The Formet Dining Garlic Chicken meal was good. It is only 4pts for 1 1/2 cups! I added the veggie eggroll with it for another 3pts, but the eggroll is big. If you like chinese this is a good alternative because you actually know how many calories you are consuming. I would give this meal an A. It was yummy and fast/simple to make.

I eat the hormel compleats (turkey & hearty vegetable) meals a lot during the week. They don't need to be refrigerated, only take a minute and a half to cook, are actually really good, and only have 3pts in them. I add another veggie with it just to stay full. I give it an A+. I haven't found anymore Hormel Compleats that have low points in them, but this one is a good one.

I just bought the Breyers treats yesterday. They are ok, but I would rather have the weight watcher icecream candy bar, which has the same amount of points (3pts). I won't buy them again, but won't be throwing them out either! I give them a B.

This is a new product from Thomas. They are thin bagels that are only 1pt! I rate them as an A-. They are good, but obviously don't have the thickness that a normal bagel has. I probably won't buy them again, but that is only because I'm not a huge bagel person. I just bought them to try.

This was today's breakfast. I even measured my creamer for the coffee! This is 4pts. I probably should have added some protein, but I was too lazy to unthaw the turkey sausage. I try to eat a good breakfast on the weekends because (1) It's the only time I have to actually make a good meal and take the time to enjoy it and (2) It will hopefully keep me full and help me to not snack too much on the weekends.

Starting Anew

I am finally approaching the end of the semester with nothing but smiles :). This is my last week of school and I have a final on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. In the back of my mind I have kept telling myself "you aren't going to have any more excuses when this date comes". I am excited to report that I am starting anew. I am not engaged yet, but hope to be soon, so that should be a good motivator (besides feeling/looking/being fat!!!) to get myself in gear. I have been paying for weight watchers on-line for about 2 months now (got the 3 month deal, so can't cancel until 3 months are up) and sadly must say that I have hardly been using it because I start off the week good (for about 2 days!) and then once I do bad I feel like the week is ruined and don't write anything else down. I know weight watchers works because I've lost several pounds off of it. It's just all about being disciplined. Today I am turning over a new leaf..... I am not going to wait until finals week is over because that is silly. I have 3 tests and then I'm free! Today I am making a vow to myself and all of you that I will be recording every point I eat from this day forward and will put in at least 30 hours of exercise each day. I am still debating on whether I should join the gym.... mainly because the classes are challenging. I live very close to the state's most beautiful bike trails, so it seems silly to try and join right now. My only problem is that just because I live close doesn't mean I will do it. If I join the gym I will have a support system because the ladies that go to those classes ask you where you have been when you skip a class! My friend Heather has dropped a lot of weight and looks great... and she goes to a class each day (except Sat/Sun). So we'll see how this week goes before deciding. I should probably get back to studying now. I will commit to writing a blog at least once a week (Sunday mornings) if not more. I weighed in at 191.4 lbs this morning. I weight 179 a year ago. I was so close to getting in the 160's. I don't know what happened. I will be there again soon. I am going to post a few products that I have really been happy with and that have pretty low points. Until next week (or sooner) I'll talk to you soon.

I'm Back!

This week I started sending my mom my food journal!! Yep! Its a great way to get re-motivated! Can't let my mom down, Right?! I have been "stuck" at the same weight since the middle of February and I'm hoping it will start going down a little faster now that I am writing down all my points again and faithfully going to the gym everyday.

My new favorite food is Flat Out Fold Its, they are like mini wrap buns! oh so good! Tonight I made a taco sandwich out of it!

I will try to update on the blog more often!

Yes, I am still here....

Yes, I have fallen off the wagon.... I have been so busy with work lately that watching what I have been eating has been literal - I watch myself eat EVERYTHING in site.  Ugh.  Exercise... what's that again?  I'm hoping to get in some walks now that it's getting nice outside.  Why can't losing weight be easier?

its been awhile!!

I know its been awhile and YES I'm still working out everyday and journaling my food! My contest ended a couple weeks ago and I ended up losing 13 pounds for the contest. My partner lost 10 and as a team we lost 4.95%. We ended up tying with several others for 4th place, which didn't get us any money. Oh well it was really motivating to know I needed to get in the gym and workout and it helped me get in routine of getting up at 445 AM.

This morning I biked 5 miles and went on the ellpitcal for 20 minutes. It was a good workout. Once it gets lighter outside i will try and "jog" to the gym, workout and then have a nice cool down walk home!

I tried the HG choc chip softies, they only have 1 point and they are quite large. You can tell they are healthy when eating them, but the choc chips help :)

Cadbury Eggs

Ok... I am not doing well at all and it is b/c I love cadbury eggs... the hard shelled ones. I was bad and bought a really big bag yesterday. I ate probably half the bag between yesterday and today. It's embarrassing to say, but I might as well admit it. I had to give the rest away so I would stop eating them. I exercised last night, but my eating has been out of control. I feel so stressed with the house and school. I am praying that the next 3 months fly by so I can be out of school for 3 months and not feel guilty for exercising when I should be studying. I know I'm not trying at all with this weight loss thing. You can tell b/c I have only lost about 1 or 2 lbs since we started several weeks ago. I feel stuck in this yucky body with not enough willpower to do anything about it. Ugh..

10 ways to get yourself to the gym today, tomorrow, next week and next month.

Got this email today... I like #9 the best :) 10 ways to get yourself to the gym today, tomorrow, next week and next month. A gym membership helps you get in shape only when you use it. Here are the 10 tips from fitness experts to get you off your butt and into the gym: 1. "Plan to go to the gym when your favorite TV show or game is on. This way you'll be able to watch it [from the treadmill] without your family interrupting you." --Marc Boudouris, CSCS, trainer Five Seasons Sports Club in Indianapolis, IN

2. "Find a gym that meets your needs and makes you feel welcome. If you join a place that intimidates you, chances are you won't go very often."

--Kristin Story, CSCS, trainer at S.T.E.P.S., Inc. in Nashville, TN

3. "Find a picture of someone in your family whom you don't want to end up looking like. On the days you don't feel like exercising, look at the picture until you change your mind."

--Lou Schuler, coauthor of The Men's Health Home Workout Bible

4. "Write down your reason for getting fit and keep it in your pocket or tape it to your dashboard in your car so you can't ignore it."

--Jeffery Katula, PhD, exercise physiologist at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC

5. "Invest in a good set of workout clothes and shoes. Not only does it make working out safer and more comfortable, but it also instills a sense of pride and commitment. And you'll feel obligated to justify spending the money."

--Justin D. Miloszewski, CSCS, trainer at Breakthru Physical Therapy and Fitness in Medford, NJ

6. "Don't just plan on going to the gym at some point in the day. Make an actual appointment with yourself and schedule the start and stop time. If you fail to specify the time, and you don't get to the gym, it's easy to delude yourself into thinking that you simply postponed your workout. A specific start time will make you more likely to keep the appointment."

--Charles Staley, president of Staley Training in Gilbert, AZ

7. "You want to be in shape, and you've got to stay in shape so you can take part in activities with your kids as they grow up. So you can crawl, run and play ball with them." --Gunnar Peterson, CSCS, personal trainer based in Beverly Hills, CA.

8. "Don't psych yourself out by thinking each visit to the gym has to be a hardcore workout. If you're stressed at work, just jump on the treadmill for 30 minutes so that you feel energized when you leave the gym, not tired."

--Geoffrey Myers, CSCS, trainer at Redline Sports in Laguna Beach, CA

9. "When debating whether you want to go to the gym or not, ask yourself two questions: What happens if I stick to my plan? What happens if I don't?"

--Bill Hartman, CSCS, creator of Inside-Out: The Ultimate Upper Body Warm-upDVD and training manual

10. "Give your TV remote control to a friend who will return it to you only when you show up at the gym."

--Neil Fiore, PhD, author of Awaken Your Strongest Self

Info off of www.weightwatchers.com

Gained 1 pound back :(

Last week was just too successful I guess because I gained one pound back. I had a lot of factors not going for me last week. I will do better this week, promise :) This is the first week in 8 that I have gained so that is good news! Found a new snack that is only 2 points. New Wheat Thin Flatbread crackers and 3 Pepper Hummus spread. 2 crackers and 2 T of spread for 2 points! Cant go wrong there!

15 pounds lost!

This will be week 7 of our weight loss journey! I know my sisters have been stressed out lately... I want to encourage them to keep going and they WILL see results! As of saturday I lost 15 pounds since we started in January! Feeling great! Still continuing to get up at 4:45 AM and going to the gym, this has really helped my weight come off!

We took the boys to a hotel for the weekend and didn't eat very well saturday evening through Sunday... hard to when you get a free breakfast buffet and free pizza w/ sodas! My body felt very tired and weighed down on Sunday, so needless to say it feels good to be back into my routine again today. Had a great Monday morning workout!!

My clothes are getting loose and I'm feeling thinner in my upper half of my body... guess we will see what the next few weeks bring! :)

We are having Mashed What?!

So I was brave tonight and made Mashed Cauliflower instead of Potatoes... it def tasted like cauliflower but was bearable... We had Minute Steak w/ healthy request cream of Mushroom and Chicken... didn't have many points so far today so thought I could have a few more tonight! Drew knew something was up with the "potatoes" He said I put too much gravy on them and made a funny face, once I told him what they were he stopped eating them!! Then I made him try another bite and he acted like he was gonna gag! HA! So Im not sure I will be making them again for the family!

Stress

It looks like my sisters broke the rule of blogging every Sunday! I was just logging in b/c I thought for sure they had already done so on Feb 8th.... shame on you girls! Well, I'm sad to say that this week is not going well as far as following a regular food/exercise schedule. I had night class tonight from 6-8:30pm, so I really didn't have time to work out because when I got home I had to study for my two classes tomorrow. I have two tests (back to back) next Monday, so I really need to get my butt in gear and study hard for the next 5 days. I am finding that my biggest weakness beyond not have a lot of time to exercise is that I'm feeling so stressed that I go directly to the candy jar at work and pig out on miniture chocolate bars. I went to renew my license today so that it would have my new address on it and OMG..... when she said the weight that I had on my driver's license I just about dropped my jaw.... ummmm it was like 28lbs lighter than I actually am!!! But I didn't correct it (LOL).... because hopefully I will be at that weight by the end of the year. I've decided that I will not be taking 3 classes next semester, so once the first week of May is here I will be a HAPPY woman. I love going back to school, but man, it is a lot to handle when you have a full time job. I keep worrying about so many things and I know that doesn't help with my weightloss. I was just watching the biggest loser while working out a few days ago and Jillian was saying how this one girl was so stressed that she wasn't losing weight. I'm behind on the shows, so don't tell me who got kicked off this week!! I don't know how to calm myself down and not get so stressed about things that are not under my control If anyone has ideas let me know. Ok... it is way past my bedtime as I am trying to be up by 5:30am each morning.... which is probably another thing stopping me from losing weight because you're supposed to get a good night's rest too.... something I haven't had in quite some time. Ok... later tater.

Endurance is the price tag of achievement...

Had a tough week, had a meltdown and then God spoke to me thur my devotional email this morning. (See Below)

I lost 1 pound this week and I will take that instead of gaining. Its been a stressful week at work and this following week doesn't sound like it will be any better. BUT I will not let it ruin my weight loss goal, I WILL NOT let food temptations knock me down this week. It's not an easy road to follow but its the road I am choosing to stay on until the end.

Why don't we see more of God's promises fulfilled in our lives? Because we overlook the process. It is in the process of reaching the promise that we become discouraged and quit. Success in any venture lies in holding on, even when others let go. We demand instant gratification and if we don't get it we leave our jobs, our churches, and even our families. But there's a process we must go through, regardless of our level of faith. There are no shortcuts. We've got to pay full price; it never goes on sale. Endurance is the price tag of achievement: '… in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart' (Galatians 6:9 NKJV).

Hang in there - what God has in store for you is worth any price you have to pay.

Just not motivated this week...

For some reason this week is just not going so well.  Having sick kids doesn't help.  Not being in my regular schedule just makes it harder to stay on track.  Haven't been working out either since my DVD player is broken!  I know... excuses, excuses.  I just needed to have a little pity party.  I will get back on track when life starts getting back to normal again!

Been a While

Hello
I haven't written in a while b/c I haven't had a free moment to even breathe!
I haven't been doing nearly as well as my sisters. I just moved into a new house
and am slowly getting used to my schedule between work and school. It is hard to
Lose weight when you live with another person who isn't totally motivated to lose weight.
How do you do it ladies? I got on my eliptical before class tonight for the first time in
a long time. I could only go for 20 minutes b/c I had to be at class at 6pm. Ugh... I need
to get this weight off!

only lost 1 pound this week

I only lost 1 pound this week, although its better than a gain, I hoped for more. I went to the gym faithfully 5 early mornings and did the elliptical for 35-45 minutes each time.

This weekend we went out for Stacy's birthday and today we ended up going to Pizza Ranch... yes I know, not a good choice! Not gonna make any excuses except that we had a busy day!

Back on track tomorrow, am going to stay within my points and try and boast my workouts a bit. Hoping to lose at least 2 pounds this week but 4 would be nice :)

Almost the end of January & still hanging in there...

 the year is off to a good start.... I am down 6 lbs and have changed my eating & exercising habits and I am sticking with it.  I have been letting myself indulge a little on the weekends because I NEED pizza and to not have to cook once in a while!  I am keeping it in check though apparently since I'm still losing weight.
I discovered some hash brown patties that you can actually put in the toaster for 3pts.  They make for an easy breakfast - just cook up some egg beaters/veggies to go with it & it's very filling!

Week 4

Today will be the 4th week since we've have started our weight loss journey. For me its going pretty well, been losing a steady amount of weight each week. I am officially down 9 pounds since we started! YEA! If I keep it up I will definitely make my goal for October. This is the part where it gets tough and I just need to keep chugging along.... Last week I went to the gym 4 out of the 5 week days. This week it will be all 5 days and I might even go today! I have been focusing on ALL cardio (elliptical). My partner for my weight-loss challenge is a trainer and she said to just stick to cardio because it burns the most fat. I will add weights after I'm down at least 20 pounds. Its getting to the point when I don't workout I feel sluggish. I crave going to the gym! Its a great feeling!

If I try any new foods this week I will post a picture, otherwise I plan to update on Sundays.

Great workout!

Just had a GREAT workout at the gym!! I've been getting there around 5AM for the last 3 days and am about the 2nd person there... by the end of my workout there are about 10-15 people there so I am pushing myself to go harder! I don't know who is in the challenge but when I look at these people working out it motivates me because I WANNA WIN!!! I've been going to bed around 9-930 at night and Im feeling great!! Have a good day :)

In LOVE with FLAT OUTS!

Yep thats right, I love them! Mostly because they are so versatile. Tonight I tried a BLT Pizza on them! Start with flatout, spread 1/4 cup all natural pizza sauce, cut up 2 slices of ham, 2 slices of turkey bacon, top it with 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, bake it until crisp. Top with 1-2 T Light Mayo, lettuce and tomatoes. You can adjust the points by adding more or taking away of something... very tasty I must say! Maybe I should write a cookbook for these people! (Be Aware when you buy them though if its not the Light ones they have 2 points in them :( thats all fareway had left)

Week 2

Well we made it a week! We all lost some weight even if it wasn't a lot we lost and didn't gain, right?

I officially weighed in today for my challenge at the gym! I am so excited! There are 28 teams signed up! Top 3 get CASH prize!

Yesterday I didn't do too well with my food, I had popcorn and 2 skinny cow ice cream sandwiches :( I guess I didn't care as much because I knew I had to weigh in today and wanted to weigh as much as possible for that. No worries ladies, I am back on track today and added up my points :) I am so excited to get healthy and skinny :)

Turkey sandwich for lunch I think and some veggies on the side! Enjoy the day!

Snow Days

The last few days I have been stuck home because we had no school so I was really scared I wouldn't do well, but I surprised myself :) I think I'm figuring out this point system and how much I can have. I tried HG Pumpkin Smash last night, it was good but defiantly use some cool whip. It said 0 pts but I counted it as 3 b/c i didn't have low fat cool whip or low fat evaporated milk. I think we are having steak tonight so I will have to see how many points that is! I do my official weigh in on Monday at the gym! Im excited to get it rolling!

Eating Out

Tonight I ate out at the Brown Bottle. This place has the best lasagna ever. BUT I actaully made a good decision and ate the Medatteranian Chicken and vegetables as a side! I was bad and ate a chocolate bar for dessert, but I was proud of myself for making a good choice at a restaurant. I actually ate pretty slow and got full, so I didn't eat the whole thing. Yeah :)

Trying the Tofu Noodles

ok. So I decided to make my lunch for tomorrow since I was full and new I wouldn't be snacking while making it. So I opened the tofu noodles for the first time. When I opened the bag is smelled like farts!!! I heated them us and tried the alfrado receipe with the laughing cow cheese and sour cream. I also sauteed some mushrooms and added them in. I just took a small bite b/c I really wasn't hungry. It tasted ok... I'm tell you what I really think of it tomorrow when I'm hungry!

My lunch was good but I didn't take a picture...

I sauteed mushrooms, green peppers, onion & chicken and then mixed some taco sauce in with it.  I made a wrap with those flatout tortilla things (only 1 pt!) and it was really good & really filling & only 4 points total for the whole wrap and you can use a lot of zero pt veggies to make these wraps so they are low pts and really filling.
Things are going good, I'm staying on track so far....  working out everyday this week!  yeah!

HAVE TO TRY THESE!

This is the 4th day and Im feeling great!! I find myself having lots of extra points by the end of the day. I think its because my lunch doesn't contain many points and I don't have a morning snack and also because I get like 30 points a day!

Fed Ex brought my Wii Fit Plus today! I did it for 20 minutes this afternoon and really like it. My favorites so far are hula hooping and riding the bike :) Hopefully when the kids go to bed I can do it some more!

So you are probably wondering what you have to try... I LOVE subway and decided to create this chicken bacon ranch sub they have. I started out with a flat out bread, put 4 oz. of grilled chicken breast seasoned with cumin and fajita seasoning, next I sauteed some fresh mushrooms in cooking spray and made some turkey bacon to put on top, the final thing i put on top was 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese. Put it under the broiler until toasty. Added lettuce, tomato and then drizzled 2 T of Light Ranch dressing on top. It has 8 points in it but it is huge and very filling!! This was so much better than subways! NOT KIDDING, it ROCKED!! I had so many extra points I added potato wedges to this meal but I think I would've been satisfied with just the wrap! You guys have to try this!

Supper Last Night!

This is what I created for supper last night. I used the Flat Out Flatbreads, spread it with 2 T of BBQ sauce, sprinkled it with some minced garlic, 2 oz. of grilled chicken breast, 2 slices of turkey bacon, cut up some fresh mushrooms and 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese. It was 7 points but you could make it less if you used only 1 slice of turkey bacon. Very good and filling.

LONG DAY BUT I MADE IT!

Today was HARD.  I only had a banana & 1/2 cup a cereal for breakfast so that started my day off wrong.  I hate it when I 'm not hungry in the morning... it catches up eventually!!  So... the whole day I was starving no matter what I ate. BUT, I did manage not to cheat & not to go over my points.  I was starving all day but I survived.

Biggest Loser was pretty inspirational.  I never want to get that heavy, EVER.  I can't imagine how hard it is to exercise when you are that big... I feel like I'm going to die when I'm working out, I can't imagine what they feel like! 

Me & the hubby did the BL Cardio workout tonight before the show.  It was a good workout... I am so proud of him for exercising with me.  It is going to be such a great lifestyle change for both of us.

OK, I'm exhausted... night night.

I wish I hated sweets!!

Today starter out ok. I sometimes go to Kwik Star on my way to work (if I have time) and get a cappaccino. Well I had time today, so I stopped. Guess what?!?! The machine was out of order! Coincidence?... I think not (LOL). So I just walked out. Then I tried.the HG oatmeal with pumpkin, but I couldn't get more than a spoonful down. It just wasn't agreeing with my taste buds! So I settled for a fiber one bar, grapes, & hot chocolate. The day went fine, but nights are always hard. I need to leave most of my points for after work I guess. I ate 2 HG pumpkin muffins and two Graham crackers with whipped cream and drizzled sugar free chocolate syrup. I guess it could have been worse. I have spent 1hr & 45 min on the wii fit plus. I need to get back on the eliptical though to get a more high intensity workout. The biggest loser starts back up tomorrow!!! Ok, I will stop being boring. One last tip though.... Don't get obsessed with weighing yourself on the Wii fit plus. It will make you frustrated. Goodnight

Day 2 coming to an end....

Woke up late this morning so breakfast was not happening... opened the fridge and found some string cheese and decided I could eat that on the way to work. I had plenty of points needless to say since breakfast didn't contain much. I made a really awesome Chicken Tortilla soup from Hungry Girls cookbook. I also made a healthy BLT made with turkey bacon and 45 calorie bread, Very Yummy!

I just got home from the gym, there were about 3 times as many people there as usual. Mostly because everyone goes the first week or two of January for their "New Years Resolution." As I looked around I thought to myself, "how many of these people will really be here a month from now?" Then I realized the only person that matters is me, not because I'm selfish but because my body needs me to be dedicated to it and it alone! Getting healthy is a personal choice and you have to be ready to make the commitment. Losing Weight is more mental than physical, in my opinion. You have to be dedicated to going to the gym and choosing the right food. Yea those nachos may look good now but after you eat them you will probably feel guilty for doing it and possibly get a upset stomach. The sensation for "unhealthy food" only last for a few minutes so if you can fight it you will succeed, and feel so much better for doing it! Well that is my post for tonight.... Hope my sisters are staying strong on their journal! Good night all!!

Movies

I went to the movies this afternoon and watched "It's Complicate". It was really funny! I brought my own Diet Caffiene Free pop and my own light popcorn with no salt!! Ha! That's what you can do when you have a big purse :). We ate at Apple Bee's tonight and I got a WW meal. As long as I can get through the rest of the evening without eating anything more I will meet my 24 points for the day!

Survived the first day :)

I have completed all my meals and snacks for the day! I was really starving around 3:30 today and thought I might need to raid the cabinets for food! Well I contained myself, as it was the first day and all, I had to stick with it!

I really think its gonna work this time, I've got a different feeling from all the "other" times I've tried to lose the weight. I am bond and determined to be under 200 pounds before I hit my 30th birthday in October 2010! It will happen, I promise you that :)

I will be getting up at 5AM and going to the gym. On Wednesday my Wii Fit Plus will show up and I will be a very happy fat chick! :D

It has been a successful first day for this Hungry Sister, Good Night All!!

Tip- Did you know you burn lots of calories while you sleep? Yep its true! Get your zzzz's in :)

Day One - We have no clue how to write a blog...

Please bear with us - this whole blog thing is new to us.  What will people be excited to read about?  About how we are all overweight & struggling to lose it.... isn't most of America?  We watch The Biggest Loser every season and think to ourselves "if those people can do this we should be able to do this" and then we go grab a bowl of ice cream and finish watching the show.  Sound familiar?

Well, 2010 shall be different!  I know, it's January and every thinks "this is the year" for losing that extra weight.... But we want this to be a place of motivation & support to keep everyone going for longer than January.  We want to post helpful advice we find, workout videos, websites, ect... that will help keep us motivated & maybe help out other people too.

As you can tell my the title of our blog we have found Hungry Girl at www.hungry-girl.com and have bought the cookbooks as well.  If you want to find some healthy recipes that actually taste good check out this website.  We have tried several of them & haven't had one that doesn't taste good yet.

We have decided that doing Weight Watchers points is the easiest way to eat the right things & stay on track so we are going to be using the WW system.

As for exercise.... 2 of us are using the Wii Fit and it is a pretty good workout and pretty fun to do.  I have tried the Active personal trainer for the Wii but I am having trouble with the sensors working when I am moving so that is frustrating.  If anyone out there actually knows how to get this thing to work right let me know!

I can say for sure that the Jillian 30 Day Shred is a killer workout!  I have only done the beginner level and it is painful.  I have bought 2 other Biggest Loser workout DVDs & Leslie Samson (love her!) walking video that I haven't tried yet but will give my opinion soon!

So, it's really all about staying motivated & sticking with the program.  I will end our first post here as I don't know what is too long and if this is interesting at all.  Best of luck to everyone out there trying to lose the weight again, I hope this is the last time you have to make this your resolution!