:

For Crust
2 cups Fiber One bran cereal (original)
1/4 cup light whipped butter or light buttery spread
3 tbsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)
1 tsp. cinnamon

For Filling
One 15-oz. can pure pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling!)
One 12-oz. can evaporated fat-free milk
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute
3/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)
1/4 cup sugar-free pancake syrup
1 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine butter with 2 tbsp. water. Microwave until just melted, and set aside. In a blender or food processor, grind Fiber One to a breadcrumb-like consistency.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine butter mixture and crumbs with remaining ingredients for crust. Stir until mixed well.

Spray an oven-safe 9-inch pie dish lightly with nonstick spray. Evenly distribute crust mixture, using your hands or a flat utensil to firmly press and form the crust. Press it into the edges and up along the sides of the dish. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for the filling. Mix well. Pour mixture into pie crust. The filling may be taller than the crust -- trust us, this is okay!

Bake pie in the oven for 45 minutes. Allow pie to cool slightly. Refrigerate for several hours (overnight is best). Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

MAKES 8 SERVINGS