September BACK TO SCHOOL Toning Challenge

So... I hurt myself pretty badly in soccer 3 weeks ago... and I haven't been able to run or be physical much.  I just started back yesterday!
I'm finally on vacation and I'm not thrilled to wear a bikini.... too much drinking and eating withOUT exercise makes me feel gross.  I'm not sure I look as bad as I feel though (luckily).
ANYWAY - my goal for this year is to really tone up my body.  So I'm starting a challenge in September to keep my legs toned (I've done the squat challenge before and LOVED what it did) and start to firm up and tone my abs!
Here is my 30 Days of September plan:

Squats and Abs: Rest every 3 Days 
***BONUS: Take a progress picture on each rest day - it will be a great way to see how well this challenge/these exercises works for you!***

START Day 1
50 Squats, 20 Crunches

Day 2
55 Squats, 25 Crunches

Day 3
60 Squats, 30 Crunches

Day 5
70 Squats, 40 Crunches

Day 6
75 Squats, 45 Crunches

Day 7
89 Squats, 50 Crunches

Triathalon!!!! On a REST DAY... eek! 
Swim 1/4 mile
Ride 10 miles
Run 5k

Day 9
100 Squats, 60 Crunches

Day 10
105 Squats, 65 Crunches

Day 11
110 Squats, 70 Crunches

Day 13
130 Squats, 89 Crunches

Day 14
135 Squats, 90 Crunches

Day 15
140 Squats, 95 Crunches

Day 17
150 Squats,  100 Crunches

Day 18
155 Squats, 105 Crunches

Day 19
160 Squats,  110 Crunches

Day 21
180 Squats,  115 Crunches

Day 22
185 Squats,  120 Crunches

Day 23
190 Squats,  125 Crunches

Day 25
220 Squats,  130 Crunches

Day 26
225 Squats, 135 Crunches

Day 27
230 Squats, 140 Crunches

Day 29
240 Squats, 145 Crunches

END Day 30
250 Squats, 150 Crunches
First Month of School COMPLETE!

And you should look SEXXXYTOWN!

New Year Resolution - DO NOT MAKE ONE!

I'm baa-aaack!
Time for some catch up:
I last blogged on December 14... Right before some horrible stuff went down.
I'm a teacher, and I grew up in southern Connecticut.  On December 17th our world was rocked when the son of a kindergarten teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT senselessly murdered many innocent children.
Luckily, I didn't hear abut the tragedy until, AFTER work on Friday.  That way, I sent my kids off as innocents.
My best friends went to Sandy Hook as a kid... This was close to home. Literally and figuratively.
Anyway, I avoided the news and I refrained from Facebook posts... I wasn't sure what to say and how media was twisting it. So I avoided it, and life went on.

On the following Monday, after another successful weigh-in (down another 1.4 lbs), I got into an epic argument with my brother (who happens to live a few streets over from my with his wife... I live with his wife's sister.... MAJOR MISTAKE NUMBER ONE)

Anyway, as hurt and upset as I was, I didn't let it slow me down... After all, I was entering the dreaded holidays (not a fan... Too much pressure...too much idle time....)

By the following Monday (Christmas Eve), I had lost another pound and a half... I'd also received COUNTLESS goodies from my kiddies... So after school on Friday, I calculated the points for everything... So I could eat them and know what I was eating BEFOREHAND. So far, I haven't craved them much, so I still have a LARGE SUPPLY for when I seriously need chocolate.

Monday night and Tuesday, I had holiday meals with my boyfriend's family. Monday was pasta and meatballs and red wine.... Tuesday was turkey, and ham, and desserts, and Irish coffee, and wine...
I went to the gym on Monday, but then took Tuesday and Wednesday off... I spent the rest of vacation frequenting the gym.
On Sunday night, I had some salty stir fry, so when I weighed in on Monday, I hadn't lost, but I HADN'T GAINED EITHER!

So that brings us to New Year's Eve.... And I had a party.
Again, I went to the gym on Monday, partied HARD Monday night.... And took Tuesday off....
Those of you familiar with WW, know you get 26points a day and 49 weekly points to use as you please... Well, I used all 26, all 49, and a good 30 MORE on Monday alone!

So I've been gymming like crazy, and eating really well, too. I have to make up for my crazy New Year Party!

And, I am confident that I have!
I'll letcha know for sure, tomorrow, but I know I lost SOMETHING...
and I fully expect to have lost my full 10% within another week!!!

Ok... I think I'm going to head to the gym again... Probably a light work out, my legs are tired!
I can't wait for my shoulder to heal so I can try some classes, too!
Right now I'm biking, ellipticalling (backwards), and climbing the stairmaster. Totally about 50-60 minutes per visit... And earning 9-11 points each time!

Ok, later, I'll post some new tips and tricks and yummminesses I've been discovering over the last few weeks.

Trader Joe's saves the world! At least, it saves MY world.

Adieu.

BTDubs... - 14 December 2012

BTDubs…

14DEC2012No Comments

Hopeful LoserPosted under Uncategorized

Last week I totally lost it and vented about my .8lb gain after being SOOOOOO good…
Well, I did NOT give up. I kept eating well, went to the gym, and even went to a party… (I counted everything I ate and drank and had a hearty dinner before getting to the party).

And I lost nearly 5pounds!!!

I’ve now lost over 5% of my starting weight!! I’m hoping to hit the 10% mark by New Years.

This week I have had ZERO energy since I’m getting a cold. I haven’t been to the gym. I’ve stayed on track with points, but I feel so craptastic… I ptetty much expect to gain this week… Based on how gross I feel…

We shall see… I’ll keep y’all posted!
Wish me luck!!

Craving Chinese Food???? - 14 December 2012

Craving Chinese Food????

14DEC2012No Comments

Hopeful LoserPosted under Uncategorized

Head to Trader Joe’s for aome low point alternatives:

1) Trader Ming’s Asian Veggies in Beijing Sauce entire bag is 5points.

Add to that..
Half a bag of TJ’s sSeafood Blend (calimari, shrimp, baby scallops) 3points.

Top it off, or start it off with:
TJ’s Chicken Egg Roll 4points.. (or 2 eggrolls for 7points)

That’s a HUGE, SATISFYING, Chinese food meal for 12 points!

Have a couple Clementines for dessert and you’ll be totally satisfied!

Side note:
I also had TJ’s Chicken Wonton soup for 5 points, but I’m too full to eat it!

WTF!!!!! 3 December 2012

WTF!!!!!!

03DEC2012No Comments

Hopeful LoserPosted under Uncategorized Tags: Venting

Okay,

so I was ALL excited after last week – losing 4.2 pounds.

I kept working out.  I ate really well.  I went to a party, but I added SOOO many more points than I probably consumed.  AND I stayed UNDER in daily points EVERY SINGLE DAY except for the party day.  I weighed myself last night and the scale read 2 pounds down from what I was last week.  So naturally, I was hoping I lost a pound or two…

BUT NO – I GAINED .8lbs.

WTF!!!!!?

Maybe it’s muscle?  BULLSH!T – I didn’t gain THAT much muscle in a week.

If this keeps up, I’m going to totally lose faith in this program… but it’s also the only thing that’s ever helped or worked for me… (in the past at least)

HERE are my ONLY possible saving graces:

1) a.  The party was SATURDAY night and today is MONDAY – perhaps Sunday wasn’t enough time for my body to normalize after the party?  Maybe if I weigh myself tomorrow I’ll have lost that .8lb and hopefully more…  The last time I gained weight was the day AFTER Friendsgiving… not enough time to lose the weight I ate the night before, but by the following week I was down 4… so MAYBE I didn’t have enough time to lose the Party weight before I was weighed…

1) b.  FML – I have another holiday party THIS Saturday.  I think I’ll be measuring out my alcohol and eating BEFORE the party… FML FML FML FML

2) Perhaps I’m retaining water…?  I am a female, after all.

SOOOOO… All that Jazz from the previous post where I was like – I don’t need to worry or stress so much, I can just trust my good decisions are positively changing my weight… BULLSH!ZZLE!

Apparently, I DO need to stress out like WOAH in order to lose wight.

*CRY*

Pecan Pie Bites: OMG - 3 December 2012

Pecan Pie Bites – OMG

03DEC2012No Comments

Hopeful LoserPosted in Uncategorized Tags: Recipe

Here’s my favorite recipe so far (although I’m also in love with the Bagel Alternative (previous post).
This one is all thanks to HUNGRY GIRL – you should check out her site – WOW!
Crispy Pecan Pie Bites
PER SERVING (1/5th of recipe, 3 pieces): 106 calories, 6g fat, 87mg sodium, 12g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 5.5g sugars, 3g protein — PointsPlus® value 3*

We’re starting with dessert. It’s been a long week — you deserve it. Bite, crunch, smile, repeat…

Ingredients:
One 15-piece box frozen Athens Mini Fillo Shells
1/4 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
3 tbsp. brown sugar (not packed)
1/2 tbsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Brummel and Brown), room temperature
1 drop vanilla extract or 1/2 tbsp maple syrup. (Might add a point…)
Dash salt
1/4 cup roughly chopped pecans, divided.
Optional topping: Fat Free Reddi-wip or dollop of vanilla ice cream.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray, and arrange shells on the baking sheet. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine egg substitute, brown sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix well.

Stir in 2 tbsp. chopped pecans. Evenly distribute the mixture among the fillo shells.

Evenly top shells with remaining 2 tbsp. chopped pecans, a little less than 1/2 tsp. per shell.

Bake in the oven until edges are crisp, 15 – 18 minutes.

Allow to cool slightly before serving. If you like, top each piece with a squirt of Fat Free Reddi-wip or ice cream. Enjoy!

MAKES 5 SERVINGS

This past weekend, I made these as regular pecan pie bites (No Maple Syrup) then added a dollop of Goat Cheese mixed with Maple Syrup – and I won a prize for BEST DISH!
So… eating healthy can also taste FANTABULOUS!

I’m on a roll!

Yummmmmmy Snack: My New Favorite 3 December 2012

YUMMMMMMY Snack : My NEW FAVORITE!

03DEC2012No Comments

Hopeful LoserPosted under Losing It Tags: Recipe

I started this blog a couple months ago to help me achieve my “Lose 30lb by my 30th Birthday” goal.
I need to find “cheap” snacks and meals that don’t sacrifice flavor or taste… because I love food and I don’t think that’s going to change… but I really hope my weight can.
I’m becoming passionate about eating yummy, filling food and I’m determined for THAT to fit into my weight loss (and eventual maintenance) plans.
So far my favorite finds are the pecan bites (I’ll post those next). The mashed cauliflower (previous post) is a nice substitute when you crave mashed potatoes, But don’t wanna waste points.
But I’ve also discovered a pretty amazing Bagel and Cream Cheese alternative for only 3 points… good for breakfast or snack.
Ingredients:
1 Laughing Cow Cheese Wedge (any flavor) (1pt)
1 Josefs Flax, Oat Bran and Whole Wheat Tortilla (2pts) lots of Omega 3, too.
Directions:
Spread the cheese wedge evenly over entire tortilla. Roll up the tortilla. ENJOY!
Each bite is balanced with creamy cheese flavor and bagel/tortilla flavor.

The best part… DOUBLE THE RECIPE FOR ONLY 1 MORE POINT!!
2 tortillas (3pts)
2 cheese wedges (1pt)
It’s like 2 bagel halves, spread with more than enough creamy cheese for 4 points!!

My favorite Laughing Cow Flavors:
Garlic&Herb
Chipotle
French Onion
I can’t wait to try the Tomato&Basil