confession

I didn't make any of the recipes I posted last week.

Brent worked two nights...the other nights we ate "cheap" meals out.

I weighed last Monday and the scale was up 6 (SIX!!!!) pounds...I know it's water (or most of it), but it was still pretty discouraging.

SO. This week's dinners are going to be a bit of a "weightloss bootcamp". Meaning I'm not going to be "cooking" anything worthy of blogging about (aka english muffin pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and lean cuisines).

My apologies for no recipes--skim back through the last three weeks or peruse Pinterest for some ideas.

I switched from the running plan I was following to the Couch25K app--which I've had forever, but never completed.

That way I don't have to keep up in my brain (that is just-trying-to-keep-my-lungs-going-so-I-don't-pass-out) how many running intervals I have done. It counts for you and *dings* when it's time to run or walk.

Pretty fabulous.

Brent and I have been looking at houses/lots, trying to figure out what we can afford (and can't) and how much more $$$ we need to save for a down payment. We would really like to build, as I am REALLY picky about home interiors--shocking, right?

We would also like to be on some form of water--bay, canal, inlet, estuary....

We'll see!

Here are a few plans we like....think tin roofs, water views, and scrubby Florida oaks and wild magnolias...

Azalea via www.southernliving.com

William's Bluff via www.southernliving.com

Obviously home plans/square footage would be determined by the lot we find....stay tuned!

week numero tres

So...it's Sunday night at 8:03.

I have no idea what we will be eating this week.

Hold one moment while I scour Pinterest and calculate points...

Ok, I'm back.

We have a little pork leftover from our Brown Sugar & Balsamic Glazed Pork--so we'll probably be having sandwiches Monday night.

As for the others...

Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin (3 points/serving; 6 servings)

Photo courtesy of http://dandydishes.blogspot.com/

I've had spaghetti squash once. I remember it being really good. This should be interesting! 

Pair with veggies...or meat if you HAVE to!

We'll either have broccoli (cooked in the oven) or a salad....or maybe we'll just eat the whole thing!

Easy Garlic Chicken (8 points/serving; 4 servings)

I allowed for a 4 oz. chicken breast/serving in the points calculation.

We'll be having green beans and maybe some rice....

Thanks for the comments--if ya'll have any great recipes to share (Robyn--the cookies with avocado?!) you can either leave them below in the comment section, or email me (leighanndharris@gmail.com).

On to week THREE of this exercise plan.

Did I mention that over two weeks of being "good" and exercising (5 out of 7 days), I have yet to loose a WHOLE pound?!

Maybe this week...

Good luck!

on to week two

Well, this past week I managed to exercise 5 out of 7 days...which is quite an accomplishment in it's self. Brent even joined me two nights--which is a lot considering his crazy schedule.

My "weeks" officially end on Mondays, but I thought I'd get a head start on planning for next week.

Here's what we'll be eating this coming week:

Brown Sugar & Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin (6 points/serving; 6 servings)

Photo courtesy of http://www.candcmarriagefactory.com/

I've made this before--it's delicious. We will make sandwiches from the left overs a couple of times and maybe even make a "fancy" quesadilla.

No need to alter the recipe any...pair with veggies of your choice!

La Scala's Chopped Salad--Made Skinny (7 points/serving; 4 main course servings)

Photo courtesy of http://www.skinnykitchen.com/

I've never made this...but it looks really good (and EASY). I don't like garbanzo beans or olives....so I won't be putting those in mine!

I'll also probably half this recipe as there is no such thing as a good leftover salad....

Pineapple Chicken Salad Pitas (8 points/serving for chicken salad only or 10 points with pita; 4 servings)

Photo courtesy of http://www.cookinglight.com/

I will be subbing pecans for almonds...which is how I calculated the points. I hope this is as good as I imagine it to be. 

Today I'll be starting "Week 2" of the Beginner's Running Plan. 

Good luck this week!

resolutions and all that...

One of the many (I was told I was not allowed to make anymore as of 9:00pm last night) resolutions I made for this new year is to (once again) count my weight watchers points AND track them...AND exercise.

I know you are all shocked, as not many people make resolutions to lose weight and eat healthier, but I'm ok being the only one.

So, I've decided to plan meals on Sundays...go to the store...and list them here for you to see.

AND...and with Weight Watchers points values!

I know, you're thinking it's your lucky day...well, it is.You are welcome.

I won't have things listed by days--just a few recipes that I'll be making during the week.

Without further adieu, here are the items I will be making this week.

Tonight I made Cream Cheese Spaghetti with Oven Roasted Broccoli.

A few notes on these...

(photo courtesy of http://www.salad-in-a-jar.com/)

Cream Cheese Spaghetti: (8 points/serving; makes 10 servings)

-Makes 10 servings (you could easily half this or freeze half)...I made the whole thing. Oops!

-Each serving is 8 WW points plus....when you do the following: 

     -use 8 oz. whole grain spaghetti (I used Barilla)

     -1 C shredded Parmesan (that's the amount I used to calculate points)

     -use 93% lean ground beef

(photo courtesy of http://www.amateurgourmet.com/)

Oven Roasted Broccoli: (3 points/serving; makes 4 servings)

-I tweaked this recipe A LOT...

-I use a bag of broccoli florets (chop up the HUGE pieces)

-I use a MAX of 2 TBS of olive oil

-I toss it with coarsely chopped fresh garlic (you could probably use the jar stuff), salt, fresh ground pepper, and Italian seasoning (I'm not fancy enough for fresh squeezed lemon).

-Bake @ 425

-Check at around 20 min...it will burn!

-Sprinkle with grated parmesan

-One bag of broccoli florets serves about four adults--if this is the case, each serving is 3 WW points plus.

Next up is...

(photo courtesy of http://erinrach.blogspot.com/2011/09/crockpot-baked-potato-soup.html)

Crock-pot Potato Soup: (7 points/serving; serves 6)

-Ok, it didn't really say how many it serves, so I guessed...if you eat more, or less, adjust the points accordingly!

-The only thing I tweaked is that I'm going to use 1/3 less fat cream cheese.

-Also, I didn't count points for all the deliciousness that you will be adding on top--bacon, cheese, sour cream, and green onion...so don't forget to count those!

We will be eating leftovers a few nights and probably something really exciting like sandwiches the other nights...

Happy New Year!