Still On the Down Side!

I weighed this morning and lost another 1.6 pounds.  I didn't report in last week.  Last week I lost 1/2 pound also.  So this puts my total right at 40 pounds off!  I am still excited about the plan though I do get disappointed when the pounds don't come off as quick as I'd like.  However; I am happy with any number as long as it is less than the number I had the previous week!  So I am "Still On the Down Side"!

This summer break has been extremely busy already and it is flying by.  I have been setting up photography sessions and I truly enjoy the art of photography.  I had several things on my list to do with my daughter, Emma this summer.  My list included, transfer from a baby bed to a toddler bed, potty train, wean from that just before bedtime bottle (I know, she's two!), and maybe wean from her binky.  I have already accomplished her transferring to a toddler bed.  That one was easy.  We are currently potty training.  Today makes day three.  When someone asks me what I did over summer break I am going to say, "Well, I spent it cleaning up trails of pee and watching my daughter's every move.  I spent it saying, "Gotta go potty?"  I know this is an uphill battle for anyone who has ever potty trained a toddler.  She is very smart, and I have no doubt that she will get it......I worry more about my patience running thin.  I pray that the Lord gives me the right tasks, words, and patience with Emma to make this a success.  After we accomplish this, I plan to wean her from the bedtime bottle.  That, I think will be easy.  I just have to add something to the bottle to make it not as tasty.  I probably won't get to the binky till Christmas as I want to gradually transition her and let her body have time to adjust to each thing I do.  It is a big step of independence for her.

Sometimes on the Weight Watcher's Website Message Boards you will find a thread that is titled "Daily Tried and Untried".  It is a thread that lists people's recipes.  They list one they have tried and one they have not tried.  That is what I am going to do here today.  I am going to give you 1 tried recipe for "BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pizza" and one untried that came from the Weight Watcher's Website for "Chocolate Chip Cheesecake".  I am a HUGE fan of cheesecake so this one is on my list of recipes I will DEFINATELY be trying soon!

First, the Tried:

BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pizza
1/8 pizza is 8 points plus points
1/6 pizza is 10 points plus points

You need:
*1 pillsbury thin pizza crust
*2 cups low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese
*6 Tablespoons of BBQ sauce
*1 package real bacon pieces (in salad aisle)
*1 package of Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips (in deli/meat section not frozen)
*Red onion (to your liking)

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out pizza dough onto a Pam sprayed cookie sheet. Poke the dough with a fork to prevent air bubbles. Bake for 5 minutes. Take out of the oven, spread BBQ sauce over the dough. Layer evenly with the cheese, chicken, onion and bacon pieces. Place back into the oven and bake for 9 minutes. Slice into either 6 or 8 pieces depending on how many points you want to spend.


And now.....the Untried:
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
Makes 12 servings at 6 points each.

You need:
*10 cream filled chocolate sandwich cookies (such as oreo or generic)
*8 Tblsp. Fat Free cream cheese
*8 oz. Low Fat cream cheese (in the tub)
*1 Cup sugar
*2 Tblsp. all purpose flour
*1 Cup Fat Free cottage cheese
*2 tsp. almond extract
*6 large egg whites
*3/4 Cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Lightly coat a 9 inch springform pan with cooking spray.  Crush the cookies and evenly sprinkle cookie crumbs over the bottom of the pan.  Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheeses on lowest speed until blended.  In a small bowl, combine sugar and flour.  Add to the cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth.  Puree cottage cheese until smooth, using a blender or food processor.  Add the cottage cheese and almond extract to the cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth.  Add egg whites and beat until well blended.  Stir in 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips.  Pour batter into the springform pan.  Top with the remaining chocolate chips and bake until cheesecake puffs and center is almost set....about 60 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.  Run a knife around the sides and then release the sides of the springform pan.  Cover and chill overnight.  Cut into 12 slices and serve.

Well, that's all for this week!  Enjoy this week!  Hope there is less of me to report next week!  Have a good one!

Woo Hoo! Summer Break is Here!

I have so much to celebrate this week!  I lost another 2.2 pounds last week which put me up to the total of 38.  I only have 12 more to reach my short term goal of 50 off.  I don't think I will make it there by July but I will get fairly close.  Someone asked me the other day what my long term goal is.  Well, I would like to lose an additional 75 pounds after I reach my short term goal.  I don't like thinking of that though because it seems so unreachable.  I think I will keep my mind set on short term goals. 

I am also celebrating my summer break!  Woo! Hoo!  It is finally here!  I admit it will be a little more difficult staying out of the kitchen on this break and sticking to my plan, but it will be easier to exercise on a regular basis.  So I am looking forward to that!

Sadly, my first week off, I am struggling.  This is the first week that I have been put in several tricky situations that challenged my plan.  This is the first time since January that I have ever used all my weekly extra points and my activity points.  I realized that EXERCISE is CRITICAL this week if I want to lose!  I had my "free" day on Friday and enjoyed lunch with a friend.  We went to Cheddar's and I had a hamburger.  Sunday we had our church picnic and of course I can't turn down good old fashion country cookin' from the ladies in our church.  Tomorrow, I go with my friend to get a massage and we are eating out.  Tomorrow, though, we are planning on eating the buffet and I think I can work my way around the buffet and stay in points.  I know how to do it, and have a plan....but question is....how strong will my will power be when I get there? 

We will see.

I know myself pretty well to know that I will see those desserts on the dessert buffet and will probably be overcome with desire.  So yes, EXERCISE this week is CRITICAL!  If I come out tomorrow without falling off the bandwagon I will be so proud of myself. 

I have once again, picked up my geneology project this summer. It is so addicting! It is so hard to stop because every clue leads you to another one, and another one, and another.  It is like a good book, you can't put down.

Today for lunch I created a very unique salad.  I will share it with you.

BBQ Chicken Salad
11 points - 1 serving
*2 cups lettuce chopped
*1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
*4 ounces chicken breast
*1/4 cup chopped tomato
*2 Tablespoons croutons
*2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce

Place all ingredients in a bowl that has a lid.  Shake till well coated with the BBQ sauce.  You can switch out the croutons for a few crushed fritos if desired.  You can also add corn, just remember to add points. 

This was a very filling and flavorful salad.  I know it sounds odd to use BBQ sauce as a dressing but it worked well with the tomato.

Have a great week!  Hope I lose this week....fingers crossed!