Friday, May 6, 2011

Keepin' It Moving

Well, I lost another pound this week.  Actually it was 1.2 pounds and I did say I wanted more than 1 pound.  I just expected it to be closer to 2 pounds than 1 but I will take it none the less!  I am now 1/2 pound away from being 30 off!  I really wanted to hit that this week but looks like next week will be the week I hit that mark.  I ABSOLUETLY WILL LOSE NEXT WEEK!!!!  (or my scales are going in the trash!)  Just kidding! 

I am changing a few things this next week to see if that helps.  I have been doing some research here the past few days about weight plateaus.  A weight plateau is when your weight remains the same or fluctuates close to the same mark for several weeks in a row.  My pounds that I have lost in the last 4 weeks have been very close pounds.  By that I mean, I had to weigh several times to get the lowest possible weight.  I have a set a digital scales and as many of you know, your body weight fluctuates from the time you get up to the time you go to sleep.  On weigh in days, I would step on the scale (not like what I saw), go to the bathroom, and get back on the scales.  (You girls all know what I am talking about......we have ALL done it!)  If I didn't like that weight, I took a shower and tried going to the bathroom again!  (Don't laugh.....I know you have done this too!)  Now, this week, my 1.2 pounds was a true loss.  I weighed 1 time. 

Now, if you have hit a plateau or you are struggling to keep the scales moving in the right direction at a good pace, you might want to jot down these next few tips. These tips are all from my research (and I am trying them this week to see what happens).

Tip #1:  Don't eat after 7:00 pm!
I have been reading that you actually want your tummy to be a little hungry when you go to bed so that your body dips into the stored fat within your body instead of processing a food at night.  And whether you believe it or not, your body is supposed to burn calories while sleeping.  I would much rather my body burn those stored up calories than have to work overtime to burn the ones I put in my body just before bed.

Tip #2:  Exercise more or differently!
Yep, that dreaded word.  Just like your body can become accustomed to your daily foods, it can also become accustomed to your workout routine!  As if exercise wasn't bad enough.....now I have to add variety to it!  Geesh!  I have been regularly walking on my treadmill on flat surface.  This week, I plan to either add a cardio/dance workout on alternate days of my walking or add an incline to my treadmill when I walk.  Also, the more fat and pounds you lose the harder you have to work out to make up for the weight you lost.  It is like walking with hand weights but then suddenly not walking with the weights but expecting to get the same results.  It won't happen right?!  That is why the intensity of your workout must increase with each 10 pounds you lose.

Tip #3:  Change your daily diet!
ALL dieters do it.....they fall into the fat free/processed food trap!  Why?  It is more convenient.  However; with all those processed foods comes a lot of sodium and a lot of carbs!  I am the first to admit, that even though I am still eating a lot of fruits and veggies, I too am eating a lot of processed snack foods!  They may be the root of my slow loss struggle.  This week, I have planned out my grocery list to include higher protein foods such as fat free refried beans, cottage cheese, hummus, apples, peanut butter, tuna, eggs, turkey sausage, string cheese, chicken, roast, and almonds along with vegetables and fruits.  I am going to try and avoid eating too many bananas as they have more sugar than the other fruits and could be contributing to my slow losses as well.  I plan to do more strawberries, pineapple, apples, and grapes instead.

So........
In spite of it being Derby Day weekend as well as Mother's Day weekend, I still plan to lose a signicant amount of weight next week when I weigh in.  We will see how these changes in my diet plan affect my weightloss.  Fingers crossed!

Now, I know you all enjoy my Weight Watcher's recipes, but the first recipe is DEFINATELY NOT a Weight Watcher's recipe!  It is a recipe in honor of the Kentucky Derby!  (Which by the way, my horse pick is "Pants on Fire" for 2 reasons:  I love the name and a female jockey will be riding that horse!)

Kentucky Hot Brown  (So many points, I gained 2 pounds just typing the recipe!)

2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups whole milk
½ cup Romano cheese,divided (Can use fresh parmesan)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Sliced Roast Turkey Breast
8 slices white sandwich bread or 4 slices Texas Toast, crusts removed
8 slices bacon, cooked crispy
4 Roma tomatoes, sliced in half
Sprinkling of paprika
Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Directions:

Cook the bacon until crispy. Set aside.

Preheat the oven set to broil.  In a medium size saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.  Add the flour and cook for about two minutes, stirring constantly (you want the flour taste to cook off).  Add the milk, whisking vigorously until all lumps are out and mixture has thickened and is smooth.  Add ¼ cup of cheese and stir until the cheese has melted… remove from the heat and add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Remove the crusts from the bread (2 slices of regular sandwich bread or 1 slice Texas Toast).  Place bread in an oven safe dishes (individual dishes for each person).  Put the desired amount of turkey on the bread.  Place ½ of a Roma tomato on either side of the bread and turkey.  Spoon sauce over each sandwich.  Sprinkle each sandwich with a little cheese (make sure you save some for garnish.. see photo).  Place dishes under broiler until cheese begins to brown and bubble.  Remove from the broiler and cross two strips of bacon on each sandwich.  Sprinkle with paprika and chopped parsley.  Serve immediately.

And for those of us counting points:

Peanut Butter Pie Cups
Makes 12 cups at 2 points each

*2 Tblsp. creamy peanut butter
*1 small (8 oz.) container fat free cool whip
*12 foil lined muffin cups
*Hershey's chocolate syrup
*12 Nilla Wafers

Mix the peanut butter into the container of fat free cool whip.  Mix it until well blended.  Place foil lined muffin cups inside muffin pan holes.  Put 1 Nilla Wafer in the bottom of each muffin cup.  Top with 2 Tblsp. of the peanut butter mixture.  If more is left, evenly distribute it amongst the muffin cups.  Drizzle just a bit (about 1/2 tsp.) of the chocolate syrup over the top of the peanut butter mixture in each cup.  Place in the freezer for 4 hours or until firm before serving.  Store in the freezer.

Have a great Derby weekend and Mother's Day to all of you out there!  I'm gonna do my best to stick to plan this busy weekend! 

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