Day 1 — Success!!!!!!

I guess the first day of anything is the easiest, but I haven’t been this on target in a LONG time. I made my meal plan last night, and pretty much followed it. I did make one adjustment (a better choice in my opinion). I was going to have a chocolate milk for 4 points+, but instead I had a serving of Kashi cereal, 4 oz. of skim milk, and blackberries for the same number of points+. I also shared an extra banana with my son and ate a small grapefruit, but fruit is “free” so it all worked out in the end.

I did end up making some homemade granola bars this afternoon, and I did not eat anything while making them. I think this is an absolute first. Dried cherries and cranberries are an absolute weakness of mine! I love them! While making the granola bars, I put a piece of gum in my mouth. Dried fruit and peppermint just don’t mix! After I put my son to bed, the granola bars were calling to me, but I gave myself some tough love and figured one into my plan for tomorrow. They are 6 points+ each so it was definitely not worth it for an after dinner snack (after I already had some mango and grapefruit).

Accountability

I am in desperate need of some accountability so I am back for a bit (I hope)! Since the birth of my son, I have successfully gotten back down to my goal weight, but my eating habits are far from perfect. I think the only things that are saving me are working out three to four times per week and nursing between five and seven times per day. I have been craving sugar like a crazy person and have actually gotten into a habit of buying chocolate covered banana chips every time I go to Henry’s Market. I would be totally fine with it, except I completely overindulged and eat them on the way home in the car. I am getting frustrated with myself, and I want to be a good role model for my son. He is already eating three meals per day plus snacks. He watches my every move, so I want him to see that I have a healthy relationship with food which is something I definitely have to work on.

Wildflowers in Anza-Borrego Desert

Today my husband and I spent the afternoon in Anza-Borrego Desert. It is absolutely gorgeous this time of year because all of the wildflowers are in bloom. Here are some pics from our day. Enjoy!

New Orleans Red Beans & Rice

This yummy recipe comes from an older Weight Watchers cookbook. I was really craving a filling plate of rice and beans and this dish really fit the bill. This recipe calls for a green bell pepper, which I usually don’t care for, but in the end I decided to include one.

Ingredients

• Brown Rice
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Celery
• Onion
• Green Bell Pepper
• Garlic
• Chili Powder
• Paprika
• Ground Cumin
• Diced Tomatoes with basil, garlic, & oregano
• Red Kidney Beans

If you are interested in the full recipe, please email me. I will be more than happy to pass it along

Quick and Easy Homemade Granola Bars

It has been a fairly dreary weekend here in San Diego. It has been raining on and off, and today we have been lucky enough to spend the day relaxing. We ate a delicious lunch at a local restaurant and then headed to Trader Joe’s to get the fixing to make homemade granola bars.

Yesterday I was super busy attending a science fair in LA so my husband took care of the grocery shopping. Luckily my usually granola bar pick was out of stock so it gave me an excuse to make some delicious cherry walnut granola bars. I pretty much followed Ellie Krieger’s recipe, but I wasn’t able to get wheat germ at Trader Joe’s. Instead I substituted ground flaxseed which I always have around the house to add to my smoothies. The bars were really great! They are far superior to the bars that I usually get. I am just hoping that they last the week!

21 Down! 19 To Go…

I am 21 weeks pregnant! I can’t believe how quickly time is passing. My family has been asking for a baby bump picture, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. I think having lost weight in the past is making the whole weight gain difficult. I am finally starting to look pregnant which is exciting. This is what is going on with my little guy this week. He’s about the length of a large banana (my all time favorite fruit)!

Yummy Comfort Food!

Last week was really tough, and I feel like I am still recovering. Work has been crazy busy, and I just can’t seem to dig myself out of this hole. I have planned a pretty easy week for my 8th and 9th graders so hopefully I can catch up. It is quite rare that I talk about food having the ability to change my mood for the better. Generally, I just feel guilty about eating something (or too much of something). This dish just maybe a different story…

I am a sucker for baked pasta with cheese (especially when there is a golden brown crust of delicious cheese)! Southern California is not known for its Italian cuisine so I have to make do with whatever I can whip up at home. I really love Ellie Krieger’s Four Cheese Baked Penne recipe. It is amazing! The combo of cheeses is really yummy, and this recipe serves many. My husband and I have eaten it for dinner, lunch, dinner (again), and there are still leftovers. I am telling you that this recipe will cheer you up right away!