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Pancakes: Breakfast Chain or at Home?

This morning was proving to be a rough morning. My car started giving me trouble last night and I was trying to get it fixed ASAP since I have to make that lovely 5 hour trip to MA on Sunday afternoon. The mechanic where we wanted to take my car isn't open on Saturday, so I was left with no choice but to rent a car. Who knew it could be so difficult to rent a car on a Saturday in the Poconos?! After calling a couple of different places, I finally found one that had a car available but they were closing in half an hour from the time in which I had placed the call. Rushing to put clothes on and waking my husband who didn't come home from his shift until 5am -- it wasn't a pretty scene.

We managed to get there on time and I have a rental for a week. Nice. Problem Solved. Next problem: It was now close to noon, and we hadn't eaten anything yet.

To make up for the fact that I had to wake up a very tired man, I offered to take him out to brunch at the breakfast chain that was across the street. At this point, I didn't care about Points or trying to lose weight. I was looking for some comfort food, looking for it fast, and I wanted my husband to like me again!

To my surprise, he declined the offer and said, "Let's just go home."

I am so glad that he made that decision. I was still in the mood for some pancakes, so as my hubby climbed back into bed, I threw my apron on and starting whipping up some breakfast. Not only did breakfast come out delicious, it was cheaper and healthier than what I was willing to devour an hour previously.

Here's is what I'd like to call:

Mini Heart Healthy Pancakes topped with Sliced Bananas and Nutella
Recipe:
Mini Pancakes
2 Cups of Heart Healthy Bisquick Baking Mix
1 1/4 cup of milk, fat free
1 egg
2 tbsp of brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla

1.) In a large bowl, measure out 2 cups of baking mix
2.) In a small bowl, whisk together egg, brown sugar, and vanilla
3.) Add egg mixture to baking mix and add milk.
4.) Stir until well blended
5.)  Using a small ladle (less than 1/4 cup),  pour pancake batter onto hot griddle, flipping after bubbles form on top of batter.

Using my small ladle, I am able to make about 20 mini pancakes (4 servings of 5 pancakes)

5  Mini Pancakes = 7 pts

Topping
1 banana per serving, sliced (0 pts)
1 tbsp of Nutella, or chocolate hazelnut spread - microwaved for about 30 seconds (3 pts)

So in total my pancakes came out to 10 points per serving. Not bad! I still have plenty of points left for the day to enjoy a snack and a good hearty dinner. I would say, this isn't even a cheat meal!

I did some quick research on the breakfast chain I had wanted to go to, and calculated that just a simple order of short stacks (3 pancakes), with NO additional toppings or side orders = 20 points! YIKES! I can't even imagine all of the fancy platters that also include eggs, bacon, toast, etc.

Not only did we save ourselves some money, but we might have just saved ourselves a heart attack!

Happy Saturday!


The most comforting lunch...

There is something so comforting about
peanut butter and banana! One of my personal favorite combinations. Today, I have exactly 32 grams of smart balance pb (5pts) with a medium sized banana (0pt) inside a mini soft wrap (1pt).
Time to eat this baby!

New and Improved!

I made a few changes to the blog layout...please let me know what you think! For those that enjoy reading my posts, what would you be interested in reading more about? Any feedback would be much appreciated!

have a good night!!!

In the spirit of grilled sandwiches...

Lunch!

Whole wheat bread: 3 pts
4 oz deli turkey: 2 pts
1/2 oz goat cheese (I know I'm obsessed) : 1 pt
Pickle: 0 pts
1/2 serving of "veggie sticks": 2 pts

I'm a little carb heavy today, so gonna try to keep that to a minimum for the rest of the day...

Be Creative!


I spent about half hour this morning figuring out what I wanted for breakfast. I wasn't in the mood for eggs or cereal. I started to think about making yummy chocolate chip pancakes but then I figured I could save that for the weekend and enjoy a cheat meal. 

Then, I got a little creative! I had some left over roasted veggies from last night's dinner so I threw that in between some wheat bread with 1/2 oz of goat cheese. Veggie grilled cheese! 

It was really good! I think I can elaborate on this idea and maybe add some chicken for a lunch time meal. Yum...I can taste it now...

Stats:
2 slices of wheat bread = 3 pts
Roasted veggies= 1pt (roasted in a drizzle of EVOO)
1/2 oz of goat cheese with basil= 1pt 

Now I gotta go be productive at work! Have a great day everyone!

SMP 

Healthy Eating CAN be delicious!

Today is proving to be another good day -- staying on track and keeping motivated! Today is also the start of a new Weight Watchers week for me, so I wanted to start strong.

The day began with the alarm going off at 5am and then snoozing until 5:30 with my husband (<--- ooh I love saying that!). After a large cup of coffee and praying with Mark (yes, we pray every morning together and at every meal we share together. I think it's the key for a healthy marriage!), I realized that I still needed to prep for my 9am meeting. Heading to the gym wasn't probably the best decision at the moment. I was able to complete my prep work by about 7:45am and debated on whether or not I could still make it to the gym and get anything accomplished. Instead, I threw my sneakers on and power walked for about 12 minutes around our community. Hey, at least it was something! Last week I would have just sat at my desk and did nothing! And we live at the bottom of a hill, so going up and down a hill for 12 minutes actually got the blood flowing!

The rest of the day was very busy with work but every time I started to think about this weight loss journey of mine, I thought about how I could make this motivation and change sustainable. And since I'm a person that LOVES to cook, and LOVES to eat, I realized that I needed to make sure that my healthier food choices were still delicious and satisfying!

And it's true...healthy eating CAN be delicious. See for yourself.

BREAKFAST: Okay, nothing too fancy here but I needed something quick this morning.

1 serving of Special K - 3 pts (I recommend weighing this out, because a serving is much less than what a normal sized bowl leads you to believe!)
1/2 oz of slivered almonds - 2 pts
4 oz of skim milk - 1 pt

LUNCH: Nothing beats yummy leftovers! Deeper flavors develop over night and its so easy to just throw together!
turmeric stirfry chicken in a mini soft wrap - 5 pts
1 cucumber, chopped with 1 tbsp of dressing - 1 pt
Orange - 0 pt

AFTERNOON SNACK: Most satisfying 2 pt snack ever! Adding zero point items like salsa just spices up any quick snack and makes it so much more delicious! But be ware, this one is a little messy.
mini soft wrap - 1 pt
2 oz of turkey - 1 pt
mango peach salsa - 0 pts

DINNER: YUMMY IN MY TUMMY! I think the best part of this dish was using full fat (full flavor) goat cheese. As long as you weigh it out (I had 14 grams ~ 1/2 serving), you can still stay on target. Turns out 1/2 serving of goat cheese is only 1 point and taste A MILLION TIMES BETTER than 2 oz of the fat free version. I rather have less, but with a satisfying punch! And it melted so lovely into the dish, making it nice and creamy. Seriously, I felt like I was having a cheat meal, but WITHOUT THE GUILT. Hallelujah.

Smart Taste Pasta (white pasta with extra fiber), roasted zucchini, red onion and grape tomatoes, with chicken sausage = 8 pts
1/2 serving of goat cheese with basil = 1 pt

Today, I REALLY enjoyed all of my meals. So much so that my next struggle was stopping at ONE SERVING! I think I just proved to myself that being on a "diet" doesn't have to mean eating bland foods that taste like cardboard. If so, I would probably be back to my old ways in less than 2 weeks.

BUT, there is a better way! And I'm going to follow it!

Lastly, I want to throw out there that I did enjoy this lovely weather by doing Week 1 Day 2 of the Couch to 5K program. I was a little slower today than on Saturday as I had a minor side stitch, but I did finish it! Between the run/walk and the power walk this morning, I started the new WW week with 4 Activity Points in the bank. Not too bad.

Well I still have a couple points left for the day, so I'm going to enjoy a serving of WW strawberry fro yo! Do I have to say it again?

HEALTHY EATING CAN BE DELICIOUS. 

GOOD NIGHT! :)

Weigh-In Wednesdays! March 7, 2012

Just a quick post to say that the sun is shining and I'm down 2 lbs from last Wednesday! So now I'm just X + 4.6 lbs. Would love to be down to X within another 2-3 weeks...don't let me slack off!!!

Gotta run though because I need to prep for a 9am meeting and try to still get to the gym this morning. It's gonna be tight, so let's see what we can do!




"Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible." Matthew 19:26 (NLT)

I'm back!

I have made a decision to start blogging more often. I know I've said that before, but I know how it keeps me motivated on many different fronts and I would love to make it a part of my everyday life.

As many of you already know, I am on a journey to a healthier, slimmer, more awesome version of myself.

For the last couple months I struggled with motivation and finding time to workout. I gained about 8 lbs from my lowest in December and about a week or so ago, I vowed to get myself back on track! As of last Wednesday's weigh in, I am down 1.6 of those 8 lbs, but I'm hoping for a good weigh in tomorrow. I can't wait to get back down to my lowest (let's call it "X") and then focus on my next goal of losing 9 more pounds after that.

But I am feeling GREAT this week. I made myself a new workout calendar incorporating "Couch to 5K" training as well as swimming and some strength training. So far over the last 4 days, I've earned 9 Activity Points which is more than I've done in a LONG time.

Plus, I've filled our kitchen with lots of healthy alternatives!

I know that I love reading about different low-point meal options to keep things interesting, so I'm going to also start sharing more about my meals in my posts. Hope that it helps someone! :)

Today for breakfast, I was in the mood for a good hearty breakfast:

Chicken Sausage - 4 pts
1 egg - 2 pts
orange - 0 pts
coffee, black - 0 pts


Snack:
1/2 oz of sunflower seeds - 2pts

Lunch:

2 mini wraps - 2 pts
4 oz of sliced turkey - 2 pts
2 tbsp of hummus - 1 pt
orange - 0 pts
pickle - 0 pts

Afternoon Snack:
cup of black tea, 1/2 oz of sliced almonds - 2 pts

Preworkout Drink:
1/2 scoop of protein -  1 pt
4 oz of skim milk - 1 pt

Dinner:


small potato - 2 pts
turmeric chicken stir fry - 7 pts

After dinner snack:
Weight Watchers Strawberry Fro Yo Pop - 2 pts 

Let's see if this week's work pays off on the scale tomorrow!

**Crossing Fingers**

2012 is HERE!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! 

I can't believe 2012 is here. This year is going to be awesome...I can just feel it. 2011 brought us so many changes and so many blessings --- but it was quite crazy!! I am so looking forward to starting this year with celebrating my commitment to Mark before all of our friends and family. AND I'm even more excited to start settling into our new lives together. As I said before, I just know this is going to be an awesome year and I'm thanking God in advance for what He is going to do!


With the new year comes resolutions, and my amazing parents gave us a list of resolutions for Men and Women. We thought they were so awesome, that I wanted to share! (PS: I mean no copyright infringement from wherever my parents found these lists!)

The Resolution for Women

I do solemnly resolve before God to embrace my current season of life and live with a spirit of contentment.

I will champion God's model for womanhood and teach it to my (future) children.

I will celebrate my God-given uniqueness and the distinctions He has placed in others.

I will live as a woman answerable to God and faithfully committed to His Word.

I will seek to devote the best of myself to the primary roles God has entrusted to me.

I will be quick to listen, slow to speak, and esteem others more highly than myself.

I will forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

I will not tolerate evil influences in myself or my home but will embrace a life of purity.

I will pursue justice, love mercy, and extend compassion toward others.

I will be faithful to my husband and honor him in my conduct and in my conversations, and will aspire to be a suitable partner to help him reach his God-given potential.

I will teach my (future) children to love God, respect authority and live responsibly.

I will cultivate a peaceful home where God's presence is sensed.

I will make today's decisions with tomorrow's impact in mind and consider my current choices in light of future generations.

I will courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

The Resolution for Men

I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my (future) children.

I will love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of the home.

I will be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.

I will bless my (future) children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.

I will train them to honor authority and live responsibly.

I will confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

I will pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.

I will work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.

I will forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

I will learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

I will seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.

I will courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.



Talk about meaningful resolutions, huh?


XOXOXO