Tomorrow is a new day

Wow. I have once again let this blog, my tracking, my exercise, and my weightloss sit at a stand still for far too long and am now pushing myself back out of a slump. I can make a list of excuses for you if you would like... but that still doesn't do anything to change the past. What is done is done and what I do tomorrow is 100% up to me.

Today marked the first full day of serious tracking in a LONG time. Since I am getting back into counting my points- I will just keep this post at what I ate all day. Enjoy.

• Breakfast
• Light English Muffin - 1points+
• 1 Jimmy Dean pre-cooked turkey sausage patty - 3points+ for 2, so I just counted 2points
• 1 slice Weight Watchers american cheese - 1points+
• Sandwich Total - 4 points, and DELICIOUS!
• Mid Morning
• 1 cup fresh cantaloupe - 0points+
• Lunch
• Pre-packaged lunchable(sand. thin, ham, FF cheese, FF SF Pudding, Minipack CheeseNips, Water, Koolaid mix) - 11points+
• Afternoon
• Fresh Strawberries - 0points+
• Dinner
• Chick-Fil-A Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich - 7points+
• Fruit Cup - was too full to eat it, but I normally count 1points+
• Snack
• WW Mini Ice Cream Cones - Caramel - 2points+ and so yummy!

Total Points Used Today -- 24

Tonight's exercise was a trip to the driving range with my dad and fiance. We had such a great time, and can't wait to go back with them again.

One month down.. a lifetime to go!

This past Saturday marked my 1 month since starting back seriously on the plan and attending WW meetings. I am proud to say that in my first 4 weeks, I have lost 8 pounds! :)

I have set a goal for myself to lose 16.5 more pounds before my college graduation on May 5. This gives me about 13 more weeks. I know that this last stretch will be the toughest.. but that is where this blog comes in. I have slacked off on blogging because I have been so busy, that that was the same excuse I used for not exercising last week, and not tracking for several days. Enough of that.

I keep telling myself that I have 13 weeks to get to my goal, but in reality... I have a lifetime to go. This journey does not end when I reach my 100 pound weight loss. This is a new way of life, not a diet. I still splurge, and enjoy my favorite foods when I want them, but not every day. Enjoy what you want, but in moderation. If you have a bad day, your week is not blown. I have a hard time remembering these things, so by putting them on this blog.. maybe it will be a good reminder for us all.

I am battling a cold today, so instead of going to my Zumba class and spreading my germs, I will do a Zumba workout here at home. I think that Taco Soup is on the menu for tonights dinner. I will blog again later to let you know how both of those things go.

Enjoy your day, and keep on tracking!
Chelsea

What's for breakfast?

I am a full-time college student, a college athlete, and a part-time employee. I feel like I am constantly on the go, and the most difficult meal to focus on is breakfast. I have never been a huge fan of breakfast, unless of course it consists of biscuts and gravy, or ham and cheese omelets. Before Weight Watchers I would drive through Burger King, McDonalds, or Pals on a daily basis for breakfast because it was quick, easy, and good (but not good for me).
Today, I have a few different breakfast options that I choose between and switch it up to keep things interesting. Don't think that I don't splurge on occasion.. because I do. I still enjoy a biscut or an order of cheddar rounds. Just not every day, or even once a week, and the less I eat those foods the less I want them.
Here are my picks for breakfast...

1. Multi Grain Cheerios - These are delicious and only 3points for an entire cup. I love them plain or with a little skim milk. Add some fruit (for 0 points) and make it even more filling.
2. Eggo Waffles - My 2 favorite flavors are the FiberPlus Calcium Buttermilk (4 points for 2) or the Eggo NutriGrain Low Fat Whole Grain ones (4 points for 2). These are both good options. The FiberPlus Calcium Buttermilk tastes more like real waffles, but I really like them both. I put a little of the Parkay spray butter on them. If I want more flavor sprinkle a little cinnamon sugar on them too. Easy breakfast to eat while driving to work or school. Could put banana or other fruit on it to make a waffle "sandwich".
3. Thomas Bagel Thins - The Cinnamon Raisin kind are delicious! They also make plain, everything, and maybe another kind? I get mine from Sams Club or Walmart. One bagel thin is 3 points. I love these toasted with a little spray butter or heated with a little reduced fat peanut butter on it. Great with sliced banana on it!

If you are like the old me and usually go through the drive through, go to the store... buy one of these products.. and just try it. I promise it's really not that bad! :)

Keep on tracking,

Chelsea 

Fitness Friday

Happy Friday!!
I am not a huge fan of working out, and I am the best at coming up with excuses not to. I still struggle with this today. And I would be lying if I said I worked out everyday, but I know to reach my goal I am going to have to. I have learned that just a little exercise makes me feel so much better, puts me in a better mood, makes me want to eat healthier, and helps out with the weight loss a lot!
My favorite and only sport that I play is golf... so needless to say I am not the running type. In all honesty, I hate to run, even though my next goal is to run a 5k. But in the mean time, I find other ways to burn calories. These are just a few of my favorites

1. ZUMBA! - This is my new addiction. I LOVE Zumba! I started going to Zumba classes this past summer and am still in love with them. Rachel O'Dell is a fabulous Zumba instructor and her classes are SO fun. She makes it more like a party than a workout... but you can definitely feel it afterward. I would highly recommend attending one of Rachels Zumba classes, or if you're not in this area.. go to any Zumba class, just try it! There is also a Zumba game for Wii & Xbox or you could buy the Zumba DVD sets, which are a little pricy but totally worth the investment!
2. Biggest Loser DVDs - I love all of their dvd workouts and have several of them, but my favorite is the Biggest Loser Boot Camp workout. Here is a link if you'd like to buy it from Amazon.
3. Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred - If your short on time, this is the perfect 20 minute DVD workout for you. You can get it pretty much anywhere. Here is a link if you'd like to buy it from Amazon.
4. Basic Workout Reps - Don't like DVDs or Games? Create your own workout! Sometimes I just put a few different exercises together and do as many reps of them as I can. A good example might be - 25 crunches, 25 jumping jacks, 25 push ups, and 30 second plank. Repeat that 4 times for a quick little workout.

Hope this has given you new ideas for workouts, or maybe the motivation to get back to what you used to do. While I try to reach my goal, set your own and try to reach those with me! If you have any other workouts that you LOVE please comment and tell me... because I love trying new things!

Keep on tracking,
Chelsea

Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Casserole

I found this recipe back when I first started WW and it is still one of mine and my family's favorites. I just made it last night, and had leftovers again for dinner tonight. Since I have access to Weight Watchers E-Tools I built this recipe in their system and for 1 serving this delicious casserole is 6 points (or points plus, I still refer to them as points).
Ingredients

• 4 Cups of Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Chopped (about 4 breasts)
• 20oz frozen chopped broccoli (thawed and drained)
• 8oz light sour cream
• 3 cups shredded fat free cheddar cheese
• 1 can Campbells 98% Fat Free Broccoli & Cheese Soup
• 1/2 cup dried plain bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup light butter (like I Can't Believe It's Not Butter)

Instructions

• Boil chicken breasts & chop them up
• Preheat oven to 350
• In a Large bowl, combine chicken, drained broccoli, soup, sour cream, and 2 cups of shredded cheese. Mix well
• Spread mixture into 9x12 pan
• Melt butter, then combine with breadcrumbs and remaining 1 cup of cheese
• Cover casserole with breadcrumb mixture
• Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

9x13 pan = 8 servings. The best way to figure serving size is divide it completly long ways, then 4 ways long ways, to equal 8 rectangle servings.

You could change up the recipe by using a different cheese, also by using cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup instead. Points may be different though :)

Enjoy!

Keep on tracking,
Chelsea

Here we go...

Let's start off by saying I am not a writer, nor a nutritionist or Weight Watcher professional. I would have never thought of starting a blog, but everytime I find a new food, tip, trick, or recipe, everyone wants to know all about it... this will just make it easier to share those with you!
Since starting my Weight Watcher journey in September of 2009, I have lost nearly 80 pounds and am well on my way to loosing 100 pounds. Many people ask me why I started WW to begin with... here is just ONE of my many reasons...

Yep... thats me... well, that WAS me. This picture was taken in July 2009. It makes me sick to look back at these pictures.. but more than that, it makes me proud of how far I've come.

And this picture was taken on my 21st Birthday... October 2011. The NEW me.. almost to my goal.

Enough of the rambling and pictures. The whole reason for this blog is to share my favorite recipes, foods, tips, tricks, exercises, quotes, and the occasional fashion post (my favorite part about the weight loss is being able to shop in normal stores and buy normal sized (and cute) clothing!)

For my first entry, I will start out with my favorite new dessert..
I discovered a recipe for 0 point Banana "Ice Cream" yesterday, and it was a success!

• Slice up a banana and freeze it.
• Put it in your blender, chopper, or food processor
• Add a splash of vanilla and about 2 tbsp of Skim Milk (add additional milk if it's too thick, but count the points)
• Blend until smooth ice cream texture.

You can top it with sugar free reduced fat caramel, fat free whipped cream, or maybe some more fruit that you like to put with bananas? I love pineapple with bananas. You could also top it with my favorite new find....

Peanut Butter Cheerios!! I can not begin to tell you how excited I am about this new find. I LOVE anything peanut butter, but hate the points. These Multi Grain Cheerios are only 3 points for 3/4 cup! I have 1/2 a cup after lunch or dinner for a sweet 2 point snack. And I bet these would be fabulous crumbled on top of the banana ice cream, or for that matter.. any other dessert. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

I will be back tomorrow with a yummy recipe for Broccoli Cheese & Chicken Casserole (6 points!).


Keep on Tracking,
Chelsea