Trials of a Long Haired Girl

Happy Memorial Day friends!  Dinner plan for this week: Monday: Burgers Tuesday: Bean and Cheese Enchiladas Wednesday: Lazy Man Lasagna and garlic bread Thursday: Hamburger Stroganoff Friday: Chicken and Broccoli Rice Casserole Probably over the weekend, we'll have pizza or fish sticks, but we'll see. Breakfasts are yet undecided.  I am toying with an idea for a new to me overnight oats recipe, so I may try that and maybe some more of the strawberry shortcake overnight oats.  Nice to have a variety. Lunches, salads and sandwiches for me, most likely. Hope everyone had a great week! 

Happy Monday friends!  I hope that you have had a wonderful weekend!  After my gain this week, I'm determined to have a good on plan week!  I have reviewed some recipes and I'm also trying to use up some of the food that we have in the fridge and freezer and pantry before I try to get some meal prepping done later this month.  While I am sharing the recipe links to the ones I'm using, I am modifying some in order to use up some of the foods I currently have in my fridge and freezer.  Admittedly, I will have to buy some things at the store, I don't think it will be a really expensive trip. Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Recipe - Crockpot Copycat Slow Cooker Sausage and Potato Casserole Slow Cooker Pesto Ranch Chicken Easy Slow Cooker Taco Pasta Crispy Baked Cod with Cheesy Potatoes & Roasted Broccoli Stromboli My plan is to make some of the 2 Ingredient Dough bread sticks as shown by Kathy over at  Kathy's WW Journey   I have been hes...

Happy Monday friends!  I hope everyone had a great weekend!  It was my 30 year class reunion this weekend so I got to see some people I haven't seen in years.  Last week was a bit of a rough week food-wise, but we made it through and I had a loss on the official scale!  I think it's a number I've seen before, but it's still going in the right direction.  Okay, let's get into it.  Meals for this week are: Breakfasts: waffle sticks using my new Pampered Chef pan and probably a breakfast casserole for me.  Lunches:  Combination of salads, Lentil Tortilla Soup, Bean and Cheese Quesadillas and Bean and Cheese Rolled tacos a/k/a taquitos. Dinners: Tomato Soup and grilled cheese; Vegetarian pasta e fagioli soup ; Roasted Veggies and Macaroni and Cheese; Vegetable fried rice; and  Vegetable Lasagna. I am excited about this week and looking forward seeing how I can improve this week.  I had 4 days of blue dot days, walked more ...

Well, hello, and happy Wednesday a/k/a Hump day!  This has been a busy weekend and a weekend of trying new things.  As I may have mentioned, I am trying to focus on some lower carb options.  I found a recipe for cauliflower hash browns and decided I would try to make them as an additional to breakfast casserole.  Unfortunately I didn't have 2 packages of cauliflower rice so I decided to halve the recipe.   Here's what I did:   I used my one smaller package of cauliflower rice (10 oz. package), 1 cup of the Simple Truth Organic Cheddar and 1 egg and I added some salt, pepper and garlic powder.   They were a little more eggy than I would have preferred but I didn't have the same amount of cauliflower that she had.  They are really tasty and made a good addition to my breakfast casserole.  I'm looking forward to having them this week.  Did you try any new recipes this week?  Maybe any of the recipes I've shared?...

Happy Monday friends!  I hope everyone had a GREAT weekend!  Mine was a bit busy, but it was good.  I got to enjoy some quiet time, but I got some good meal prepping done.  While my weigh in didn't go quite as planned, I am so seriously planning on a GREAT week!   As they say, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.   With that being said, I was struggling to eat the breakfast casserole by the end of the week.  This week, I made two different breakfast items to give me some options.  I made a ham, egg and cheese breakfast casserole, some cauliflower "hash browns" and a pancake bake.  I also made a pancake bake for my DD.  Honestly, because I struggle having the same thing for days on end, (really how do people do that??) I try to make different things that I can have on different days.  As last week was so crazy and I didn't eat everything I prepped, I still have some leftovers for this week.  So I will use that ...

Happy Wednesday a/k/a Hump Day friends!  How's your week going?  I do have a recipe to share, but I have to tell you, Monday did not go quite as I'd planned.  I was exhausted, it was a rough night with the CPAP so I felt like I hadn't slept well.  DH and I agreed we would go "out" for lunch.  Well, my choice at the deli in our building was not a great choice and used the remainder of my points for the day.  So I started plotting and planning what I would eat for dinner...DH thought he was going to have to work late...so I offered to bring him lunch.  As this week is so busy, with a Bible Study beginning Tuesday night with EndTimes Ministries , then our regular Wednesday night service.  Given that, I knew I had to get shopping done on Monday night.   Now for the recipe.  Have you seen those CeCe's Veggie Co. Noodled (spiralized veggies) and more recently Riced?  I purchased the CeCe's Veggie Co. Riced Organic Veggie Medley ...

Happy Monday friends!  I feel a little bit like a kid in a candy store this week with my daughter gone.  I'm not trying to come up with meatless meals that we can have all week.  With that in mind, the menu for this week may change without notice.  The plan thus far: - Hamburgers and fries/tater tots - Chicken Fajitas/refried beans and rice (not sure if this will be cauliflower rice or brown rice) - Hamburger Stroganoff/salad - Spaghetti with zero point marinara, chicken meatballs, salad and garlic bread - Breakfast for dinner The end of the week had me a little out of sorts.  I had my appointment with the medical company delivering my CPAP machine.  I started on Thursday night and I can tell you it's a bit of an adjustment as I've never really slept with one before.  This year I am determined to take care of me and this is all part of it.  Also, because of my tiredness and back pain, I didn't stick very well with the challenge this week...

Happy Thursday a/k/a Friday eve, friends!   Hope everyone has had a great week so far!   I was reminded earlier this week just how important it was for me that I roasted those veggies over the weekend.   We had a very rough night dealing with insomnia.   If you have never dealt with insomnia, be grateful!   Quite honestly, if I hadn’t prepared some roasted veggies and had some chicken that I had purchased pre-cooked, I likely would have ordered out on Tuesday.   If I’d ordered out, it most likely wouldn’t have been on plan.   I have really been trying to stay on plan so the fact I did some prep saved me time on the back-end, not to mention calories!   I think we can all agree that there are times, like when we are tired, that we would be more likely to go with whatever is convenient.   For the coming week, I will be trying to focus on using the items in my freezer.   Do you do that periodically?   If you do, how often do you...

Happy Tuesday friends!   How's your week going?   For this week's Tuesday Talk, let's talk about Fats.   I don't cook with a ton of oil, I do like to spray my veggies with olive or avocado oil before I roast them.   There's so many great options for adding some healthy fats into our diets.   I love to add a little avocado to my smoothies or to my veggies bowls.   I also love adding some sliced olives to my salads.   I also love to snack on some nuts, although, those can add up calories and points-wise.   I know that fats got a bad wrap for years.   Flashback to Susan Powter and the low-fat craze in the 90's.   Although, let's be honest, she wasn't completely on the wrong track when she said "read the labels, read the labels"!   Those are some great things that we should all take to heart even now.   Fats can be such a confusing topic and I can't honestly say that I'm 100% on top of it, but I am a firm believer in everything...

Happy Monday friends!  How was everyone's weekend?  I am so excited for this week.  I feel like I've set myself up for success.  Breakfast options this week, eggs and smoothie bowls.  Lunches will be veggies and chicken and salads.  I have lots of roasted veggies so I'm excited about this week.  Dinner plans for this week: • Veggie Bowls with quinoa; • Smothered Bean Burritos; • Cauliflower Tikka Masala; • Salad (originally taco salad, but I forgot to get Catalina Dressing); and • Pizza Bubble Up casserole.   Last week's meals were: Monday - Fettuccine Alfredo (I used spaghetti squash), Caesar salad and garlic bread; Tuesday - Macaroni and Cheese (From a box); Wednesday - Subway; Thursday - Burger and fries (in the air fryer); Friday - Pizza from Pappa John's. Saturday - Eggplant Parmesan (I had mine with zoodles) and salad. 

Happy Sunday morning friends!  I hope everyone had a fantastic Saturday!  I woke up super early on Saturday morning, but decided to take advantage of it.  I went to weigh-in and then my sweet husband and I enjoyed breakfast together.  I am down a pound this week.  While it might not be as much as I might have wanted, but I'm preparing for success this week.  I decided that while Sprouts had organic cherries on sale, I'd go early to make sure I got some.  I also got lucky and found some organic Brussels sprouts for roasting.  I also got some romaine lettuce for salads for this week.  I also made a Trader Joe's run and purchased some lite cheese blends along with some spinach and Cole slaw blend.   I feel positive going into the new week.  I have to say that I really love when the creative juices start flowing.  I draw ideas from different places.  I feel like we're going to all have a good week because I've got a p...

Happy Friday friends!   I hope everyone has had a great week and is looking forward to a great weekend!   No major plans for me but hoping for some family time and some meal prep time.   I definitely want to be prepared for the coming week.   I finished my round of Prednisone on Monday and started a new allergy nose spray on Tuesday.   Hoping that it gives me some relief.   In continuing with my July challenge goals: ·          I am going to workout 3 times a week for 20 minutes; ·          Drinking 90 to 100 oz of water; ·          Focus on less processed foods and more whole foods; ·          Track my food; ·          Take 30 minutes to do something that I enjoy; and ·          Journal/Blog. For th...

Happy Thursday a/k/a Friday eve friends!  How's the week going for you?  Mine is going pretty well thus far.  I feel like pre-tracking and making my lunches the evening before has definitely been helpful.  While I didn't get as much done as I wanted over the weekend, I was determined especially with the July challenge helping me stay motivated.  I saw another YouTuber that I watch from time to time talking about something that I know I need to focus on, which is not just splurging on the weekends.  In the past, that has really been my weak point.  My hope is that after really trying to focus on the July challenge this month that I will break that habit and it will be a little easier to continue with my focus.   I have been looking back at how different things were when I originally started this weight loss journey.  Back then, I was really focused.  I wanted to lose weight and used that momentum to help me do just that....

Happy Monday friends!  Hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful weekend!  Overall, it was a good weekend for me.  I am a little disappointed that I didn't have a loss on the official scale, but I am not going to let myself get too upset about it.  Things that happen this week that might have contributed to not seeing a loss...I was put on Prednisone again this week and with the added workouts with the challenge, I think I may be retaining water.  Either way, I know the loss will come.  I am moving more, I'm eating better, so the loss will come.  Our meals are going to be "Italian" heavy this week, but hopefully we'll enjoy them all.  1. Eggplant Parmigiana and salad; 2. Fettuccine Alfredo (I'll have this with zoodles or spaghetti squash), likely with salad and garlic bread; 3. Bean Burritos; 4. Veggie Plates with biscuits; 5. Burgers or hot dogs. I got some family time in on Saturday and will likely be heading north again this coming Saturday....

Happy Friday, friends!  Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!  We had a great one.  I still got in a workout and enjoyed some family time.  The July challenge that I joined with Jess over at Journey to Healthy on YouTube has helped a ton with my level of motivation.  Focusing on that blue dot is even more important this month than it was originally.  I don't want to say it's the end all, be all, but I'm also focusing on getting in more fruits and veggies this month so that's going to help me as well.  I am proud of the fact that while everything didn't go exactly as planned, we rallied and ate some good food and I stayed within my blue dot range.  That's 4 days in a row and includes a holiday!   Because it was a holiday, my sweet husband and I waited until the evening before heading for a walk so we could "sleep late", which isn't really late for a lot of people, but we slept until around 6:30 or so and since he wanted to paint, we...

Happy Tuesday friends!  Today we're going to take a minute to discuss something that, if you have been on this journey for any length of time, you have probably experienced and that is dealing with setbacks.  This really sort of goes along with last week's topic about the all or nothing mentality.  There are times that we feel we have set ourselves up for success, but then we give in to a few more chips or we have a dessert or we have something that is a little higher in sodium and wind up with a gain.  Or sometimes you do everything right, but your body just doesn't want to give up the weight at that weigh in.  What we need to do, however, is not throw our hands up and say well this is a bust and I'm never going to make progress. It can be easy to beat ourselves up and not focus on what we need to do to move forward.  We each need a game plan, no matter what our journey is, to move forward.  No matter what happened that got in the way of our g...

Happy Monday friends!  While it's very similar to what I've put down the past few weeks, I'm yet again putting a meal plan in writing.  As I may have mentioned before, I normally make a meal plan and then figure out what I'm in the mood for or can prepare easily with what I have meal prepped or what we have going on that evening and I can fix easily given what's going on that night.   Meals this week: 1.      Make your own Bean Burritos. 2.      Quinoa veggie bowls. 3.      Veggie plates. 4.      Fettuccine Alfredo with Broccoli (I'll likely do either spaghetti squash or zoodles with mine) and garlic bread. 5.      Sandwich night (this night I will likely have a wrap and a side of veggies). 6.      Make your own salad "bar". What's your plan for the week?   Are you going to plan your day the night before with me? ...

Happy Sunday friends! Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!  I ran across something and decided to do a little more research.  Brooke Castillo shares some interesting tips in this  podcast  about The Urge Jar.   While I haven't decided if I'm going to try this 100% with jar and all, I think there's some good things suggested in the steps that she shares.  Writing down what you are going to eat 24 hours in advance and not straying from that is a pretty good advice.  I used to do that and I was less likely to stray from what I had planned.  While I was listening to this podcast, it was a great reminder for me of what I need to do for myself.   While I think I've decided not to focus on getting rid of all of the carbs in my house right now, I am going to try to focus on choosing zoodles or spaghetti squash rather than having spaghetti noodles or fettuccine or cauliflower rice instead of regular rice.  For the coming week, I...

Happy Friday friends!  Anyone else really take a look at how they changed something in their life to help someone else and then realize that this may not be the best choice and you need to change things up for your own health?  Yep, that just happened.  My goal for the next week or so is to focus on finding myself some lower carb options for some of my favorite things.  Since my daughter decided to go meatless and our family has been trying to be supportive as a whole, I've been bringing in far more bread and pasta into our diets and it's really got to stop.  For the longest, it was really just an occasional, maybe once a week sort of thing, but now, it's getting way out of hand.  I bought some of the lower carb tortillas that I saw recommended, so I'm going to do some more research and figure out what I can do to make this work for me.  I will continue doing WW, but will definitely focus on the lower carb options.  It's going to be a little tri...

Happy Tuesday friends!  Today I thought we'd talk about something that seems to plague all of us from time to time no matter what our journey is...all or nothing thinking.  For myself, I know it has plagued me when I was practicing for my piano recitals when I was in grade school, when I was working on my routine for competition or even in my weight loss journey.  Why is it that even if it is something that we aren't "experts" at, we expect perfection?  I don't know about you, but I somehow expect myself to doing something like I would if I had numerous years of experience at it.  Let's be honest, there are things that I am not and will not be perfect out.  As the saying goes, should you throw the baby out with the bathwater?  Um, no.  One of the things that I do to remind myself not to expect perfection is to ask myself if I'd say that to a friend or how I would feel if a friend said that to me in the way that I was staying it to myself....