Recipe Review - you must try it!

if you're a pumpkin pie fan like i am... you have GOT to try this recipe i found on the internet!!!

it's a core recipe and it's called pumpkin pudding...

all you do is take 1 3/4 cup skim milk and add a pkg of FF vanilla pudding... mix it up. then add 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling!)... and 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice... oh... my... gosh... it's yummy!!! and it's totally core!! but, if you're like me... you still like to know the points. the best i can figure it out to be is 3 points for 1 cup... or 1 point for 1/3 of a cup. not too bad.


i also made strawberry soup today.
you take 16oz frozen strawberries and put it in the blender with 2 cups plain ff yogurt... then when you're ready to eat it you take 3/4 cup of the strawberry mixture and add 1/2 cup diet gingerale... (although i added sugar free black cherry seltzer instead)... it was pretty good too!


alex and i went out last night to a work function of mine... i had lot's of fun! i love when he and i go out and have a good time... he's great in social situations... he makes me so proud when he has everyone busting a gut laughing... (although let the record show - i AM funnier than he is and people DO laugh at me more!).

happy saturday everyone! so far i'm good with sticking to my menu!!! my watermelon is just cut ready for my snack! i had eggs for breakfast... it's a good day! except for the fact that i have to work a night shift... ugh.

Hard-Core Menus!!!

Saturday - LN
breakfast
*2 eggs, scrambled (4)
*EVOO (1)
*blue menu ketchup (0)

Snack
*watermelon (1)

lunch
*1/2 c FF cottage cheese (2)
*lettuce, tomato, black pepper (0)
*chicken salad (3)
*strawberry soup (1)

dinner
*soy burger (5)
*lettuce wrap (0)
*baked potato (3)
*tbsp cottage cheese (1)
*SF FF vanilla pudding (1)
_____________________________

Sunday - Long Night
breakfast
*oatmeal (2)
*cinamon(0)
*applesauce (1)

lunch
*1/2 c ff cottage cheese (2)
*cucumber, tomato (0)
*chicken salad (3)
*strawberry soup (1)

dinner
*1 c ww pasta (3)
*EVOO (1)
*1/4 c cottage cheese (1)
*chicken breast (3)
*garlic (0)
*SF FF pudding (1)
______________________________

Monday - off
breakfast
*banana cinamon oatmeal (3)

snack
*watermelon (1)

lunch
*egg salad (2 eggs and ff miracle whip)(5)
*lettuce, tomato (0)
*strawberries (1)

dinner
*curried chicken (4)
*1/2 c brown rice (2)
*pumpkin pie pudding (2)

snack
*3 c popcorn (1)

_____________________________
Tuesday - off
breakfast
*banana cinnamon oatmeal (3)

snack
*watermelon (1)

lunch
*taco salad (4)
*1/2 cup cottage cheese (2)
*strawberry soup (1)

snack
*carrots (0)

dinner
*curried chicken (4)
*1/2 cup brown rice (2)
*pumpkin pie pudding (1)

snack
*cucumbers marinated in vinegar (0)



and there you have it... menus for now! if anyone wants a recipe... just ask!!

update!

well, i guess it's time for an update... i was avoiding it until i would hopefully have some news on the job front... but alas, my number one fan has complained that there hasn't been an update as of late...

i can tell you that i am the newest faculty in the child and youth worker program at humber college, teaching assessment and recording to the accelerated program students. that's exciting! i'm a college teacher!

i'm also waiting to hear back about another opportunity... but i'll keep that under wraps until i hear a final yay or nay.

i was home on the weekend for father's day and mom and dad's 30th wedding anniversary... and i ate way too much stinking fudge. here i was in a previous entry saying it's crunch time for michele's wedding... and i go eating a whole truck load of fudge on the weekend (but boy do i make some darn good fudge!!). so, i have made a decision. i will be doing core until michele's wedding. i will not necessarily follow core when alex and i go out to dinner on fridays... but for the most part - i'm going to do core. i've looked up new recipes, written them out... and will go grocery shopping on friday (i'm working a LN right now, will leave here and go straight to a hair appt, go home and get some shut eye... then head to weigh-in, followed by my footlong sub).

friday i have a doctor's appt and then alex and i have to attend a good-bye party for one of my coworkers... haven't decided what i'll eat friday night yet!! either a salad or a sandwich i think.

saturday and sunday i work long nights and then i'm off monday and tuesday. i'm going to post the menus for these 4 days in another post!

I. Am. Going. Crazeee!!

i was up 0.6lbs today. but that's what i expected, so that's not why i'm going crazy. i am for another reason. i hate sitting and waiting... essentially to find out if your life is about to change...

i got SENT HOME!

well, i got sent home from work today at 1pm... was supposed to work until 7:30... but one of the clinical leaders was concerned with my cold/flu symptoms persisting... and she didn't want to risk the health of everyone at work, including all the kids with compromised immune systems... so i was sent home today and have the day off tomorrow....

and my hair was looking good today too. hmph. alex bought me my chi-pet... so i did a deep conditioning treatment on my hair yesterday and took my time straightening it... i'll post photos.

my points were off today... meaning they're under... i don't have enough energy to eat... although i just ate a muslix pita... raisin and cinnamon... it's good. and i've eaten a lot of watermelon... and had some chicken.... and my cereal at breakfast... and that's it.

anyway, here's the photos of my 'do!!

remember me?

i realize i haven't posted in a while! i went to weigh in on thursday and was up 0.2lbs... i thought i'd be up a bit more than that - so i was okay with those results.

the rest of my week off was good... did some stuff, did some relaxing... unfortunately by friday night it would appear i may have been hit with the flu (or so alex thinks)... my whole body ached so bad... i spent satuday lying very still on the couch and sleeping most of the day... it hurt to even stand up, felt like it was too much pressure on my spine... crazy!

but today i've felt better... just stuffed up now... planning on returning to work tomorrow.

i don't have a formal menu for tomorrow... i'm going to throw one together now... and update tomorrow night probably.

tomorrow:
breakfast
- 3/4 cup ww cereal (2)
- 1/2 cup skim milk (1)

lunch
- tomato, cucumber (0)
- 1/2 cup ff cottage cheese (2)
- watermelon (1)
- 2 fruit snacks (2)

dinner
- chicken (3)
- teriyaki sauce (0)
- steamed vegetables (0)

*** clearly i'm under in my points... i'll snack on something at home tomorrow night... i'll update this tomorrow. now i must retire to bed and read "something blue" by emily giffin... it's the follow-up to "something borrowed"... i love these books. i've read almost the entire something blue today... after this i'm scheduled to read "the devil wears prada" before it comes out in theatres!

happy monday!

and to my new person i supposedly inspired to join weight watchers - good luck! you're already a beautiful person inside and out... so my goal for you during this journey is just for you to feel good! and enjoy it!!!!

alex - thank you for my present. i love it! hopefully soon we can go shopping for that congratulatory present i want to purchase for myself. chicklet says she loves you

grocery shopping day!!!

i love when i do my big grocery shopping trips (except when it comes to carrying everything back up to my apartment).

today i bought more soy burgers from blue menu (i LOVE them!!! especially using bob haper's rule of using lettuce to wrap it in)... i decided to buy omega 3 brown eggs (blue menu as well)... i also bought chapman's frozen yogurt in the maple walnut flavour. oh! and i bought the blue menu raita (indian) dip... i tried it tonight on a lays baked tostito... it was good!!

and i bought stuff to make a cheesecake pudding... it sounds gross... but all you do is take a container of fat free sour cream and add a pkg of the sugar free vanilla pudding... voila! has a cheesecake-ish taste... and it's core!!!

i also bought an avocado to make core guacamole (avocado, bit of FF sour cream, and salsa)... turns out - i'm not an expert at buying avocado and i bought one that was tooooo ripe (rotten some would say). so tomorrow i'll buy another one.

those were my exciting purchases at the grocery store. i bought cheese... but bought the smallest pkg of president's choice light old cheddar... i figure if i have a small pkg... i'll eat less cheese overall! i still haven't bought a loaf of bread... guess i don't miss it as much as i once thought i would!!! although i wouldn't mind having a grilled cheese... oh well, i'll have cheese in a lettuce wrap instead i guess.

tomorrow is weigh-in... wish me luck please!!! and while you're at it... maybe wish the edmonton oilers some luck as well... after tonight - they may need it!

my dress

i'm not sure if i've ever posted my dress for michele's wedding... it's the one on the left in the photo... and in that colour. i also got some sandals today that i may wear for it... but i'll see if something i like better comes along over the summer...

How to deal with Cravings!

i did some research on the net... and i've compiled a list of ways to deal with cravings. doubt they'll work.. but they could be worth a try.

• be aware of your triggers - anticipate them - prepare for them
• separate food from activities - don't automatically associate them. i.e - popcorn at movies
• exercise regularly (let me know how that goes!)
• substitute lower calorie alternatives (like my popcorn for chips! go me!)
• develop a taste for spicy food. apparently it's easier to develop cravings if you're more used to "bland" foods... go figure.
• just try riding out the craving - experts say a craving lasts no longer than 20 min. my guess is these experts haven't suffered from PMS.
• give in - but in moderation.
• plan your food for the day (okay, i have to admit - this helps me)
• avoid excuses for trying/tasting unhealthy foods (i.e "this little bit won't hurt")
• don't confuse hunger with thirst. i keep a bottle of crystal light around all the time - lot's of flavour and helps me get my water intake up.
• eat at regular intervals... helps to avoid bingeing
• distract yourself - play a mental game... keep your mind busy

there you have it... let me know how this works out for everybody! i think i've identified the ones that i've found basically work!

Cravings

My life would be so much easier without cravings. well... at least my weight loss would be so much easier without them. now, i'll admit... i do eat out of boredom... but there are also so many times i'm just CRAVING something soooo bad!!! today... it's sushi. i don't know what it is - i could eat it morning, noon, and night. sushi isn't a totally bad craving to have, i realize this. especially if you buy the brown rice sushi... heck, then it's even core food! but there are so many other times i crave things. earlier i was even craving mcdonalds.... and i don't eat mcdonalds! i ate wendy's not long ago and my body rejected it on me!!!

here's a list of things i crave the most often... for me, it's not about just the salt or the sweet or the grease... it's about all of them. i crave any of it at any given time. they need to invent a pill for this or something!

my cravings list:
~ sushi
~ pizza
~ subway
~ buffalo chicken fingers and fries
~ FRIES
~ chips (not too bad with these - i don't buy them and i can substitute with popcorn pretty well)
~ CHOCOLATE!!!!!
~ cheese

that's all i can think of right now... let me know what your cravings are - because chances are i crave them too and have just forgotten them right now!!!!

My watch

if something turns out the way i want it to in the next couple of weeks (yes, i'm being vague on purpose!)... i have decided to reward myself with a watch... a fancy one! i told alex i'd show him the one i want... so i'm posting it here... alex - i know you're reading this at work on monday anyway!!!

here's my watch (i'm being optimistic i'll be able to treat myself to it... if not this time... one day!)

it's only $130 at sears!!!

Grocery List

i love grocery shopping... it's my happy place... i thought i'd post what my grocery list usually consists of (i don't buy all of these items every time i shop... but these are what i buy in general)

• strawberries
• blueberries
• watermelon
• cherries
• tomatoes
• grape tomatoes
• cucumber
• romaine lettuce
• salmon fillets
• tilapia fillets
• shrimp
• blue menu frozen chicken breasts
• salsa
• relish
• mustard
• honey mustard
• dijon mustard
• blue menu ketchup
• canned flaked tuna packed in water
• blue menu canned chicken
• blue menu whole wheat pasta - rotini
• blue menu whole wheat spaghetti noodles
• crystal light (all kinds)
• fat free cottage cheese
• fat free sour cream
• light PC swiss cheese
• light PC old cheddar
• light PC monterary jack cheese
• kraft fat free cheese slices (mozarella and cheddar)
• mccain low fat fries
• frozen broccoli
• fat free or low fat salad dressings
• plain instant oatmeal
• instant cream of wheat
• weight watchers cereal (at costco)
• weight watchers whole wheat bread
• blue menu soy burgers (LOVE THEM!! in a lettuce wrap with condiments... mmmm!)

that's all i can think of... if i think of more i'll add it!!! feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you like to buy that may not be on my list!

Menus!!! more MENUS!!!!

i haven't posted any menus for a few days... there's a reason i don't necessarily post them over the weekend. friday i was good though... aside from sharing a jumbo (and i mean JUMBO) chocolate chip cookie with alex.... i ate well and we had sushi for dinner (mmm... sushi sounds good right now). so i'm working nights tonight, tomorrow, and monday... and then i'm off from tues morning until monday... maybe i'll post my grocery list after i post my menus.

_______________________
Sunday
breakfast
*3/4 cup ww cereal (2)
*1/2 cup skim milk (1)

lunch
*chicken breast (3)
*28 mcain low fat fries (4)
*blue menu ketchup (0)
*cherries (1)

dinner
*2 tilapia fillets - baked in foil in the oven with lemon- herb seasoning (4)
*broccoli w/ garlic (0)
*1 cup ww pasta (3)
*1 tsp EVOO (1)
*seasoning (0)
*2 fruit snacks (2)

snack at work
*nutrigrain bar (2)

___________________________
Monday
breakfast
*3/4 cup weight watcher cereal (2)
*1/2 cup skim milk (1)

lunch
*1/2 c ff cottage cheese (2)
*tomato, cucumber (0)
*chicken salad (3)

dinner
*2 salmon fillets, grilled (4)
*broccoli (0) w/garlic (0)
*28 mccain low fat fries (4)
*1/2 cup ff yogurt (2)
*w/ strawberry jam (0)

snack
*2 fruit snacks (2)

___________________________
Tuesday
breakfast
*3/4 c ww cereal (2)
*1/2 c skim milk (1)

lunch
*lettuce, tomato, cucumber (0)
*hard boiled egg (2)
*ff honey mustard blue menu salad drsg (1)
*chicken salad (3)
*1/2 c ff cottage cheese (2)

dinner
*1 cup ww pasta (3)
*6 chicken meatballs (3)
*ww recipe tomato sauce, 1/2 cup (0)
*2 tsp light parmesan cheese (0)
*1/2 cup ff plain yogurt (2)
*w/ jam (0)

snack
*1 1/2 cup strawberries (1)
*w/ splenda (0)

_________________________
Wednesday
breakfast
*1 pkg instant cream of wheat (2)
*w/ jam (0)

snack
*2 fruit snacks (2)

lunch
*chicken breast - grilled and cooled for salad (3)
*lettuce, tomato (0)
*1/2 cup ff cottage cheese (2)
*2 tbsp ff honey mustard salad drsg (1)

snack
*cherries (1)

dinner
*baked salmon fillets X2 (4)
*broccoli, steamed with garlic (0)
*baked potato (3)
*2 tbsp ff sour cream (1)

snack
*1 1/2 cup strawberries (1)

BIG BROTHER!!

so, i understand big brother 7 will be an all-star edition. it sounds like cbs is going to have 20 former BB housemates that us viewers will be able to vote into the house. since i'm working nights with (thankfully) not much to do... i've decided to come up with my list of the twenty houseguests i'd like to see us be able to choose from. if you're not sure of their profiles - just go to the cbs website and use the drop-down menu to pick a big brother season to look at.

here goes nothing:

season 2 - hardy, will
season 3 - amy (a girl who loves cheese, just like me!), jason, eric, lisa (maybe eric and lisa would hook up again!)
season 4 - david, nathan, jun, michelle, and yes... alison. i think alison makes for good tv!!
season 5 - drew, jase, cowboy, scott (basically, the 4 horsemen)
season 6 - howie (he's too fun to watch!), james, janelle, kaysar, michael

there you have it. i wonder why we don't get to pick from season 1. anyone else remember that season? with britney, the girl with funky hair... and chicken george... the token older guy who was pretty funny. i think i was the only dork who actually watched season 1 of big brother...

happy friday

i have the day OFF!!! WOOHOO! then nights start sat-mon... the fun begins. i'm so sick of shift work... working nights is slowly killing me i think!! oh well... what can you do?

i editted my profile photo... i hope you like it!

i was going to post a menu for tomorrow.... but i think i'll wait and do that when i'm more awake in the AM... i'm suddenly very tired. and given i only had 3 hours of sleep last night... i'm ready to catch up on some much missed z's!!! i will edit this post in the am

the verdict is in... again

hooray for me! i'm amazed by myself!!! somehow i was down 0.4lbs this week... when i didn't think i would be. i'm glad of that!

i've enjoyed my subway sub and some frozen yogurt... now relaxing for the night and going to enjoy my one whole day off!!!

i'll post menus again later!!!

what is up with me?

ugh. i don't feel well. i started feeling nauseated last night after i ate dinner (microwave dinner). i chalked it up to my anxiety over the tornado watch for the GTA... so i felt ill all night, but avoided actually being sick. then i couldn't sleep... i finally fell asleep around 1am... after feeling wide awake up until then... and i was back up at 4:30 and was wide awake. last night i figured i couldn't sleep because i was nauseated and i had a diet coke in the evening (thought it might help me feel better... but then i think it kept me up because i'm not accustomed to drinking caffeine)... none of this explains why i was back up at 4:30 this morning.

i have to go sit in a quiet room without windows at work for 4 hours... i hope i don't fall asleep! i have a feeling this is going to be torcher!!

again... wish me luck at weigh in!!!!

alex - feel better!!!

here's a photo of me typing this right now... all ready for work by 6am!!!